Tom R. Johnson

Tom R. Johnson is an American herpetologist and nature writer whose books focus on reptiles and amphibians, especially those of Missouri. Available publisher and bookseller sources identify him as the author of The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri, and related references show his work has also been connected with well-known field guides on North American reptiles and amphibians.

A short author note for The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri says he grew up in central Wisconsin, earned a zoology degree from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 1970, and spent seven years as a reptile keeper in Midwestern zoos before joining the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1977. The same note says he retired in 1998 after 23 years as Missouri’s state herpetologist.

Johnson’s writing and photography have been widely used in wildlife education. Missouri Department of Conservation materials credit him as a retired herpetologist and co-author or contributor on guides to turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders, reflecting a career built around close observation, public education, and a lasting enthusiasm for the natural world.