MAMMALS OF NORTH AMERICA

MAMMALS OF NORTH AMERICA This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date field guide to the mammals of North America. Written by two leading authorities, no other reference covers all resident species north of Mexico, mammals large and small. With full-color illustrations for every one of the 442 species, Mammals of North America shows the user how to identify any mammal encountered, from mouse to moose, bat to baleen whale, Abert's Squirrel to the Yuma Myotis.The core of the book consists of 108 color plates featuring exceptionally detailed mammal illustrations. Each species is depicted on these plates, with subspecies, geographic, and sexual variation portrayed whenever relevant. The artwork is supplemented by maps showing present range and by a short paragraph of text highlighting key identification characteristics and relevant aspects of the animal's behavior and ecology. All the artwork, maps, and text for a species are on two facing pages, eliminating the need to flip through the book to learn about an animal. Mammal signs are often more easily found than the animals themselves, so illustrations of tracks and scat are also included.North America's mammal fauna is one of the best documented in the world, and the authors have scoured the continent's outstanding mammalogy literature to make this book as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Amateur naturalists will appreciate the complete coverage, detailed range maps, and outstanding artwork; professionals will welcome the inclusion of subspecies variation and the illustration of obscure traits crucial in distinguishing some pairs of similar species. This spectacular guide is the definitive one-volume resource on the mammals of a vast and tremendously varied continent.* 108 color plates with illustrations for all 442 of North America's mammal species north of Mexico* Subspecies, geographic, and sexual variation depicted when relevant* Artwork is supplemented on facing pages by range maps and by concise text noting key identification traits and relevant aspects of behavior and ecology* Tracks and scat illustrated as well* Well-documented, accurate, and completely up-to-dateWHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING:"Well organized and laid out, and easy to drive, Mammals of North America sets new standards in field guides. A must for any biological traveller to the US or Canada, as well as for residents. . . . [It] is full of those lovely touches only experienced fieldworkers can give. . . . Straightforward range maps accompany a clear and concise text that is nevertheless full of delightful natural history tidbits."--Adrian Barnett, New Scientist"Mammals of North America is a must for anyone really interested in properly identifying every animal that can be found on our continent. The text superbly highlights every characteristic needed for species identification. The latest range maps, shown on the facing page, confirm whether or not the species you think you have identified can be found where you are seeing your subject. The superb paintings of all the mammals have captured the very essence of the animals."--Leonard Lee Rue III"Written concisely and clearly, the new Mammals of North America is the only guide available that offers a current treatment of North America's diverse mammals. It clearly fills a critical niche in publications on North American mammals. This book will be indispensable for field biologists, sportsmen, hikers, park-goers and outdoors people alike."--Bruce D. Patterson, President, American Society of MammalogistsTABLE OF CONTENTS:Acknowledgments 4IntroductionSpecies Included 5What Is a Species? 6What Information Is Included? 6What Information Is Not Included? 8Further Reading 8Recommended Internet Resources 8Using This Book to Identify a Mammal 9Quick Mammal ID Chart 10How Are Mammals Related? 14Mammal Measurements and Anatomy 15Species Plates 16Glossary 234Index 236ABOUT THE AUTHORS:Roland W. Kays is the Curator of Mammals at the New York State Museum. His research centers on the ecology and conservation of temperate and tropical mammals, especially carnivores. Don E. Wilson is Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Recipient of a Smithsonian Institution Award for Excellence in Tropical Biology and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Outstanding Publication Award, he is the author or coauthor of more than 180 scientific papers and twelve books, including three volumes on bats, The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals, and Mammal Species of the World. ISBN: 0-691-08890-X publish date: 12/14/2002