Product Description
*2003 National Outdoor Book Award Winner*Detailed track and trail data for 135 species with actual-size track illustrations in one section*Scat photos and data for dozens of animals

The most thorough treatment of the subject ever published, this amazing guide brings together clear track and trail illustrations, range maps, and full-color photographs showing feeding signs, scat, tunnels, burrows, bedding areas, remains, and more, to give a wealth of information about hundreds of mammal species living in North America. How to find, identify, measure, and interpret the clues mammals leave behind--explained and illustrated like never before. Includes essays that contextualize tracking as a developing science continually garnering more interest and participation; included also are instructive anecdotes from the author's work as a tracker and wildlife expert. An invaluable resource for beginning or professional trackers and wildlife enthusiasts in all North American locations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Best Tracking Guide Available
This guide is without a doubt, the most comprehensive and scientifically accurate of any guide currently available for mammal tracks in North America. It is an amazing piece of work that will be a valuable addition to any naturalists bookshelf. I have read this book cover to cover several times and am always revisiting it as a reference and still I find new jewels of information buried in its pages. I disagree with the reviews that this book should have photos of the animals. With nearly 800 pages, this book is already pushing its binding to the limit. The limited space is better served being dedicated to tracks and sign as there are numerous other guides to mammals that have photos.
Great book... buy it.

As promised
Product is hefty, full of pictures, as promised.May be a bit much to carry around, but well worth the wait for the high-quality pictures.

Most comprehensive tracking book
I highly recommend this book to any amateur or advanced tracker.Great graphics and photos of tracks, gait, stride.Photos of dens/beds and scat.Layout is easy to follow and stats are comprehensive.If I had to find something negative it would be the lack of photos or drawing of the actual animal (but not absolutely essential).The book is heafty in content and in weight. Although it contains info on mammals throughout the US and Mexico, the areas I am interested in (California and Oregon) are well covered.Many tracking books concentrate more on the mid-west, eastern states.Buy this book.Happy tracking!

= : =: =: =: Track this down
This is a great book.
I've been identifying animal tracks for years--but there's always a track that makes you scratch your head & wonder, What Made This??? (and it will drive you crazy).
No longer.
This guide has everything: photos of tracks, track diagrams, stride diagrams (showing variations--yes!), scat photos & explanations, wallows, nests, range maps, burrows, dens, tree signs, feeding signs.
Failing personal instruction from an experienced tracker--this is as good as it gets for the amateur naturalist.
Only one caveat: The book is heavy, so it's not backpack-friendly--put it on your shelf anyway.

Great Book
What a perfect book to have.Has been so helpful this winter in tracking animals in my yard. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (13)

Excellent and thorough, but not as natural to use as Kaufmann
I returned the Peterson Guide to Mammals and bought the Kaufmann Mammals Guide.The Peterson Guide is excellent and thorough, but the arrangement is not as easy to use as the Kaufmann Guide to Mammals.For my purpose as a quick reference guide in the field, my wife and I prefer the Kaufmann guide with its excellent photos and natural indexing.Kaufman Field Guide to Mammals of North America

Comprehensive & Very Useful
This Peterson Guide offers a very well-rounded selection of animals at a great price.You won't find a plate of every little-known vole species in existence, but you'll find more than you've likely ever heard of.An especially useful addition to this field guide is the extensive series of skull plates.No field guide on mammals is required to have a section dedicated to osteology, but this Peterson Guide goes above and beyond the call of duty in this respect.

Inevitably, you'll find an animal here or there that is placed under a genus or species that has since been revised by the scientific community.Knowledge concerning mammalian taxonomy is simply increasing faster than revised editions can be printed, so this doesn't really represent a 'weakness' in the Peterson Guide.

Good resource for naturalists
My 12 yr old twins loved it.They are into tracking and all sorts of outdoor stuff and they have had this book in their hands almost every day since we bought it.

Best Field Guides Around
This is my second Perterson's Field Guide and I love them.So far I have found that these are the best field guides around.They are put together nicely, its easy to find what your looking for.They have drawings, actual photos and good write ups.Highly recommend any of the Peterson's guides.

guide book
The wrong guide book was sent the first time.The second one was damaged but credit was given immediately. This dealer was not the best one I have dealt with on Amazon. ... Read more

Product Description
The Cat in the Hat takes Dick and Sally on a Seussian safari to observe (and pontificate about) the many different kinds of mammals. An invaluable tour for all animal lovers!Amazon.com Review
From pygmy shrews to bandicoots, this book will remind youit's not just Dr. Seuss who created strange and wonderful creatures! Is a Camel a Mammal? discusses myriad mammals in theentertaining rhythms that made Seuss famous. While the Cat in the Hatis the central narrator of this fact-filled tale, count on Thing Oneand Thing Two for supplying the actions that accompany such tidbits as"Their hair can be soft, like the fur of a kitten, or the wool from alamb that you knit from a mitten."While the author forced some ofthe rhymes, the book still makes a great starting place for earlyreaders with a serious interest in unusual animals. A sure hit forpost-zoo story time. (Preschool to early reader) --JillLightner ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Book
This was purchased for a our local library.Can't comment on the book itself, as I haven't read it.But shipping was fast and book was in the condition promised.

fun book
This is a good book that teaches about what animals are mammals.Also it's done in the fun rhyming like the Cat in the Hat.

YES
my 6 year old son loves this series.i read to my son every night before going to sleep.he chooses the book.since we started on getting books in this series, they are a frequent choice.we have several and will get the rest.it is a fun, easy way to teach some basic ideas.

These are the best series!
LOVE these books.They have the best information in the them!Actually as adults it is a good reminder to help you guide your children through the first grades.Information in them are actually asked in adult board trivia games.Can't say enough about this series.We bought them all.

Science in Rhyme
What a wonderful way to learn the definition of a mammal!Fun reading in itself, it is also packed with helpful information. ... Read more

Product Description
This magnificent volume is a clear and comprehensive review of the African mammalian fossil record over the past 65 million years. Cenozoic Mammals of Africa includes current taxonomic and systematic revisions of all African mammal taxa, detailed compilations of fossil site occurrences, and a wealth of information regarding paleobiology, phylogeny, and biogeography. Primates, including hominins, are particularly well covered. The discussion addresses the systematics of endemic African mammals, factors relating to species richness, and a summary of isotopic information. The work also provides contextual information about Cenozoic African tectonics, chrono stratigraphy of sites, paleobotany, and global and regional climate change. Updating our understanding of this important material with the wealth of research from the past three decades, this volume is an essential resource for anyone interested in the evolutionary history of Africa and the diversification of its mammals. ... Read more

Product Description
The National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals ofthe World describes in fascinating detail all 120 species of theworld's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, manatees,Marine and Sea Otters, and the Polar Bear. Written by a team ofexperts and featuring more than 320 illustrations, 418 photographs,and 123 maps, this new guide offers more authoritative, up-to-date,and accessible information than any book previously published on thesubject.

Organized by the four major groups of marine mammals--marinefissipeds, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sirenians--the speciesdescriptions include:

Full-color paintings, some depicting males and females, juveniles,subspecies, or special features. Color photographs showing appearancein the wild and illustrating typical behaviors. Life history data,including length and weight at various life stages, and lifespan. Range and habitat text and a full-color range map based on themost current information. Facts about social organization, surfacebehaviors, swimming, and diving. Information on mating behavior,breeding, and the rearing of young. Details about food items andforaging techniques.Estimates of population in the wild, pluscurrent and historic threats.

A general introduction outlines the evolution and taxonomy of marinemammals, distribution, migration, watching guidelines, identificationtechniques, organizations and laws that protect marine mammals, andmore.

Introductions to groups include comparative size illustrations,discussion of behaviors particular to the group, and other uniquefeatures.

A useful illustrated glossary of terms and an index of species namescomplete the guide.

Exquisitely detailed illustrations, stunning photographs, and clearlywritten text combine to make this an indispensible reference sourcefor marine mammal watchers and anyone interested in the natural world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A up to date field guide and overview
This book gives an overall overview of every marine mammal in the world. It is a perfect field guide. The images are real and a very important feature of this book is it divides the mammals taxonomically.

Super book
I bought this book for a marine mammals class I'm taking and every time I pick it up to study I just end up looking at all of the great pictures for an hour. It's really a neat book. It arrived really fast after I ordered it.

good field guide for the field
beautiful illustrations and good quick reference info.
size makes it a great field guide to carry.
not as detailed as some other texts on each species behavior and life histories

Must have for field enthusiasts
I'm a researcher with marine mammals and this guide is a continuous source of reference. The text is clear, the pictures and illustrations, very good. This copy I bought for a student of mine, and I recommend it for everyone. This isn't a technical text, and don't have references, so researchers looking for referenced material should look elsewhere. However, the basic informations for the species are very well presented and easy to find. As I said, very good to have at hand when you need to know the lenght at birth of a blue whale or the maximum weight of an Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin.

Excellent
since I am taking animal husbandry in college this book is helpful. very fast delievvery and perfect condition ... Read more

Product Description

In this unique book, Peter S. Ungar tells the story of mammalian teeth from their origin through their evolution to their current diversity.

Mammal Teeth traces the evolutionary history of teeth, beginning with the very first mineralized vertebrate structures half a billion years ago. Ungar describes how the simple conical tooth of early vertebrates became the molars, incisors, and other forms we see in mammals today. Evolutionary adaptations changed pointy teeth into flatter ones, with specialized shapes designed to complement the corresponding jaw.

Ungar explains tooth structure and function in the context of nutritional needs. The myriad tooth shapes produced by evolution offer different solutions to the fundamental problem of how to squeeze as many nutrients as possible out of foods. The book also highlights Ungar's own path-breaking studies that show how microwear analysis can help us understand ancient diets.

The final part of the book provides an in-depth examination of mammalian teeth today, surveying all orders in the class, family by family. Ungar describes some of the more bizarre teeth, such as tusks, and the mammal diversity that accompanies these morphological wonders.

Mammal Teeth captures the evolution of mammals, including humans, through the prism of dental change. Synthesizing decades of research, Ungar reveals the interconnections among mammal diet, dentition, and evolution. His book is a must-read for paleontologists, mammalogists, and anthropologists.

Product Description
Marine mammals command a high level of public attention, reflected in specific legislation for their protection and management in many countries. They also present particular challenges to ecologists and conservation biologists. They are mostly difficult to observe, they occupy an environment that is vast in its three dimensional extent, there are often perceived conflicts between marine mammals and people, and furthermore several species are now close to extinction.

Marine mammals have some intriguing features in their biology - the ability to dive to crushing depths, to perform breath-hold dives that defy our current understanding of mammalian physiology, and many have an ability to hunt down prey using sophisticated sonar that we are only just beginning to understand. Many species also have complex social structures. We still have much to learn about these extraordinary animals so a comprehensive and authoritative overview of current methodology is now timely. The intention of this book is both to summarize the state-of-the-art and to encourage innovation and further progress in this research field. ... Read more

Product Description
A richly conceived and simply conveyed beginners guide tounderstanding mammals and their respective habitats.Now available intrade paper, ABOUT MAMMALS is a thoughtful first glimpse into theworld of nature for young children.In this easy to read, informativefollow-up for the critically acclaimed book, ABOUT BIRDS, authorCathryn Sill explains what mammals are, how they live, and what theydo.From the unique pattern of hair on a raccoon to the special useof the muskrat's flattened tail, the Sills bring the fantastic worldof nature to life.With the help of beautifully detailedillustrations from noted wildlife illustrator, John Sill, ABOUTMAMMALS explains the basic characteristics that all mammals share,while offering a look into the huge variety of animals that fall intothis diverse category.An afterword provides further detail on theanimals portrayed to inspire young readers to learn more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful book from a delightful series
This is the third book from this series that we purchased for our toddler son, and we all love them. The illustrations are superb, and the text is simple enough for toddlers without being dull. This series is a wonderful way to teach children about nature and the world around them. Very excited to have found an author and illustrator who take such loving care with words, pictures, and ideas.

Excellent Book!!!!
This whole series is great, especially if you live in U.S.Features common mammals they are likely to see (muskrat, squirrel, raccoon, etc.).Great pictures, little text -- perfect for very young children.

My 2 y.o. son likes this book a lot.
My son really enjoys all of the books in this series.I like that the illustrations are realistic and that species names are included.And as he gets older he really enjoys the additional information that's included in the back of the book! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an essential guide for anyone with an interest in wildlife who visits Africa--from the tourist on safari to the more experienced naturalist. Compact and beautifully illustrated, it is ideal for use in the field, while its coverage is the most comprehensive for any book of its size.

• First pocket guide to cover every species of terrestrial African mammal
• Adapted from the highly acclaimed Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals
• Fully illustrated with the author's superb color artwork
• Easy-to-read distribution maps
• Concise text and clear layout for quick, easy reference
• Practical format makes it ideal for use in the field

Customer Reviews (8)

Great help!
I wish I had purchased this book before I went to Africa.I would have been much better prepared for seeing the animals.I bought it to help me put captions with my pictures, and find my notes do not have accurate information.Either I did not understand my guide very well, or he did not know the information this book contains.

Just what we needed for our upcoming safari
This book is exactly what we wanted to take with us on our upcoming safari.The book is the perfect size to carry around and covers the basics.The book is well organized and is ideal to make a quick ID in the field.We really like this layout, much better than the other well know "field guide" which is bigger, heavier, and in our opinion, poorly formatted. If you want to know every single detail about a specific animal this is not the right book; and be aware, it does not cover reptiles or birds.We are very pleased with our purchase and Amazon.com performed perfectly, we got the best price and the goods arrived within days of ordering.

Pretty good Kenya field guide
I used this in Kenya, and got to know a lot of the animals there pretty well. If you are going to Africa, I highly suggest getting this, but also supplementing your research with more local resources. The book is now on the coffee table, and is pretty cool to flip through.

Not comprehensive, but very good!
Probably this is the best field guide, the drawings are beautiful but strangely, the Dromedary is missing from this book albeit it is native to Northern Africa.

Excellent
This guide was an excellent reference on Safari, small size and well organized format made The Kingdon Pocket Guide to Africa easy to use in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
This behind-the-scenes look at careers in marine mammal care and training addresses questions such as What is it really like to be a trainer? and How can I become one, too? and offers strategies and alternatives to help identify potential career options in this field. It covers a variety of aspects involved in being a trainer, from typical days on the job and training different behaviors to the kind of education needed and the value of swimming and scuba skills. This thorough guide contains a comprehensive bibliography for additional reference and an invaluable resource directory with extensive contact information for more than 150 educational, governmental, and professional sources around the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

a bit obvious but great resources!
The book was short and had a lot of information I was already aware of, but the author gives a lot of good book resources and places to look into in each state. There were sample interview questions that were helpful. Definitely useful!

Great condition
Book was in great condition. Didn't get it as quick as I wanted but also didn't wait too long.

A new bible!
Finally, I have a book that I can turn to, to answer all of my questions about marine animal training! It has become like a bible to me, and whenever I can, I flip through. All the tips seem like they would give you the back door advantage, meaning you'd have a better advantage than a person who hasn't read it, in getting a job!

Needs more detail
This book is okay, but would have been MUCH more useful had the writer included more specifics. Sure, you need to take psychology courses, but which courses are most useful??? It's well written, but more of an overview, which (for me) was not very useful.

obvious but good
If you're just beginning to think about a career with marine mammals than this is a great book, that might change your perspective and help you decide if being a marine mammal trainer is really what you want to do. However if you're already on your way to becomming one than most of it you have probabily already figured out your self. I did however find the directory of marine mammal facilities, including specifically what animals they have, extremely helpful. especially the international section. I do have a few corrections however, first the pittsburg zoo no longer has an amazon river dolphin, it passed away in 2002 and to the best of my knowledge the brooklyn aquarium does not have dolphins, only belugas. ... Read more

Product Description
An accurate and fascinating introduction to more than 200 of the most common species of mammals in North America, including information on:

-Habits and habitats
-Family trees
-Raising young
-Foods, enemies, and more

Full-color illustrations accent features that help you to recognize each animal in its natural environment. Range maps show where various species can be found.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Really good.
Helps aid identifacation when you see an animal that you don't know what it is.Interesting to learn what animals live in you area.I highly reccomend it.

Quick service
I received this book in a timely manner and it arrived as advertised.I will use this seller again.

Still going strong after all these years.
How many fourth grade science reports have been written out of these little books by Zim?Back in the late 1950s (upper pleistocene to most), every kid worth his dinosaurs had a bunch of these nature guides (I lived with "Mammals;" "Reptiles and Amphibians;" "Rocks, Gems and Minerals;" "Fishes;" and "Insects").

"Mammals" is a very handy sized book giving a picture of each U.S. (lower 48) mammal with a painting, short description of habits, reproduction, and range.In the back are found the scientific names (I find this handy as I can never remember them when sitting in front of my computer).Excellent for ages six and up.

I considered "Mammals" good enough to order one for my six-foot-two son to put in his pack.Don't leave home without it!

More of a beginners guide
This little book is certainly easy to use. If you know what kind of mammal you are looking at and where in North America you are, you have a good chance of identifying it. The drawings are probably more attractive to children than they are to those of us who are longer in the tooth. There are at least a couple of ommissions which makes it disappointing. The short accompanying texts are, by necessity, very limited in their scope. It might be a good starting point but very quickly makes the reader hungry for more detailed information.

A Great Book for any Nature Observer
This is is a fine book devoted to famillar mammals of the US and Canada. It shows full-color illustrations and maps that show you where the specific critter lives for many different mammals. Plus it tells you what a specificmammal eats and wether it is dangerous or not. A must for all nature-lovers! ... Read more

Product Description
From the raucous mantled howler monkeys and the charismatic white-nosed coatis to the elusive jaguar, The Mammals of Costa Rica offers authoritative accounts of the fascinating creatures of the neotropics. With more than four hundred spectacular illustrations and a wealth of detailed information drawn from firsthand observation, new research, and synthesis of the scientific literature, this book describes all of Costa Rica's readily identifiable terrestrial and freshwater mammals. The clear and entertaining text is perfectly suited to meet the needs of naturalists, students, and researchers, as well as both experienced and first-time visitors to Costa Rica and the American tropics.

The mammal descriptions include key identification features, range maps, vocalizations, local folklore and mythology, and comprehensive information about natural history and conservation. The color illustrations show not only the mammals themselves but also their tracks, foods, and skulls. Also included are illustrations of numerous other animals and plants with which the mammals have close ecological links. By presenting mammals in a broader context, The Mammals of Costa Rica provides an entry point into a general study of tropical ecology and conservation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

An exceptional guide
I own a broad range of field guides of regional faunas.This guide ranks extremely high in multiple areas.It has concise, complete information on ecology and natural history, excellent quality plates, and fascinating narratives based upon recent scientific literature.

Great mammal book
I really like this book, I have used many Costa Rican field guides extensively, and this is my favorite for mammals.The illustrations are very good, the size is right for the field, and there is a lot of useful information on natural history.The text, while not "dumbed down" in the least is very readable and approachable.The text is also more fun to read than that in most other field guides.Great book and I highly recommend it if you will be in the area.

O.K. for general natural history, but there are better field guides
O.K. for general natural history of relatively few species, but there are better field guides. More highly recommended is "A Field Guide to Neotropical Mammals".

Mammals of Costa Rica
The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field GuideThe best field guide because the information is concise and the size of the book is easy to carry around on field trips.

I'm glad this book is available!
I have not had a chance to examine this book in depth, but I've looked through it a few times and it has all the essential info you would expect to find, and good photos too.

It certainly is worth the price and I'm glad we bought it! ... Read more

Product Description
Tree peepers everywhere will enjoy these two guides which explore the incredible environment of our country's forests-including seasonal features, habitat, range, and lore. Nearly 700 species of trees are detailed in photographs of leaf shape, bark, flowers, fruit, and fall leaves -- all can be quickly accessed making this the ideal field guide for any time of year.

Note: the Western Edition covers the Rocky Mountain range and all the states to the west of it, while the Eastern Edition generally covers states east of the Rocky Mountains.Amazon.com Review
Consider the lynx, a medium-sized cat of boreal regions ofNorth America, "a solitary animal, associated with the opposite sexonly during mating." Consider the Oldfield mouse, Peromyscuspolionotus, once abundant in abandoned fields and beaches fromSouth Carolina to northern Florida. These are but two of the 390species covered in this densely informative, well-illustratedguidebook to the mammals of North America, with photographs keyed totextual descriptions that cover a given animal's physical features,range and habitat, breeding characteristics, and behavior (and,helpfully, that list other animals with which it might beconfused). This easy-to-use handbook makes a superb addition to anynaturalist's library. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

A *must* reference in your collection!
*Any* kind of traveling into the Country, the Plains, Mountains, and/or West requires this *compleat* reference in your to-go material, especially if you have children, who will *greatly* enjoy knowing more about the critters of our natural world! Additionally, having this *trusty* guide handy at home also opens up discussions about animals commonly seen, even in cities, such as raccoons, possums, and, yes, even skunks!The representative photos are most helpful in differenting one type of animal spotted from another, to arrive at a sure identification--and are fascinating to look at too!Altho' we reveled in our Southern California home about seeing (*really*!) coyotes (especially on golf courses) and foxes, latter of which regularly came into our yard, even with their pups, we've been *awed* at the new animals we're seeing in our retirement location elsewhere in the West: badgers, yellow-bellied marmots, covies of quail (which weren't as plentiful in our SoCal neighborhoods), chukkars, and plentiful black bear (a species also not rarely found in outskirts of Southern California cities and towns)!Obtaining this exhaustive reference was our answer and now we wonder *why* didn't we secure one before now in our lives!?!You'll love it and learn a *great* deal from it too!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to N. American Mammals
Poor for my needs.Didn't have the mammals I needed.Not at all comprehensive.

Excellent reference book!!
The National Audubon Society's Guide to North American Mammals guide is excellent. We have learned so much for this guide!

Excellent Guide
This is an excellent guide for anyone who has interest in the animals who live near and among us. It is authoritative, easy to use. Novices and experienced observers alike will find the book useful in identifying the animals they see and will be drawn in to learn about habits and habitats around them. When planning a hike or a stroll through the woods, this book and a pair of binoculars will complete the day.

informative
All of the National audubon society books are very informative and handy everyday reference guides. ... Read more

Product Description
With coverage on all the marine mammals of the world, authors Jefferson, Webber, and Pitman have created a user-friendly guide to identify marine mammals alive in nature (at sea or on the beach), dead specimens "in hand", and also to identify marine mammals based on features of the skull. This handy guide provides marine biologists and interested lay people with detailed descriptions of diagnostic features, illustrations of external appearance, beautiful photographs, dichotomous keys, and more. Full color illustrations and vivid photographs of every living marine mammal species are incorporated, as well as comprehendible maps showing a range of information. For readers who desire further consultation, authors have included a list of literature references at the end of each species account. For an enhanced understanding of habitation, this guide also includes recognizable geographic forms described separately with colorful paintings and photographs. All of these essential tools provided make Marine Mammals of the World the most detailed and authoritative guide available!

* Contains superb photographs of every species of marine mammal for accurate identification
* Authors' collective experience adds up to 80 years, and have seen nearly all of the species and distinctive geographic forms described in the guide
* Provides the most detailed and anatomically accurate illustrations currently available
* Special emphasis is placed on the identification of species in "problem groups," such as the beaked whales, long-beaked oceanic dolphin, and southern fur seals
* Includes a detailed list of sources for more information at the back of the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

marine mammal guide
a very good field guide for all marine mammals worldwide.
lots of great illustrations and photos to help id's
extensive life histories and behavioral info as well.
best guide I've ever seen!

Excellent guide
This is THE identification guide for the marine mammals of the world. The species' reviews is more than usual in this kind of guides, very detailed and with current information. It is plenty of photographs and figures, almost all of them very explicit.The species list reflects the changing, and in some cases unclear, taxonomy of cetaceans.Recently described species are included (eg. snubfin dolphin, Omuras' whale).IUCN status is also included.Hardcover is a good thing, but with very thin pages inside, keep it in the vessel's bridge!.

not perfect but one of the most inclusive references available
This is one reference that will be at the front of my shelf for awhile. For each species, there are artist renderings showing showing key physical features. In some cases only the male is illustrated whereas other species show male, female and calf and/or regional 'types' (e.g. Dalli-type and Truei-type Dall's porpoise. Stranded and at-sea photos are included in many cases as well as a map showing primary and 'possible primary range'. Extralimital records are usually noted with a red dot. I admit that I typically pay the most attention to sections on Ziphiid whales vs other cetaceans/marine mammals and this reference includes all of the more recently described Mesoplodon species as well as updated information on Indopacetus. However, a number of items were omitted or misstated:
(1) distribution map of M. traversii showing 3 'confirmed sightings' locations. These locations are the locations of skeletal remains used to describe the species. The only sighting information I have found refers to Mesoplodon Species 'B' which Pitman hypothesizes may be M. traversii (Pitman and Lynn 2001 Mar. Mamm. Sci. 17(3):648-657)
(2) failure to include discussion of the possibility of a subspecies or new species from Kiribati/Palmyra (3 specimens)related to M. ginkgodens based on DNA 'taxonomy' findings and possible subspecies designation of northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere populations of M. mirus whose disjunct distribution and DNA analysis supports this possibility (Dalebout et. al. 2007 Mar Mamm Sci (23)4:954-966)
(3) lack of at-sea photos of Tasmacetus which are included in Pitman et. al. 2006 Mar. Mamm. Sci 22(3):744-755
(4) minor editing problem in Hyperoodon ampullatus 'Ecology and behavior' secton with repetition of 2 sentences using slightly different wording

Whales, Dolphins, and Other Marine Mammals of the World (Princeton Field Guides) by Hadoram Shirihai and Brett Jarrett is the only other reference I've found that includes all the recently described Ziphiid species. Shirihai and Jarrett is formatted as a field guide whereas Jefferson et. al. is formated as a reference tool. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Wonderful photos of animals
This book has photos of all the animals, and I'm very glad I chose it over the other books which only have illustrations.The photos show what the animals are really like.I've flipped through other books with illustrations and the animals just didn't look real - for instance you could see that the fur was drawn with a bunch of lines, and it made it impossible to forget that you're looking at a drawing and not a real animal.(I do have a book of birds with illustrations and there the illustrations work much better.I think it might be more difficult to draw a mammal than a bird, perhaps because when mammals move, their bodies are constantly changing and it's hard to draw the curves right.)The photos in this book bring the reader much closer to the experience of actually observing a real animal; you feel like you're almost there.

Also, at the risk of being ridiculed by serious naturalists, let me nevertheless mention that a lot of the animals are just unbearably cute.It makes it a pleasure to read the book for fun, cover to cover, and that's what I've been doing.One more reason to buy a book with photos and not illustrations, because they don't look that cute in illustrations.

Great little guide!
Got this for a homeschooling project, my daughter loves it- it has lots of good info, illustrations, and info. Recommended!

Kaufman Field Guide to North America
The book was just what I needed to replace a book misplaced from the media center. All was handled fast and I got book turned in before school was out!

a very good reference
The field Guide to Mammals of North America is a very good reference. Clear pictures, good descriptions. I have included it in our office's Master Gardener library. Now everyone will know the difference between a mole, a vole, and a shrew. ... Read more

Product Description
From river otters and minks to bobcats, pikas, and flying squirrels, California boasts a diverse and intriguing fauna. But many of these animals can be secretive, shy, and nocturnal and observing them in the wild can be difficult. During the past two decades, the first edition of this popular guide introduced thousands to California's mammals by describing techniques for recognizing their presence, and when possible, methods for watching them in their natural habitats. Mammals of California is now completely revised and updated throughout, making it an ideal companion in the field or classroom.
* Includes 144 line drawings, 143 range maps, and 18 illustrated color plates
* Gives valuable overviews of mammal evolution, biology and anatomy, natural history, and conservation
* Features an expanded and updated section on diseases harbored by wild mammals that can affect humans--including Lyme disease and Hanta virus ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

mammals of california
very nice book and just what I wanted to identify some of the animals around here

Good for California
Good if you have a chance to actually see a lot of these elusive critters. ... Read more

Product Description
Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, the first color-illustrated field guide to these highly diverse and elusive creatures, has enjoyed tremendous success since its initial publication in 1990. In this completely revised and updated second edition a total of 315 species and genera are covered in individual accounts (includes 24 accounts new to this edition); all species accounts retained from the first edition have been updated; all 195 maps present current information on the distribution and geographic range of each species; and twenty-nine beautiful color plates illustrate more than 220 species (including significant color variants between males and females or adults and young). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great - only the artwork is below expectations
A thorough guide, my only qualm being that the depictions of the rainforest mammals (in black and white) are nowhere near the level one comes to expect from bird guides.

A Good, Bad, and Ugly Field Guide
The Good:
This is the most comprehensive guide to rainforest mammals that I have found. The text covers just about everything you could ask for, even giving dentation patterns for the various families in case you stumble onto a skull in your wanderings.
The Bad:
Unfortunately, probably to save money, this guide uses the technique of placing all the pictures together, separated from the text. I much prefer the more expensive technique of putting the text on a page facing the pictures. Here, though, the guide falls down by failing to put cross-references on the page facing the pictures, necessitating a flip back to the index in most cases to locate the text.
The Ugly:
Whoever was responsible for quality control for this book should find another job. I was ready to return the book as defective when I noticed an "errata sheet" that explained that the page with the text corresponding to plate 1 was actually located following page 193. This is much too serious an error to occur in a published guide.
The bottom Line:
The best thing to say about this field guide is that it is disappointing. If you are planning a trip to the rainforest in the near future, and you are interested in mammals, then buy the guide despite its shortcomings. Otherwise, wait for a revision.

You can't go without it.
This book, referred to by many other authors, is THE guide for this group of Mammals. I found it indispensible for use in the rainforest, even if most mammals are very hard to see. The perfect illustrations, combined with the thorough descriptions and clear distribution maps, make it easy to determine what kind of animal you've seen. Very helpful to understand the local guides are the translations of the names in many tongues.

It's a very practical and well illustrated fieldguide
It's the most usefull book I own related with the mammalfauna proyects ( inventories, education, management ) we are doing in Central and Western Colombia. Every aspect of the text and illustrations has proven to be veryusefull and practical. The taxonomical descriptions are generaly goodenough to clasify the bigger species in the field, and the habit andhabitat descriptions coincide mostly with our own experiences. Thedistributionmaps included in the text are also very usefull. Theillustrations are sometime a little small, but have proven to be easilyrecognized by the local habitants, what is extremely usefull during quickinventaries. The relation price-quality is outstanding

wonderful
Adorei este livro, à muito tempo não vejo um livro sobre mamíferosneotropicais com este. A primeira vez que o li foi na universidade onde euestudo. Sou aluno de veterinária e pretendo trabalhar com animaissilvestres, por isso gostaria de ter este livro. Gostaria de saber maissobre trabalhos ou livros publicados por estes autores. Um abraço, AdrianoCarneiro (Pernambuco- Brasil). ... Read more

Product Description

From reviews of previous editions:

"Professional naturalists will find [these volumes] invaluable as a handy reference, and amateurs -- at least those citizens alive to their earthly environment -- should delight in finding so much fascinating information made so available and palatable." -- Audubon

"What an amazing lot mammals are, seen here in all of their diversity!... Walker has made available a mine of information, for the specialist as well as for the casually interested... If you want to find out about a mammal, then, here is the place to look." -- New York Times

"Every mammalogist must have [these books], and those who profess a broad interest in the fauna of the world will want them." -- Natural History

From aardwolves and bandicoots to yapoks and zorillas, Ernest P. Walker's Mammals of the World is the most comprehensive -- the pre-eminent -- reference work on mammals. Now, completely revised and updated, this fascinating guide is better than ever. Providing a complete account of every genus of mammal in all historical time, the sixth edition is 25 percent longer than its predecessor. Of the previous generic accounts, 95 percent have been substantively modified, and there are 80 new ones -- among them, three remarkable, large ungulates recently discovered in the forests of Indochina. New also is a full account of the woolly mammoth, now known to have survived until less than 4,000 years ago.

Each section of the book describes one genus and includes facts such as scientific and common names, the number and distribution of species, measurements and physical traits, habitat, locomotion, daily and seasonal activity, population dynamics, home range, social life, reproduction, and longevity. Textual summaries present accurate, well-documented descriptions of the physical characteristics and living habits of mammals in every part of the world. As in the last two editions, the names and distributions of every species of every genus are listed in systematic order. These lists have now been cross-checked to ensure coverage of all species in the comprehensive new Smithsonian guide, Mammal Species of the World. Facts on the biology of mammals have been brought together from more than 2,700 newly cited references, nearly all published in the last decade. Also new are the latest data on reproduction, longevity, fur harvests, numbers in the wild and in captivity, and conservation status. The sixth edition also records all official classifications of every mammal species and subspecies in the massive 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals.

The illustrations -- more than 1,700 -- include virtually every genus of mammal. Among them are pictures by such noted wildlife photographers as Leonard Lee Rue III, Bernhard Grzimek, David Pye, and Warren T. Houck. Mammals pictured here for the first time include the just-discovered giant muntjac deer of Viet Nam, a rodent known only from the Solomon Islands, a large fruit bat whose male suckles the young, and an extremely rare web-footed tenrec of Madagascar.

Since its publication in 1964, Walker's Mammals of the World has become a favorite guide to the natural world for general readers as well as an invaluable resource for professionals. This sixth edition represents more than half a century of scholarship -- Ernest P. Walker himself devoted more than thirty years to the original project -- and remains true to Walker's vision, smoothly combining thorough scholarship with a popular, readable style to preserve and enhance what the Washington Post called "a landmark of zoological literature."

Many of those mammal species, Nowakwrites, are now in jeopardy. The International Union for theConservation of Nature lists 2,078 threatened species, an increase of1,661 species over its first list, published in 1987. At the sametime, Nowak adds, the U.S. Department of Interior list has grown byonly 17 species, for, he continues, "The USDI classification processhas become hopelessly subject to delay and manipulation bybureaucratic, political, and commercial interests." He argues thatmuch greater effort needs to be given to protecting these animalcitizens everywhere in the world. The knowledge of them that thisextraordinary compilation affords is a start. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

animal lover
I found this book very interesting and helpful in my amimal research. I recommend to anyone who loves animals.

The Only Thing
The only things that bother me about this issue is:

1. It used to be available together as a SET. But I found out this volume is only available seperately. Is the publisher getting stingy?

2. There is a picture of lions on the cover of volume 1, and volume 1 has NOTHING to do with panthers of any kind!

Other than those things, this is a good book, but I never bought this issue. My last purchased issues were from the 1991 volumes.

You must have it
To my knowledge this book is one of the best product on mammals. Is one of those items you must have if you deal with mammals, either if you are a professional or an amateur.

the best - but not perfect
This is the most comprehensive mammalogy book in existance. it is thorough, interesting and up to date. it can, however be better. It should for instance include some phylogenetic trees and easy to use statistics about the different families and orders. better pictures (especially colour ones) will likewise be welcome.
The main complaint I have for this otherwise excellent book is that when dealing with non "sexy" multispecies genera it is not always clear from the text which species the data actually refers to. an even bigger, more detailed and species rather than genus oriented 7th edition will make this very good book actually excellent

Excellent Value for Money
Whilst agreeing with other reviewers that there is substantial scope for improving photographs (see below), I think it is important to accept that these two volumes represent a great bargin in terms of the quantity of information presented and the value of the bibliography.This should continue to be a book which students can afford.

As a child I used to pore over the original 3 volumes in the main reference library where I grew up.I dreamed of owning my own copies.Imagine my surprise when I picked up the 5th edition in a bookshop in London some 25 years later, long after my professional involvement with Mammal Biology had ceased.

Over the years Walker's has seen steady incremental improvement particularly moving from generic to specific accounts and extending its scope to cover all Recent Mammals.As I state above there should always be a place for a good value comprehensive survey, BUT....

The Handbook of the Birds of the World project demonstrates what is possible with good quality color printing.Surely the Mammals of the World deserve an equally high-quality approach.Perhaps John Hopkins Press could be persuaded to produce a 'de luxe' 7th edition eliminating the B&W 'photos (particularly of dead specimens), adding extensive colour 'photos, range maps (both 'original' and current), and so forth.There is also scope for a high quality electronic product if nature films illustrating individual species could be licensed.We can live in hope! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Fabulous even for younger kids... and parents.
My four year old son absolutely loves this book. After about two months of renewing it every time we went to the library, I knew it was going to be a keeper (he's allowed to renew one book each time - that this has stayed his favorite for so long is telling of its appeal). The color-coded timelines and maps are great for appealing to more than simply verbal learners, and the text doesn't stray into overly technical jargon (like some adult-intended references) - but it does highlight key points such as dentition and how reconstructions are made based on limited fossil evidence.

The animals are sorted by taxonomic families, which is very logical (as opposed to alphabetically or by time period), and then each genus gets a two page spread usually sorted by time period, which makes it extremely convenient for bedtime reading. (For example, all the Probuscids (Elephant-like) mammals are together, the first ones being the oldest, the last spread being on mammoths, the youngest of the family.)

My son is an avid dinosaur fan, and I find this book much more pleasant for me to read through than most of the dinosaur books we have - I find it interesting to read through, and sometimes my patience outlasts my son's. This book seems more than just a rote regurgitation of specs about each animal - I think it encourages critical thinking and thoughtful learning, too.

The only thing I wish it had was a pronunciation key - the multi-syllable Latin words cause a noticeable pause when I'm reading to him.

The recognisable familiar world in visual appearance of the astonishing prehistoric mammals
National geographic have once againbrought out and presented us readers with prehistoric mammals a recognisable familarworld with stunningly breathtaking photograph-like illustrations that are like transporting you back intime machine but without anyneed to go anywhere and with all sorts of structural, size charts detailed profiles on each individual species and whole stack more scientific information which is interesting to read because it,s fascinating for reference in discovery of new worlds.Finally i would like to add that the onlyputoff to this book is that the scientific names are incorrect or to more naturally put it wrong because of it,s classification data but it is still nonetheless worth buying whether you borrow it or keep it for reading four and half stars from me.

great price - great book for junior scientists!
Bought this book as a Christmas gift for my 12-year-old.It was one of the things she wanted most on her list.If you know of someone interested in prehistoric mammals, this book is a great source of information.

A great introduction to mamalian evolution
A great intro to mammalian evolution. Suited to yonger readers with good graphics and concise text.... Thanks National Geographic!

Prehistoric fan
My son loves this book and has been studying it since he got it for Christmas. ... Read more

Product Description
This remarkable evolution series, narrated by the Universe itself, concludes with Book 3, the amazing story of mammals. It picks up with the extinction of dinosaurs, and tells how tiny mammals survived and morphed into lots of new Earthlings . . . horses, whales and a kind of mammal with a powerful imagination - you! It's a story of chaos, creativity and heroes-the greatest adventure on Earth! And it's a personal story . . . about our bodies, our minds, our spirits. It's our story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Helping kids and grown-ups look for opportunity in the midst of crisis
This third and final volume in a now-classic series of children's books culminates in a square look at the bad news facing our own impetuous species today (environmental decline, embattled peoples).Yet it leaves readers inspired to do their part in carrying the awesome multi-billion-year story of the universe forward in healthy ways.

In all three volumes of cosmic, biological, and cultural history -- Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book), From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth's Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book), and Mammals Who Morph: The Universe Tells Our Evolution Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book) -- the author presents episodes of catastrophes that actually happened: subatomic particle annihilation in volume 1, the oxygen crisis and meteor impact in volume 2, and in this volume(number 3) how the bright side of human ingenuity can also morph into a dark side: technological inventiveness that can turn disagreements into inter-group warfare and that can devastate ecologies in unanticipated ways.

Too often, books written for children sugarcoat the natural world and our own human history -- thus offering scant guidance for finding one's way through the challenges of life.In this book children and adults alike have their trust/faith strengthened, knowing that throughout the Big History of their own cosmic and biological ancestry challenges arose that would have seemed insurmountable at the time.Nonetheless, something good would eventually be born from each moment of mayhem.More, the innate creativity of the universe and living processes was thereby evoked into utterly new and sometimes sublime expression.In a very real way, crucial advances in complexity and the evolution of co-operation can, in hindsight, now be attributed to these very same obstacles.Catastrophes call forth creativity, surely in our own little lives as well as in the Great Story discovered by scientists that gathers all of us -- from stars to bacteria to primates -- into one magnificent family.

As an itinerant "evolutionary evangelist" over the past 8 years, I have sold this science-based trilogy wherever I speak (in churches, monasteries, classrooms, conference settings, and nature centers).Thousands of people who took these books home with them have since thanked me, and profusely.They read it to their children; they gave it to their grandchildren; they used these books as curriculum in Sunday School classes.I have even heard of this trilogy being used as the primary texts for teaching the Big History story of everything and everyone to ministers and religious educators.

Jennifer Morgan's ideas and words in this series are robustly supported by the rich and evocative illustrations by Dana Lynne Andersen.In this third volume the juxtaposition of deep blue with earthy orange on many of the pages creates a color scheme that embeds in one's emotional memory -- as do Dana's choice of image subjects.Who can forget the scientifically accurate rendering of an ancestral miniature horse (evolved not long after the extinction of the great dinosaurs) as it is held aloft in the horse-killing beak of a giant Terror Bird!

This is a story that fascinates and grounds us in reality.We all have a long and magnificent history!This is a story, too, that will not fade into mere metaphor or outright die during the transition from fantasy to fact that we each must navigate as the birthdays cycle by.Rather, the relevance and power of this story grows right along with us.

~ Michael Dowd, author of Thank God for Evolution: How the Marriage of Science and Religion Will Transform Your Life and Our World, which has been endorsed by 6 Nobel laureates and other science luminaries, including noted skeptics, and by religious leaders across the spectrum.

Accurate and Engaging
As with the first two books in this series (Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book) and From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth's Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book)), the scientific information in this book is accurate, the level of detail is just right for elementary schoolers, the graphics are vivid and engaging, and the narrative speaks in an effective personal voice.

Most importantly, my daughter really loves this book (almost as much as the previous two books), as evidenced by her unusually focused attentiveness to the text and her vivid recollection of the graphics. In short, this book was written specifically to engage and teach kids, and it works.

Highly recommended to any parent wishing to introduce their child to the basics of the evolutionary history of mammals and humans.

i love this series, so do my kids!
this series is great, and my daughter absolutely loves when i read them.this book is probably the best and most descriptive evolution book geared towards kids!highly recommend for any parent who wants to teach their kids about the origin of the earth and the evolution of all live on it!

A Universe Story Trilogy Thrills Children and Adults
As a resident of Princeton, New Jersey, a town filled with eminent scientists (including my Noble Laureate physicist uncle) I have lived for years believing that science was beyond my ken, beyond my capacity for even the faintest glimmering of understanding.

In the last few years I have beenthrilled to discover Jennifer Morgan, a Princeton author who has written three science books designed for children, entitled A Universe Story Trilogy.The first book, Born With a Bang, covers the history of the universe from its beginning 13.7 billion years ago to the beginning of Earth. The second book, From Lava to Life, tells the story of life beginning as bacteria . . . to the reign of the dinosaurs.Mammals Who Morph, the third book, takes the story from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the rise of Homo sapiens.

The three books are charming and work as wonderful bedtime story reading. But despite the charm and the beautiful illustrations, Ms. Morgan is writing hard science.In a recent seminar which she led, I learned that she spent a number ofyears talking with cosmologists, evolutionary biologists, and anthropologists, doing her best to be sure that these children's stories were rigorously in accord with current scientific thinking.

To be sure, scientific thinking changes, as Ms. Morgan is the first to acknowledge, and indeed theories which are current today are subject to revision tomorrow.But the extraordinary gift which Jennifer Morgan has given, is a sense that science is full of wonder, excitement and reverence. I, for example, finally got a glimmering of my uncle's work having to do with something called CP Violation and the mindbending concept that if the symmetry between particles and antiparticles had not been broken in the first second after the Big Bang, the rest of the Universe Story would not have happened.

Ms. Morgan's books will turn kids on to science. . . to say nothing of the grownups who literally walked away from Ms. Morgan's presentation with stars in their eyes.

Linda Fitch

Carried me away...
I'm no longer a kid, but I've learned a great deal from Mammals Who Morph.I'd read Morgan's two earlier volumes in this trilogy, and this was very helpful, though not absolutely necessary to appreciate the third.

What I value most in all three volumes is the appreciation and satisfaction I derive on several levels.The science is clear, and if the other reviewers here are to be believed, rock solid.But so is the story-telling.I've just been carried away in the tale.Morgan's contention, I think, is that this is MY tale as well as the universe's.It's all of ours.I feel a strong sense ofrecognition.Something's touched, and the sensation is unmistakably familiar.

She's also included a glossary and resources and avenues for further learning.How often do you see that in a book for children that is also this entertaining?

And then, of course, there's the art work.The full-page color illustrations accompanying every page of written work are not merely beautiful, they're worth savoring.

Quite a package.Quite a trilogy.Quite a remarkable accomplishment. ... Read more