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From reviews of the previous edition:"This is the standard reference about Texas mammals."--Wildlife Activist"A must for anyone seriously interested in the wildlife of Texas."--Texas Outdoor Writers Association News"[This book] easily fills the role of both a field guide and a desk reference, and is written in a style that appeals to the professional biologist and amateur naturalist alike. . . . [It] should prove useful to anyone with an interest in the mammal fauna of Texas or the southern Great Plains."--Prairie NaturalistThe Mammals of Texas has been the standard reference since the first edition was authored by William B. Davis in 1947. Revised several times over the succeeding decades, it remains the most authoritative source of information on the mammalian wildlife of Texas. This new edition has been thoroughly updated and expanded from the previous one in 1994. Of particular importance are the changes it records in species status and distribution. New materials in this edition include lists of subspecies, a brief description of the conservation status of each species, and an expanded introductory section that discusses historical changes in Texas mammals and the history of mammalogy in Texas. The book also contains a thorough overview of the mammals of Texas, abundant photographs and drawings, distribution maps, physical descriptions, and life histories for 184 species of mammals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Texas mammals
Product arrived in excellent condition and ahead of the expected delivery date.Great Service.Would highly recommend.

Basically very good, some strange mistakes
On the whole the books was very worthwhile. It covers every species and subspecies of mammal found in the state of Texas, including marine mammals.The information seemed mostly sound, but there were a few inconsistencies and mistakes presented.The inconsistencies mostly involved the way range maps were presented.In some cases, in species that have undergone range contraction, range maps presented both a historical range and a current range.In other cases they do not (as for black bears).
There were also some odd range maps; for instance, the range map for the armadillo shows them inhabiting the whole panhandle, but without any confirmed county sightings recorded for the whole western edge of the panhandle and a good portion of the northen panhandle; about 14 continuous counties were listed as part of it's range without a single sighting in any of them. Their absence from this range would make sense, as the soil is very hard with a caliche base, and there are not a lot of riparian habitats which help the spread of armadillos.I can't swear for sure that they're not here, but I'd like to know why thy listed that part of texas as within the range of the armadillo without any sightings.

There is also a case where they list one species of skunk (the hooded I think) as the largest skunk, giving it's maximum weight as 4.5kg, but then list the striped skunk as reaching up to 8kg. One of those statements has to be false...

Then, they record the maximum weight of the mountain lion as 220 kg! That would be just shy of 500 lbs, or the size of a tiger.They can reach up to about 220 pounds though--I think a copy editor probably messed up there.

On the whole though, a good book--there were some errors but the bulk of the information seems sound was the authors were very thorough, covering reproduction, diets, dental formulas...essentially the basics of the animal's life history in each description.

The Classic of Southwest Mammalology
This book is a classic reference -- it's been around for a long time, and will probably continue to be around for quite some time to come. I all but slept with it under my pillow during my college days, and now, decadeslater, I still frequently refer to it. Every subspecies of every wildmammal found in the Lone Star State, from mice to buffalo, is covered herein painstaking detail: feeding and breeding habits, distribution (includingmaps), population status, very good photographs, and relationship to humansociety (game animal, crop pest, etc.) is all here. Due to the size andgeographic location of Texas, the animals covered in this book range overmany habitats from desert to woodlands to subtropical seas -- making it auseful reference tool for zoological study in almost any area of the UnitedStates. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Scientific or Research Document Format
I expected a format more like that of a "field guide," but this book seems more like a research or scientific document.Although the illustrations included appear to be of good quality, all species are not included. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Disapointed
Although the graphics were in detail, as an avid saltwater flyfisherman I was disapointed in the discriptions given for the species...When Mackrel was discribedthere was no mentions of Tinker Mackrel a major food souce for Striped Bass who feed on this fish.( What I found interesting was the color plate for"Alantic Mackrel" looked a lot alike Tinker Mackrel.) When Weak fish were discribed a total length of 20 inch was given. I personally caught and released a Weak Fishwell over 28 inches weighing in at 8 pounds.I did not bother to read the rest of the book. I was hoping I could learn something but, I have no idea what the total facts are in species I know not much about. I just don't think there was enough research given when putting this book togather.

Excellent portable field guide
This is a nice little book that covers wildlife of the North Atlantic and easily fits in one's backpack. The illustrations are excellent and the descriptions brief, but comprehensive.

excellent FIELD guide
From Newfoundland to the Azores, I found myself allways pleased, for having such a remarkable friend...to share knowledge and passion about the blue and the magical sea creatures. It helped me a lot.

Essential, practical guide
Succint offshore guide that is perfect for outdoor seashore walks. Fits well in the pocket and has ideal illustrations packaged for convenient rapid reference. Text is pertinent and complements the colored illustrations in a concise relevant way. I can't wait for the next volume addressing the southern shores.

A pleasure in every way
This book is a delight to look at: the illustrations are stunning, the design is clean and elegant. It's a delight to hold: the binding, the quality of the paper, the form factor. And it's a delight to read: the text is clear and concise, while packed with detail. For me, the most compelling aspect of the book is the illustrations, which Lynch brings to life on the pages. I unhesitantly recommend this book to anyone who takes pleasure in the wildlife of the North Atlantic. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Long papers on current issues in amniote paleobiology
This book is a collection of long papers on diverse areas of amniote paleobiology. I would recommend browsers checking the book contents to see if specific papers are of interest to them. ... Read more

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Perhaps nudged over the evolutionary cliff by a giant boloid striking the earth, the incredible and fascinating group of animals called dinosaurs became extinct some 65 million years ago (except for their feathered descendants). In their place evolved an enormous variety of land creatures, especially the mammals, which in their way were every bit as remarkable as their Mesozoic cousins.

The Age of Mammals, the Cenozoic Era, has never had its Jurassic Park, but it was an amazing time in earth’s history, populated by a wonderful assortment of bizarre animals. The rapid evolution of thousands of species of mammals brought forth gigantic hornless rhinos, sabertooth cats, mastodonts and mammoths, and many other creatures—including our own ancestors.

Their story is part of a larger story of a world emerging from the greenhouse conditions of the Mesozoic, warming up dramatically about 55 million years ago, and then cooling rapidly so that 33 million years ago the glacial ice returned. The earth’s vegetation went through equally dramatic changes, from tropical jungles in Montana and forests at the poles, to grasslands and savannas across the entire world. Life in the sea also underwent striking evolution reflecting global climate change, including the emergence of such creatures as giant sharks, seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales.

After the Dinosaurs is a book for everyone who has an abiding fascination with the remarkable life of the past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

More than Extinction!
This book is a wonderful adaptation of scientific research into a readable story of prehistory.It delves not only into the fossil record of animal and plant history, but also attempts to show the analysis of global climate changes over geologic time (when man could not have been an influence.)Establishing habitats for the lost animal kingdoms by using trace evidence in the fossil record, this volume is an invaluable compilation for the serious environmental studies scientist.It even tries to clarify what the causes of extinction were most likely to be at each landmark on the geologic timescale.

Not a simple prehistoric zoology. Some of the concepts are a little challenging to absorb and retain, but this book does not make unsubstantiated claims nor does it embrace pseudo-scientific notions.

A Big Disappointment
This book claims to cover the evolution of mammals during the Cenozoic era. What it actually covers is changes in global climate over the past 65 million years. While that topic may be of interest to some, most purchasers of this book are probably looking for information about the larger mammals of the Cenozoic.There is precious little of that here.

Each chapter covers one period of the Cenozoic Era, beginning with an excruciatingly detailed description of the climate of the period and how it changed over time. If you enjoy reading long, loving descriptions of mollusks and sea urchins and how the climate affected them, you are in luck.If you're looking for descriptions of the larger mammals that populated the earth during the period, you will be disappointed. What you get is generally a list of ten or twelve of the more common mammals with virtually no description or discussion of their behavior. This could perhaps be forgiven if the illustrations were of high quality, but the artwork is a joke. None is original. Much of it consists of pencil sketches that could have been drawn by high school students. The rest is from various sources, some of which are more than fifty years old. The color plates were lifted from a 1950's issue of "Life" magazine.

If you're looking for a well-done book on Cenozoic mammals, get Agusti and Anton's "Mammoths, Sabertooths and Hominids.Anton's artwork is incomparable and the text is actually about Cenozoic mammals. Unfortunately, it only covers the mammals of Europe.

Having read the glowing reviews of this book by others, I can only conclude that they have not actually read the book or else they are friends and colleagues of the author who are trying to help him out.

A great detailed look at evolution after the dinosaurs
Not the easiest read but definately worth the effort if you have an interest in this subject matter. Theres no doubt that books that collate the broad spectrum of the information of this nature are hard to come by. So for me its a welcome publication although i'd like to see an improvements in the graphic design if any later editions are to be published..... Well done to the author

An ESSENTIAL book on the mammals evolution
An ESSENTIAL book on the mammals evolution, it's so interesting for a general introduction of an explanation of mammals evolution.

Unleashing a great diversity
For life on the land, it was simply a resetting of the clock.A great rock arrived on Earth to precipitate - or complete - a massive extinction.Successfully dominating the planet for over 120 million years, the hordes of saurians were expunged.The sea-side plains and woodlands they had inhabited were now empty.Not entirely devoid of life, however, for sharp-eyed creatures who had been around as long as those dinosaurs peered out from hiding places, observing the emptiness.They quickly began to occupy it for themselves.In so doing, theyfounded an immense diversity of lineages, one of which ultimately led to ourselves.

Donald Prothero, who has contributed much to our knowledge of fossils, the scientific process and mammalian evolution, offers here a work of great scope.Tracking the changes in life over 65 million years is no small task, and he copes with the challenge well.In this work, he lists the forms of mammal life, some of the sea life along the shore and in the deep, and the environment shifts in general.Those environment shifts were great prompts to changes in life and he explains as much as is known about what caused the Earth to warm from the end of the Cretaceous through the Eocene when temperatures went into decline.

Although North America receives what seems an inordinate amount of attention, that is due to geophysical conditions here through the Cenozoic and to the rich fossil trove it has produced.That doesn't prevent the author from addressing the rest of the planet, which he does in extensive detail.The interaction of life between Europe, Asia and North America is nearly continuous during the period.Africa remained close, but detached, as was the case with South America for many millennia.Australia was increasingly isolated over time, while India was making a mad dash to link with Asia.All these geologic shifts had major repercussions on climate, as well as plant and animal life.It is those great interactions which form the underlying theme of this book.Climate change institutes other change, much of it severe and long-lasting.Prothero's message is clear, if subtly presented: human induced climate change is already underway, and we'd best prepare to learn to cope with the changes that will follow.

As with all Prothero's books, this one is richly illustrated.It presents informative photographs of working digs and museum specimens, artwork of skeletal reconstructions filled in with flesh and fur.There are explanatory diagrams showing the relationships of various fossil species and the significant changes occurring over time.There are some jarring images, such as the sabre-toothed cats, who at first glance seem unlikely to survive with the extended dentition they carried about.Yet, they persisted successfully for nearly two million years.Huge, flightless predatory birds inhabited South America instead of the sabre-toothed cats.Prothero's diagram [p. 225] of these creatures' size compared with a human, should give anybody watching a passing robin a bit of pause.Today those creatures are docile seed or insect eaters, but not long ago they would have been pleased to feast on you.

Finally, of course, Prothero must bring in the most ecologically successful species of them all.The hominids and their many precursor species in Africa.Throughout this segment, he explains how climate was a prompt for many of our accomplishments as a new species.He puts the rise of proto-humans in context with events and conditions over the rest of the planet.The Ice Ages is given detailed attention with what is known of the Neanderthal subspecies living through the early stages.In all this is an excellent book for anybody who cares to learn the background of our lineage and that of our mammalian cousins.[stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada] ... Read more

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Marine mammal conservation presents a number of challenges for scientists and other stakeholders, especially using natural resources in ways that avoid crisis management. Scientists play the special role of providing vital information to decision makers to help them understand long-term consequences of their actions and avoid crises before they develop. The contributors to this visionary work look beyond the current crises to present a compelling argument about how science, if conducted properly, can provide insights that minimize crisis management and implement more anticipatory action.

Despite the significant reduction of marine mammal harvesting, stocks of some species remain greatly reduced or are in decline. This volume provides an overview of the current state of marine mammal populations and identifies the major obstacles facing marine mammal conservation, including fisheries, sonar and other noise pollution, disease, contaminants, algal booms, and habitat loss. The contributors chart a scientifically-supported plan to direct marine management toward a well-defined recovery protocol.

This comprehensive resource will be indispensable for marine mammal biologists, oceanographers, conservation program managers, government regulators, policy makers, and anyone who is concerned about the future of these captivating species.

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Detailed, specially drawn full-color illustrations of 230 species of mammals, 300 reptiles, and 200 amphibians in natural, realistic settings. At-a-glance identification capsules pinpoint behavior patterns, field characteristics, coloring, habitat, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Just what I needed
This book is full of the info on the animals and reptiles I was looking for. Would recommend it for anyone who is interested in watching wildlife.

Reader's Digest N. Am. Wildlife
I really like this book. I am a nature lover, enjoying nature walks, gardening, my fish pond, and bird watching at all my feeders. I have a lot of individual books on specific studies--birds, nests and eggs, trees, flowers, etc., but I enjoy this book because there is so much information on ALL forms of nature life, both plant and animal, all under one cover. I ordered two books so I could give one to a friend. One was ordered from seashellbooks, which I received within two weeks. The other was ordered from keen_northwest at the same time. I would suggest you do not order from them, as I still have not received my book from them.Today is March 4th, and I ordered the books on January 31st. I was not able to tag this below, but would definitely RECOMMEND.

A Great Beginner's Guide to Wildlife in North America
I bought this for a young girl who is interested in wildlife. I loved the detailed illustrations and the information included. I would not suggest this book for an adult, but it was a big hit with the recipient.

Excellent wildlife book
Excellent book on Wildlife in North American.The picture are very true of the real animal dipicted.

A Good Field Guide
This is our first family field guide that we picked up at a used book sale.It is not comprehensive, but covers more than the basics well.The color illustrations are great and we have learned much from the book so far in the year that we've owned it. ... Read more

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Tim Flannery draws together the results of his five-year field survey and literature review on the mammals of an area extending from the islands just east of Sulawesi in the Moluccas, to the Cook Islands in the central South Pacific, north to Micronesia, and south to New Zealand, but excluding New Guinea. He identifies, classifies, and describes every living native mammalian species of the region as well as introduced and prehistorically extinct species. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Stunning
Not only does this book hold a wealth of information impossible to find elsewhere, it is also accompanied by beautiful photos.
The detail on the fauna of the Moluccas is better than anything one could find for any other, actually far less remote region of Indonesia. Every bit as good as the book on the Mammals of New Guinea by this author.

Comprehensive book on fascinating area.
Absolutely fascinating book by well known mammalogist Tim Flannery. In the same series as "The mammals of Australia" by Strahan and "Mammals of New Guinea" by Tim Flannery, and equally as well laid out. Sections of the book are divided into families such as muridae (rats), phalangeridae (possums)and pteropodidae (fruit bats). Each species description includes a colour photograph, along with most available information on the species (many species are relatively unstudied. Overall, this book is a wonderful insight into the mammal fauna of this area, and I highly recommend it for any mammalogist or interested individual. ... Read more

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Since 1975, over 12,000 animals have been treated at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. An effort that began with locals rescuing sea lions from nearby beaches has grown into the largest marine mammal facility in the world. The center's groundbreaking research and education programs now teach 100,000 people a year how our daily choices affect the marine habitat and our own. This celebration of the history and mission of the Marine Mammal Center is illustrated with full-color photographs and sprinkled with real-life rescue stories, making this a book for animal lovers, environmentalists, and students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pacific Coast Animals
I am a docent for a local preserve and this book is great to carry when I'm out with the kids.It is small and light weight with lots of great info. ... Read more

Product Description
This fully revised and updated edition of A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia is the only comprehensive guide to identifying all 379 species of mammals known in Australia. This book provides concise and accurate details of the appearance, diagnostic features, distribution, habitat, and key behavioural characteristics of all mammals known to have occurred in Australia or its waters since the time of European settlement.Each double-page spread provides all the information needed to identify an animal, a full-color illustration of the entire animal, a smaller diagram of diagnostic features, a distribution map, and species description and measurements, including details of how to differentiate between similar species. Identification keys are provided for groups that are difficult to identify to species level, including keys to the genera of small marsupials, rodents, and bats, and all marine mammals likely to be washed on to an Australian beach: whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and the Dugong. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

best field guide for mammals of australia
In fact, it is the only real field guide to the mammals of Australia. The Australian museum book is great of course, but is a reference book for home, whereas this is the perfect field guide. The drawings are pretty well spot and capture the look of the animal in the field quite well. Also, very recent. Great book, and good value.
Damon Ramsey, Author, "Ecosystem Guides Rainforest of tropical Australia"

Mammals from the Down Under
I've been doing alot of research on illustrating various Australian Mammals and found that this book is the most compacted of all reference materials. You get the whole animal to view. So many times when cross researching you find yourself struggling to figure out what the animals feet really looks like, this book I find is really helpful.

THE field guide
Peter Menkhorst's book is widely regarded as THE field guide to the mammals of Australia.Compact and easy to use, with fantastic illustrations by Frank Knight, its a must for anyone interested in identifying Australia's diverse mammalian fauna. ... Read more

Product Description
Dictionary of Australian and New Guinean Mammals is the first unified guide to the mammals of both Australia and New Guinea. Based on Ronald Strahan s first dictionary of Australian mammals, published in 1981, it includes all species, both native and introduced. For each species and genus, it provides a clear guide to pronunciation, the derivation and significance of the component parts of the name, and the citation that identifies its earliest valid description.

This unique work includes biographical notes on fifty-one zoologists who, over the past three centuries, have named Australian and New Guinean mammals.

The book also includes an account of the principles and practices of zoological nomenclature, together with a comprehensive bibliography and an index of common names. Dictionary of Australian and New Guinean Mammals is an invaluable reference for mammal researchers and students, as well as anyone interested in natural history. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent reference book
As a college mammology student - this book is a great aid to my understanding the identification and natural history of many mammals found in the Midwest.The translations of scientific names helped me understand and learn names quickly.The line drawings of tracks, teeth and skulls are well done and better than photographs in field guides. This is great resource!!

Essential Reading on Midwestern Mammals
This book has been a valued, detailed reference on Midwestern mammals since its first edition in 1959. Many, many people own the revised edition, which came out in 1981, but this second revision, published in 2001, is well worth purchasing, for it provides important updates on population levels, management strategies, and economic importance, as well as revised taxonomies (skunks, for instance, are now in their own family and no longer grouped with the weasels). Additionally, this revision includes species that are now found in the state (most notably the armadillo--absent in the state when the 1981 version of this book was prepared, but now quite common in the state and thus included in this edition).

The previous edition was the "bible" of Midwestern mammals; and this is its update.

Of course, the best reason to purchase this book is the wealth of information the Schwartzes provide, in organized, incredibly detailed text. This is no cursory examination of the species, pared down to fit the constraints of an ADD culture; in complete sentences, it includes descriptions of the animals' gaits, daily and seasonal routines, modes of foraging and feeding, preferred foods during various seasons, details of reproduction and development . . . and much, much more. It also includes North American range maps for each species.

Visually, the book is an absolute treasure, because of Charles Schwartz's illustrations. Each species includes a formal portrait including detailed drawings of front and rear feet and various views of the skull (important for serious mammalogists). But that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Each species also includes several additional drawings that convey an amazing amount of instructive information, while also providing a sense of the "character" of the animals. Indeed, if you search the Internet on these various species, you routinely find illustrations (such as track patterns and the many brilliant, detailed vignettes) that have been lifted, outright, from this publication, with or without appropriate citation.

Let me stress again: the illustrations provide serious information, but throughout, you can sense Schwartz's deep affection and respect for the mammals he depicts.

I should also point out that although this book is about Missouri's mammals, other states in the region clearly benefit from the Schwartzes' masterpiece, too.

Yes, it's expensive, and unfortunately only available in paperback, but it's a book you ought to have on your shelf--it's basically an encyclopedia of Midwestern mammals containing all the information you could possibly want to know. You'll find yourself consulting it often. ... Read more