Jonathan Kingdon, one of the foremost authorities on African mammals, has written and illustrated this new field guide which sets new standards in African mammalogy. The author covers all the known species of African land mammal in a concise text providing full information on identification, distribution, ecology, evolutionary relationships, and conservation status. The focus is always on the mammals as seen in the field and on their ecology and evolutionary interrelationships. Introductory profiles summarize the characteristics of the various mammal groups, and the author simplifies many of the more complex groups of mammals by referencing genera. Twelve newly recognized species of bushbaby, fourteen newly named baboons, guenons, and mangabeys and nine newly described colobus monkeys contribute to a modern treatment of the monkeys. New species of bats, rodents, and fox as well as a fully revised listing of the duikers, squirrels and genets are included. Kingdon combines his long personal experience of life in Africa and his artistic talent with the best that modern natural history and biological science can offer. With over 480 color pictures and 280 maps covering some 1,100 mammal species, this book is an essential companion to all visiting Africa or with an interest in the mammals of the continent. Key Features: Employs the most up-to-date classification and lists all 1,150 known species Focuses on mammals as seen in the field and in their evolutionary interrelationships
Reihe
Sprache
Zielgruppe
Für höhere Schule und Studium
Für Beruf und Forschung
Produkt-Hinweis
ISBN-13
978-0-691-11692-1 (9780691116921)
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Preface and Acknowledgements vi Checklist of Species vii Introduction 1 Mammals 5 Primates 8 Bats 111 Insectivores 137 Elephant Shrews, or Sengis 147 Hares 152 Rodents 159 Carnivores 215 Scaly Ant-eaters 288 Aardvark 294 Hyraxes 296 Proboscids 302 Odd-toes Ungulates 309 Even-toes Ungulates 323 The African Environment 477 Physical 447 Climate 448 Vegetation 451 The Past 455 Habitats 455 Species 456 Conservation 457 Further Reading 459 Glossary 460