There are more than 6,400 species in the class Mammalia, including the blue whale'the largest animal that has ever lived'and the pygmy shrew, which weighs little more than a dime. Such diversity among mammals has allowed them to play critical roles in every ecosystem, whether marine, freshwater, alpine, tundra, forest, or desert.
Reflecting the expertise and perspective of five leading mammalogists, the fifth edition of Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology significantly updates taxonomy, adds a new introductory chapter on the science of mammalogy, and highlights several recently described species. To enhance its appeal to students, textual material has been reduced, consolidated, and streamlined without sacrificing breadth or depth of coverage. The fifth edition includes
for the first time, stunning color photographs throughout
chapters rearranged and grouped to best reflect phylogenetic relationships, with updated numbers of genera and species for each family
updated mammalian structural and functional adaptations, as well as ordinal fossil histories
recent advances in mammalian phylogeny, biogeography, social behavior, and ecology, with 12 new or revised cladograms reflecting current research findings
new breakout boxes on novel or unique aspects of mammals
new work on female post-copulatory mate choice, cooperative behaviors, group defense, and the role of the vomeronasal system
discussions of the current implications of climate change and other anthropogenic factors for mammals
Maintaining the accessible, readable style for which Feldhamer and his coauthors are well known, this new edition of Mammalogy is the authoritative textbook on this amazingly diverse class of vertebrates.
PrefacePART 1IntroductionChapter 1 The Science of Mammalogy 2 Methods for Studying Mammals 3 Mammalian Phylogeny and Diversification 4 Evolution and Dental Characteristics 5 Biogeography PART 2. MAMMALIAN CHARACTERISTICS6 Structure and Function 7 Feeding and Nutrition 8 Physiological and Environmental Adaptations 9 Reproduction PART 3. ADAPTIVE RADIATION AND DIVERSITY10 Monotremes and Marsupials 11 Orders: Macroscelidea, Tenrecoidea, Tubulidentata 12 Orders: Proboscidea, Hyracoidea, Sirenia 13 Orders: Cingulata and Pilosa 14 Orders: Scandentia and Dermoptera 15 Order: Primates 16 Orders: Rodentia and Lagomorpha 17 Order Eulipotyphla: families Solenodontidae, Soricidae, Talpidae, Erinaceidae 18 Orders: Carnivora and Pholidota 19 Orders: Perissodactyla and Artiodactyla 20 Infraorder Cetacea 21 Order: Chiroptera PART 4. BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY22 Sexual Selection, Parental Care, and Mating Systems 23 Social Behavior24 Movement Patterns and Spatial Relations 25 Populations and Life History 26 Community Ecology PART 5. SPECIAL TOPICS27 Parasites and Zoonotic Diseases 28 Conservation GlossaryReferencesCreditsIndex
[Mammalogy] will challenge the student to think critically and seek to understand rather than merely remember the facts.Reference Reviews
