Wildlife: mammals: general interest Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Grizzly West is an excellent environmental history that puts the story of grizzlies in the West in their biological, human and politic context."—Erin H. Turner, Big Sky Journal"A fascinating look at just how complicated issues of wildlife and conservation are out here, as well as the grip in which the West is held by its own mythology, Grizzly West makes clear that it’s very hard for a bear, or a wolf, or a river to just be what they are when politics, history and human nature are involved."—Lit/Rant"Grizzly West is a timely retrospective of biopolitics surrounding conservation of large carnivores in the western US."—J. Organ, CHOICE"Grizzly West is a good book. . . . Dax resurrects a missing and important story and uses it to illustrate critical trends in modern western history."—Adam Sowards, Annals of Wyoming"Incredibly informative."—Douglas M. Richardson, Mountain Research and Development"A timely read."—Scott Parker, Bozeman Daily Chronicle"Of primary interest to environmental historians and historians of western politics, Dax’s detailed description of a decade’s worth of political maneuvering is greatly augmented by his access to previously unknown personal documents and interviews with the principals involved."—Mark Madison, Western Historical Quarterly"Grizzly West should be recommended reading for anyone interested in the environmental and political history of the American West."—Peter S. Alagona, Environmental History"Grizzly West is a wellspring of insight regarding the political dimensions of species restoration in the 1990s and will be of value to both academic and general readers with an interest in recent issues in western environmentalism."—Kelsey Matson, Pacific Northwest Quarterly"Dax is a skilled writer who keeps the narrative moving. Throughout, he constantly juxtaposes the world views of the New West and Old West and how these strongly held beliefs influenced the development of the reintroduction plan."—David J. Robertson, Natural Areas JournalTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Maps Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction 1. Grizzly Americana 2. Endangered Species, Environmental Politics, and the American West 3. Wolf Recovery Sets the Stage 4. The Advent of the ROOTS Coalition and the Environmental Impact Statement 5. Environmental Resistance 6. Ethical Controversies and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 7. The Divided West 8. Triumph and Collapse Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAChoice Outstanding Academic Title More than any other nonhuman species, it was the sea otter that defined the world’s largest oceanscape before the California gold rush. In addition to the more conventional aspects of the sea otter trade, including Russian expansion in Alaska, British and American trading in the Pacific Northwest, and Spanish colonial ventures along the California coast, the global importance of the species can be seen in its impact on the East Asian maritime fur trade. This trade linked imperial China, Japan, and indigenous Ainu peoples of the Kurile Islands as early as the fifteenth century. In Sea Otters: A History Richard Ravalli synthesizes anew the sea otter’s complex history of interaction with humans by drawing on new histories of the species that consider international and global factors beyond the fur trade, including sea mammal conservation, Cold War nuclear testing, and environmental tourism. Examining sea otteTrade Review"Cute, beloved and once exploited for their fur, sea otters have now become an icon of conservation. How they once came close to, and then bounced back from, extinction is a five-centuries-long tale of international intrigue, trade, conservation and ecotourism."—John R. Platt, Revelator"Histories of animals continue to proliferate with the ongoing "animal turn" in the humanities and social sciences. Ravalli's Sea Otters: A History joins these still-swelling ranks, contributing significantly to our understanding of the contingent nature of the historical experiences of one animal species and human's relationships with it. . . . Ravalli's deft reading of the history of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) as a history of a global Pacific, and especially the trade in highly valued sea otter pelts, demonstrates how global events might affect a raft of otters and regional otter populations."—J. W. Cox, Choice"Sea Otters is a concise, accessible book that will engage readers interested in sea otter history."—M. Blake Butler, California History"Sea Otters: A History [is] a highly readable and detailed overview of the impact of the sea otter trade on the history and ecology of the North Pacific."—Les Beldo, H-Environment"[Sea Otters: A History] provides readers with a fascinating overview of the life, times and history of the smallest marine mammal in the North Pacific Ocean. It is at once natural history, commercial history, imperial and nation defining history, species extinction history, conservation history and tourism/entertainment history."—Robin Inglis, Ormsby Review“Expertly integrating history and biology, this is the one book that tells the full, tragic story of the sea otter from its near extinction to its elevation to icon of cuteness. The sea otter, as Ravalli masterfully relates, has long been at the center of politics, conservation, and tourism in the North Pacific. Before you visit the sea otters at a Pacific aquarium, read this book to understand the fascinating history of how these creatures got there, and how they very nearly did not make it.”—Ryan Tucker Jones, associate professor of history at the University of Oregon“Well-researched and succinctly told, this is the story of the late eighteenth-century sea otter trade that decimated a unique marine species and revolutionized the Pacific Rim by introducing coastal communities to a global capitalist system.”—Jim Hardee, editor of The Rocky Mountain Fur Trade Journal“Here is the story, richly told, of how these vulnerable mammals—the ermine of Asian markets—were pursued for their lustrous skins and hunted to near extinction. The quest eventually generated a rivalry between seafaring nations and Indigenous peoples along islands and coasts from China to Mexico.”—Barry Gough, professor emeritus of history at Wilfrid Laurier University and author of Pax Britannica: Ruling the Waves and Keeping the Peace before ArmageddonTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Rakkoshima, the Sea Otter Islands 2. Promyshlenniki and Padres 3. Boston Men 4. Near Extinction and Reemergence 5. Nukes, Aquaria, and Cuteness Conclusion Appendix: List of Vessels Engaged in the California Sea Otter Trade, 1786–1847 Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver the past thirty years, forensic anthropologist Mary H. Manhein has helped authorities to identify hundreds of deceased persons throughout Louisiana and beyond. In this book, she offers details of twenty riveting cases from her files - many of them involving facial reconstructions where only bones offered clues to an individual's story.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCharts a path to understanding how the animal world became deeply involved in the most divisive moment in American history. The contributors to this volume - scholars of animal history and Civil War historians - argue for an animal-centered narrative to complement the human-centered accounts of the war.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThrough 160 photographs from the National World War II Museum collection, Loyal Forces captures the heroism, hard work, and innate skills of innumerable animals that aided the military as they fought to protect, transport, communicate, and sustain morale.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJuno Salazar Parreñas traces the ways in which colonialism and decolonization shape relations between humans and nonhumans at a Malaysian orangutan rehabilitation center, contending that considering rehabilitation from an orangutan perspective will shift conservation biology from ultimately violent investments in population growth and toward a feminist sense of welfare.Trade Review"This is seriously thought-provoking and challenging material, and it may be essential to understand it if we want to save orangutans from ourselves." -- John R. Platt * The Revelator *"Impactful. . . . Juno S. Parreñas details diverse assumptions and expectations participants bring to this complex network, thereby generating a unique and timely addition to the conservation literature. Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty and professionals." -- L. K. Sheeran * Choice *"Decolonizing Extinction is essential reading for anyone with the ambition to do multispecies ethnography well. It’s also a beautiful and moving book that struggles with the ethical weight of ethnography as a mode of knowledge production." -- Gabriel N. Rosenberg * Radical History Review *"[This book] excels in these tricky in-between places: in meetings between species, between temporalities, between bodies, between genders, between sexes, and across divergent positions within colonial histories and presents. Parreñas tracks meetings across difference with the best kind of ethnographic sensitivity." -- Rosemary Collard * Society & Space *"Decolonizing Extinction offers a compelling example of why feminism is well suited and positioned to take on issues related to animals, as well as how gender relations of power are necessarily embedded in human-animal relations, and in turn broader process of colonization and arrested autonomy." -- Alice Hovorka * Society & Space *"The book brilliantly weaves discussions about broader socio-political transformations and norms alongside very careful and detailed accounts of the everyday practices and interactions between orangutans and people." -- Krithika Srinivasan * Society & Space *"A powerful, thought-provoking, and touching account of the quotidian nature of mass extinction." -- Becky Mansfield * Society & Space *"Parreñas’s Decolonizing Extinction is a beautifully written book, in which she uses a case study of orangutan rehabilitation on Borneo to weave together many complex analytic threads: gender, race, and labor; care, violence, and freedom; liberalism and neoliberalism; the geological past, the colonial present, and the prospect of a different future." -- Rebecca Lave * Society & Space *“With Decolonizing Extinction, Juno Salazar Parreñas gives us a groundbreaking and beautifully written multispecies ethnography that explores the entwined lives of human and nonhuman primates. Deftly combining primatology, political ecology, and postcolonial and feminist theory, her book will interest biological and cultural anthropologists alike and has the potential to foster deeper cross-disciplinary engagement.” -- Genese Marie Sodikoff * American Ethnologist *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction: Decolonizing Extinction 1 Part I. Relations 1. From Ape Motherhood to Tough Love 33 2. On the Surface of Skin and Earth 61 Part II. Enclosures 3. Forced Copulation for Conservation 83 4. Finding a Living 105 Part III. Futures 5. Arrested Autonomy 131 6. Hospice for a Dying Species 157 Conclusion: Living and Dying Together 177 Notes 189 References 223 Index 255

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisRoze highlights the conservation issues that surround some porcupine species, such as the thin-spine porcupine of Brazil, which is so rare that it was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in the 1980s.Trade ReviewPorcupines: The Animal Answer Guide presents solid, current, science of porcupine biology... A good general introduction into the biology of porcupines. -- Ian Paulsen Birdbooker Report Delightful. -- Jason Bittel Slate A fine survey recommended for any serious natural history holding. Midwest Book Review Roze has produced a useful guide to a familiar but often not entirely understood mammal... This informative, interesting volume will be a valuable addition to any academic library. Choice A tome that can be appreciate by trained biologists, interested general readers, and budding junior naturalists... Anyone interested in mammalian natural history will want to add this excellent work to their collection. -- John L. Koprowski Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Introducing PorcupinesWhat is a porcupine?How many kinds of porcupines are there?Who's who among the Old World porcupines?Who's who among the New World porcupines?Why are porcupines important?Why should people care about porcupines?What is the current classification of porcupines?What characterizes the major groups of porcupines?When did porcupines evolve?Why is the North American porcupine successful?2. Form and Function of PorcupinesWhat are the largest and smallest living porcupines?Can porcupines see color?Can porcupines swim?Can porcupines burrow?What senses are best developed in porcupines?How do porcupines use their tails?How many quills does a porcupine have?Do quills provide good winter insulation?Does a porcupine throw its quills?What happens when a quill strikes a predator?How does a porcupine minimize self-quilling?How long does it take to replace a lost quill?How did porcupine quills evolve?Why are a porcupine's front teeth orange?Do porcupines have scent glands?How long does it take for a porcupine to digest a meal?Do porcupines suffer from old-age diseases?3. Porcupine ColorsWhat color are porcupine quills?Is there a reason for coat color patterns in porcupines?Do porcupine colors change with age?How does fur color indicate that a female porcupine is lactating?Are albino porcupines found in nature?Why do porcupines glow under a black light?4. Porcupine BehaviorAre porcupines social?Do porcupines fight?Do porcupines bite?Do porcupines play?How smart are porcupines?How do porcupines communicate?Do porcupines hibernate?How fast can porcupines run?How do porcupines climb trees?Do porcupines fall out of trees?How can I tell whether a tree is being used as food source by a porcupine?5. Porcupine EcologyWhich geographic regions have the most porcupine species?Do porcupines migrate?Can several porcupine species live together in the samearea?Are there porcupines in the desert?How do porcupines survive the winter?Do porcupines get sick?How can you tell if a porcupine is sick?Are porcupines good for the environment?What are the important porcupine predators?What possible mutualists live with porcupines?Do porcupines compete for food with other vertebrate herbivores?Do porcupines undergo population cycles?6. Reproduction and DevelopmentHow do porcupines reproduce?Do porcupines always reproduce in the same season?How is a male porcupine distinguished from a female?How long are porcupines pregnant?How is a baby porcupine born?How many babies do porcupines have?What is a baby porcupine called?Do porcupines care for their young?How long do female porcupines nurse their young?How fast do porcupines grow?How can you tell the age of a porcupine?At what age do porcupines start breeding?Do female porcupines go through menopause?How long do porcupines live?How do individual porcupines differ in reproductive success?7. Foods and FeedingWhat do porcupines eat?How do porcupines find food?Do porcupines scavenge?Do porcupines store food?Why do porcupines eat clay?How often do porcupines drink?8. Porcupines and HumansDo porcupines make good pets?Should people feed porcupines?What should I do if I find an injured porcupine?What should I do if I find a diseased porcupine?How can I see porcupines in the wild?Why are so many porcupines found as roadkills?9. Porcupine Problems (from a human's viewpoint)Are some porcupines pests?Why do porcupines sometimes gnaw the rubber tires of cars?How can I keep porcupines from my cabin in the woods?Can there be too many porcupines in a forest?How can I keep porcupines away from valuable trees?Are porcupines dangerous to people or pets?Do porcupines transmit human diseases?Is it safe to eat porcupines?How can I remove quills from a pet?What should I do if I'm injured by a porcupine?Can porcupines act as invasive species?10. Human Problems (from a porcupine's viewpoint)Are any porcupine species endangered?Will porcupines be affected by global warming?Why do people hunt and eat porcupines?Is there a hunting season for porcupines?What can I do to help porcupines?11. Porcupines in Stories and LiteratureWhat roles do porcupines play in religion and mythology?Are there porcupines in fables and folk tales?What role do porcupines play in native cultures?How are porcupines featured in poetry and literature?What king used the porcupine in his royal seal?What place names feature the porcupine?12. "Porcupinology"Who studies porcupines?Which species are best known?Which species are least known?How do scientists tell porcupine species apart?How can a researcher safely mark a porcupine for identification in the wild?What don't we know about porcupines?Appendix A: Porcupines of the WorldAppendix B: Worldwide Wildlife Rehabilitation OrganizationsBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisRoze highlights the conservation issues that surround some porcupine species, such as the thin-spine porcupine of Brazil, which is so rare that it was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in the 1980s.Trade ReviewPorcupines: The Animal Answer Guide presents solid, current, science of porcupine biology... A good general introduction into the biology of porcupines. -- Ian Paulsen Birdbooker Report Delightful. -- Jason Bittel Slate A fine survey recommended for any serious natural history holding. Midwest Book Review Roze has produced a useful guide to a familiar but often not entirely understood mammal... This informative, interesting volume will be a valuable addition to any academic library. Choice A tome that can be appreciate by trained biologists, interested general readers, and budding junior naturalists... Anyone interested in mammalian natural history will want to add this excellent work to their collection. -- John L. Koprowski Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Introducing PorcupinesWhat is a porcupine?How many kinds of porcupines are there?Who's who among the Old World porcupines?Who's who among the New World porcupines?Why are porcupines important?Why should people care about porcupines?What is the current classification of porcupines?What characterizes the major groups of porcupines?When did porcupines evolve?Why is the North American porcupine successful?2. Form and Function of PorcupinesWhat are the largest and smallest living porcupines?Can porcupines see color?Can porcupines swim?Can porcupines burrow?What senses are best developed in porcupines?How do porcupines use their tails?How many quills does a porcupine have?Do quills provide good winter insulation?Does a porcupine throw its quills?What happens when a quill strikes a predator?How does a porcupine minimize self-quilling?How long does it take to replace a lost quill?How did porcupine quills evolve?Why are a porcupine's front teeth orange?Do porcupines have scent glands?How long does it take for a porcupine to digest a meal?Do porcupines suffer from old-age diseases?3. Porcupine ColorsWhat color are porcupine quills?Is there a reason for coat color patterns in porcupines?Do porcupine colors change with age?How does fur color indicate that a female porcupine is lactating?Are albino porcupines found in nature?Why do porcupines glow under a black light?4. Porcupine BehaviorAre porcupines social?Do porcupines fight?Do porcupines bite?Do porcupines play?How smart are porcupines?How do porcupines communicate?Do porcupines hibernate?How fast can porcupines run?How do porcupines climb trees?Do porcupines fall out of trees?How can I tell whether a tree is being used as food source by a porcupine?5. Porcupine EcologyWhich geographic regions have the most porcupine species?Do porcupines migrate?Can several porcupine species live together in the samearea?Are there porcupines in the desert?How do porcupines survive the winter?Do porcupines get sick?How can you tell if a porcupine is sick?Are porcupines good for the environment?What are the important porcupine predators?What possible mutualists live with porcupines?Do porcupines compete for food with other vertebrate herbivores?Do porcupines undergo population cycles?6. Reproduction and DevelopmentHow do porcupines reproduce?Do porcupines always reproduce in the same season?How is a male porcupine distinguished from a female?How long are porcupines pregnant?How is a baby porcupine born?How many babies do porcupines have?What is a baby porcupine called?Do porcupines care for their young?How long do female porcupines nurse their young?How fast do porcupines grow?How can you tell the age of a porcupine?At what age do porcupines start breeding?Do female porcupines go through menopause?How long do porcupines live?How do individual porcupines differ in reproductive success?7. Foods and FeedingWhat do porcupines eat?How do porcupines find food?Do porcupines scavenge?Do porcupines store food?Why do porcupines eat clay?How often do porcupines drink?8. Porcupines and HumansDo porcupines make good pets?Should people feed porcupines?What should I do if I find an injured porcupine?What should I do if I find a diseased porcupine?How can I see porcupines in the wild?Why are so many porcupines found as roadkills?9. Porcupine Problems (from a human's viewpoint)Are some porcupines pests?Why do porcupines sometimes gnaw the rubber tires of cars?How can I keep porcupines from my cabin in the woods?Can there be too many porcupines in a forest?How can I keep porcupines away from valuable trees?Are porcupines dangerous to people or pets?Do porcupines transmit human diseases?Is it safe to eat porcupines?How can I remove quills from a pet?What should I do if I'm injured by a porcupine?Can porcupines act as invasive species?10. Human Problems (from a porcupine's viewpoint)Are any porcupine species endangered?Will porcupines be affected by global warming?Why do people hunt and eat porcupines?Is there a hunting season for porcupines?What can I do to help porcupines?11. Porcupines in Stories and LiteratureWhat roles do porcupines play in religion and mythology?Are there porcupines in fables and folk tales?What role do porcupines play in native cultures?How are porcupines featured in poetry and literature?What king used the porcupine in his royal seal?What place names feature the porcupine?12. "Porcupinology"Who studies porcupines?Which species are best known?Which species are least known?How do scientists tell porcupine species apart?How can a researcher safely mark a porcupine for identification in the wild?What don't we know about porcupines?Appendix A: Porcupines of the WorldAppendix B: Worldwide Wildlife Rehabilitation OrganizationsBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisManatees, the gentle giants of Florida's lagoons and coastal habitats, can bring a smile to the face of anybody lucky enough to spy one. As manatees dip and roll through the water, crowds gather to watch them feed on aquatic vegetation. Whether they are congregating by the hundreds or resting or feeding alone, viewing these sea cows can provide anyone interested in nature with hours of tranquil pleasure. Having survived for eons, today's manatees are now under constant threat due to our rapidly swelling human population. Their habitats are often devastated by development and pollution. The slow-moving manatees also live at the mercy of chance, for they occupy waters filled with fast-moving boats powered by razor-sharp propellers-a new form of predator from which they have no protection. Boat speed limits have been put in place to protect manatees, but there is a constant push to lift them so that people can once again zip across the waters that manatees call home. For this reason, manTrade ReviewThe result is a lovely book that sounds as though it would appeal primarily to scientists, but which offers inviting color photos and history that make it accessible to lay audiences both within Florida and outside the state.—Donovan's Literary ServicesPerusal of the numerous photographs located throughout the book is an enjoyable pastime. However, to do so, to treat this simply as a coffee-table book, would be a mistake; the photographs are striking and attractive, but the text relays interesting information about manatees and their management, an aspect of the book that should not be ignored.—ChoiceWith its large format and high-quality paper, allowing Wayne Lynch’s gorgeous images to shine, one could be forgiven for assuming this was a mere coffee table book – but that would be to do the excellent text a disservice.—BBC WildlifeIf the image on the cover does not entice the reader, a look at page 50 surely will: it shows a manatee hugging a human diver. The book focuses on the beauty, grace and vulnerability of these herbivores, but it also covers other sea mammals and their habitats.—The BiologistThis book makes a valuable contribution to awareness of manatees and will be of interest to curious nature lovers, natural science students, and young scientists taking their first steps on their scientific career path.—Irina S. Trukhanova, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Polar Science Center, Seattle, WA, Conservation BiologyThis book is an indispensable resource for anyone desiring a general overview of the species as well as a future reference on protection measures for the group. Easily digestible for nonspecialists, this book is an excellent way to gain an accurate and updated picture of the current status of a charismatic species, the Florida manatee.—Jorge Ortega and Rafael Juarez-Maldonado, Journal of MammalogyTable of Contents1. From a Bluff on Guadeloupe2. A Hodge-Podge of Adaptations3. Evolution4. The Stuff of Myths and Legends5. Behavior and Ecology6. Reproduction and Life History7. Habitat Protection8. Conservation Threats9. Conservation SolutionsEpilogueSelected References and Further ReadingIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe preeminent guide to the world's mammals is now enhanced with a dramatically expanded volume covering 19 orders, including such creatures as elephants, armadillos, and manatees. Since its first publication in 1964, Walker's Mammals of the World has become a favorite guide to the natural world for general readers and professionals alike. This new Walker's volume is a completely revised and updated compendium of information on five of the earliest clades to diverge from ancient mammal stock. Uniquely comprehensive in inimitable Walker's style, it incorporates a full account of every genus that has lived in the past 5,000 years. Every named species of each genus is listed in systematic order and accompanied by detailed descriptions of past and present range. This new edition includes 500+ full-color images throughout citations to more than 2,200 new references extensive bioconservation data, with discussion of every species in an IUCN Red List threatened categoryThis volume's thorougTrade ReviewIf you have other titles in the Walker's Mammals of the World series, you'll want this one!—Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker ReportThis volume provides highly detailed accounts of the various mammals included . . . and is well illustrated with color photographs of many of the included mammals.—Robert E. Hoopes, Wildlife ActivistThe famous Walker's Mammals of the World has been updated . . . and what an update it is. Rather than the classical two volumes with black-and-white photographs (the last edition is from 1999 and thus almost 20 years old), there is now a single volume with colour photos covering monotremes, marsupials, afrotherians, xenarthrans and sundatherians (ie, Scan-dentia and Dermoptera).—Frank E. Zachos, Mammalian BiologyTable of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Class Mammalia2. Monotremata3. Didelphimorphia4. Pacituberculata5. Microbiotheria6. Notoryctemorphia7. Dasyuromorphia8. Peramelemorphia9. Diprotodontia10. Afroscricida11. Macroscelidea12. Bibymalagasia13. Tubulidentata14. Hyracoidea15. Proboscidea16. Sirenia17. Cingulata18. Pilosa19. Scandentia20. DermopteraWorld Distribution of MammalsWorld Distribution of MammalsWorld Distribution of Mammals

Read more less

Book SynopsisUpdated with the most recent advances in molecular biology and in wildlife ecology and management, The Mammals of Texas remains the definitive book on this subject, with nearly 13,000 copies sold.Table of Contents Foreword by Carter Smith, Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Preface Acknowledgments Overview and Introduction to Texas Mammals Diversity of Land Mammals Geographic Distribution of Land Mammals Mammals of the Barrier Islands of Texas Mammals in the Coastal Waters and Gulf of Mexico Historical Changes in the Texas Mammal Fauna Twentieth-Century Landscape and Land Use Changes in Texas: Impact on Wildlife Diversity Impact of Climate Change Conservation Strategies History of Mammalogy in Texas Species Accounts For Texas Mammals Instructions for Interpreting Distribution Maps Key to the Major Groups (Orders) of Mammals in Texas Order Didelphimorphia—Opossums and Allies Family Didelphidae—Opossums Didelphis virginiana, Virginia Opossum Order Sirenia—Manatees and Allies Family Trichechidae—Manatees Trichechus manatus, West Indian Manatee Order Cingulata—Armadillos and Allies Family Dasypodidae—Armadillos Dasypus novemcinctus, Nine-banded Armadillo Order Primates—Primates Family Cercopithecidae—Old World Monkeys Macaca fuscata, Japanese Macaque* Order Lagomorpha—Pikas, Hares, and Rabbits Key to the Hares and Rabbits of Texas Family Leporidae—Hares and Rabbits Lepus californicus, Black-tailed Jackrabbit Sylvilagus aquaticus, Swamp Rabbit Sylvilagus audubonii, Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus, Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus robustus, Davis Mountains Cottontail Order Soricomorpha—Shrews and Moles Key to the Shrews and Moles of Texas Family Soricidae—Shrews Blarina carolinensis, Southern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina hylophaga, Elliot’s Short-tailed Shrew Cryptotis parva, Least Shrew Notiosorex crawfordi, Crawford’s Desert Shrew Family Talpidae—Moles Scalopus aquaticus, Eastern Mole Order Chiroptera—Bats Key to the Bats of Texas Family Molossidae—Free-tailed Bats Eumops perotis, Western Bonneted Bat Nyctinomops femorosaccus, Pocketed Free-tailed Bat Nyctinomops macrotis, Big Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis, Brazilian Free-tailed Bat Family Mormoopidae—Leaf-chinned Bats Mormoops megalophylla, Ghost-faced Bat Family Phyllostomidae—New World Leaf-nosed Bats Choeronycteris mexicana, Mexican Long-tongued Bat Diphylla ecaudata, Hairy-legged Vampire Bat Leptonycteris nivalis, Mexican Long-nosed Bat Family Vespertilionidae—Vesper Bats Aeorestes cinereus, Hoary Bat Antrozous pallidus, Pallid Bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii, Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat Corynorhinus townsendii, Townsend’s Big-eared Bat Dasypterus ega, Southern Yellow Bat Dasypterus intermedius, Northern Yellow Bat Dasypterus xanthinus, Western Yellow Bat Eptesicus fuscus, Big Brown Bat Euderma maculatum, Spotted Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans, Silver-haired Bat Lasiurus blossevillii, Western Red Bat Lasiurus borealis, Eastern Red Bat Lasiurus seminolus, Seminole Bat Myotis austroriparius, Southeastern Myotis Myotis californicus, California Myotis Myotis ciliolabrum, Western Small-footed Myotis Myotis occultus, Southwestern Little Brown Myotis Myotis septentrionalis, Northern Long-eared Myotis Myotis thysanodes, Fringed Myotis Myotis velifer, Cave Myotis Myotis volans, Long-legged Myotis Myotis yumanensis, Yuma Myotis Nycticeius humeralis, Evening Bat Parastrellus hesperus, American Parastrelle Perimyotis subflavus, American Perimyotis Order Carnivora—Carnivores Key to the Carnivores of Texas Family Canidae—Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves Canis latrans, Coyote Urocyon cinereoargenteus, Common Gray Fox Vulpes macrotis, Kit Fox Vulpes velox, Swift Fox Family Felidae—Cats Leopardus pardalis, Ocelot Lynx rufus, Bobcat Puma concolor, Mountain Lion Family Mephitidae—Skunks Conepatus leuconotus, Hog-nosed Skunk Mephitis macroura, Hooded Skunk Mephitis mephitis, Striped Skunk Spilogale gracilis, Western Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius, Eastern Spotted Skunk Family Mustelidae—Weasels, Otters, and Badgers Lontra canadensis, Northern River Otter Mustela frenata, Long-tailed Weasel Vison vison, American Mink Taxidea taxus, American Badger Family Procyonidae—Raccoons, Ringtails, and Coatis Bassariscus astutus, Ringtail Nasua narica, White-nosed Coati Procyon lotor, Northern Raccoon Family Ursidae—Bears Ursus americanus, American Black Bear Extinct Carnivora Family Canidae—Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves Canis lupus, Gray Wolf Canis rufus, Red Wolf Family Felidae—Cats Leopardus wiedii, Margay Panthera onca, Jaguar Puma yagouaroundi, Jaguarundi Family Mustelidae—Weasels, Otters, and Badgers Mustela nigripes, Black-footed Ferret Family Ursidae—Bears Ursus arctos, Grizzly or Brown Bear Family Phocidae—Earless Seals Monachus tropicalis, Caribbean Monk Seal Introduced Carnivora Family Canidae—Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves Vulpes vulpes, Red Fox* Family Otariidae—Eared Seals Zalophus californianus, California Sea Lion* Order Artiodactyla—Even-toed Ungulates Key to the Even-Toed Ungulates of Texas Family Antilocapridae—Pronghorn Antilocapra americana, Pronghorn Family Bovidae—Cattle, Antelope, Sheep, Goats, and African Exotics Bos bison, American Bison Ovis canadensis, Bighorn Sheep Family Cervidae—Deer and Allies Cervus canadensis, Wapiti or Western Elk Odocoileus hemionus, Mule Deer Odocoileus virginianus, White-tailed Deer Family Tayassuidae—Peccaries Pecari tajacu, Collared Peccary Introduced Artiodactyla Family Bovidae—Cattle, Antelope, Sheep, Goats, and African Exotics Ammotragus lervia, Barbary Sheep or Aoudad* Antilope cervicapra, Blackbuck* Boselaphus tragocamelus, Nilgai* Family Cervidae—Deer and Allies Axis axis, Axis Deer* Cervus nippon, Sika* Dama dama, Fallow Deer* Family Suidae—Pigs Sus scrofa, Feral Hog* (see also Domesticated Mammals) Other Artiodactylids Introduced in Texas Tragelaphus strepsiceros, Greater Kudu* Eudorcas thomsonii, Eastern Thomson’s Gazelle* Hippotragus niger, Sable Antelope* Oryx dammah, Scimitar-horned Oryx* Taurotragus oryx, Common Eland* Cervus elaphus, Eastern Red Deer* Order Cetacea—Whales, Porpoises, and Dolphins Key to the Whales and Dolphins of the Texas Coast Suborder Mysticeti—Baleen Whales Family Balaenidae—Right Whales Eubalaena glacialis, North Atlantic Right Whale Family Balaenopteridae—Rorquals or Baleen Whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Common Minke Whale Balaenoptera borealis, Sei Whale Balaenoptera brydei, Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera musculus, Blue Whale Balaenoptera physalus, Fin Whale Megaptera novaeangliae, Humpback Whale Suborder Odontoceti—Toothed Whales Family Delphinidae—Toothed Whales and Dolphins Feresa attenuata, Pygmy Killer Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus, Short-finned Pilot Whale Grampus griseus, Risso’s Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei, Fraser’s Dolphin Orcinus orca, Killer Whale Peponocephala electra, Melon-headed Whale Pseudorca crassidens, False Killer Whale Stenella attenuata, Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Stenella clymene, Clymene Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, Striped Dolphin Stenella frontalis, Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Stenella longirostris, Spinner Dolphin Steno bredanensis, Rough-toothed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus, Common Bottlenose Dolphin Family Kogiidae—Pygmy and Dwarf Sperm Whales Kogia breviceps, Pygmy Sperm Whale Kogia sima, Dwarf Sperm Whale Family Physeteridae—Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus, Sperm Whale Family Ziphiidae—Beaked Whales Mesoplodon densirostris, Blainville’s Beaked Whale Mesoplodon europaeus, Gervais’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris, Cuvier’s or Goose-beaked Whale Order Rodentia—Rodents Key to the Rodents of Texas Family Castoridae—Beavers Castor canadensis, American Beaver Family Cricetidae—New World Mice, Rats, and Voles Baiomys taylori, Northern Pygmy Mouse Microtus mogollonensis, Mogollon Vole Microtus ochrogaster, Prairie Vole Microtus pinetorum, Woodland Vole Neotoma floridana, Eastern Woodrat Neotoma leucodon, White-toothed Woodrat Neotoma mexicana, Mexican Woodrat Neotoma micropus, Southern Plains Woodrat Ochrotomys nuttalli, Golden Mouse Ondatra zibethicus, Common Muskrat Onychomys arenicola, Chihuahuan or Mearns’s Grasshopper Mouse Onychomys leucogaster, Northern Grasshopper Mouse Oryzomys couesi, Coues’s Rice Rat Oryzomys texensis, Texas Marsh Rice Rat Peromyscus attwateri, Texas Deermouse Peromyscus boylii, Brush Deermouse Peromyscus eremicus, Cactus Deermouse Peromyscus gossypinus, Cotton Deermouse Peromyscus laceianus, Lacey’s White-ankled Deermouse Peromyscus leucopus, White-footed Deermouse Peromyscus maniculatus, North American Deermouse Peromyscus nasutus, Northern Rock Deermouse Peromyscus truei, Piñon Deermouse Reithrodontomys fulvescens, Fulvous Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys humulis, Eastern Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis, Western Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys montanus, Plains Harvest Mouse Sigmodon fulviventer, Tawny-bellied Cotton Rat Sigmodon hispidus, Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmodon ochrognathus, Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat Family Erethizontidae—New World Porcupines Erethizon dorsatum, North American Porcupine Family Geomyidae—Pocket Gophers Cratogeomys castanops, Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher Geomys arenarius, Desert Pocket Gopher Geomys attwateri, Attwater’s Pocket Gopher Geomys breviceps, Baird’s Pocket Gopher Geomys bursarius, Plains Pocket Gopher Geomys jugossicularis, Hall’s Pocket Gopher Geomys knoxjonesi, Jones’s Pocket Gopher Geomys personatus, Texas Pocket Gopher Geomys streckeri, Strecker’s Pocket Gopher Geomys texensis, Llano Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae, Botta’s Pocket Gopher Family Heteromyidae—Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats Chaetodipus eremicus, Chihuahuan Desert Pocket Mouse Chaetodipus hispidus, Hispid Pocket Mouse Chaetodipus intermedius, Rock Pocket Mouse Chaetodipus nelsoni, Nelson’s Pocket Mouse Dipodomys compactus, Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys elator, Texas Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys merriami, Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys ordii, Ord’s Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys spectabilis, Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat Liomys irroratus, Mexican Spiny Pocket Mouse Perognathus flavescens, Plains Pocket Mouse Perognathus flavus, Silky Pocket Mouse Perognathus merriami, Merriam’s Pocket Mouse Family Sciuridae—Squirrels and Allies Ammospermophilus interpres, Texas Antelope Squirrel Cynomys ludovicianus, Black-tailed Prairie Dog Glaucomys volans, Southern Flying Squirrel Ictidomys parvidens, Rio Grande Ground Squirrel Ictidomys tridecemlineatus, Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Otospermophilus variegatus, Rock Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis, Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus niger, Eastern Fox Squirrel Tamias canipes, Gray-footed Chipmunk Xerospermophilus spilosoma, Spotted Ground Squirrel Introduced Rodentia Family Echimyidae—Spiny Rats and Nutria Myocastor coypus, Nutria* Family Muridae—Old World Mice and Rats Mus musculus, House Mouse* Rattus norvegicus, Norway or Brown Rat* Rattus rattus, Black Rat* Family Sciuridae—Squirrels and Allies Marmota monax, Woodchuck* Domesticated Mammals Order Carnivora—Carnivores Family Canidae—Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves Canis familiaris, Domestic Dog* Family Felidae—Cats Felis catus, Domestic Cat* Order Perissodactyla—Odd-toed Ungulates Family Equidae—Feral Horses and Asses Equus asinus, Feral Ass or Burro* Equus caballus, Feral Horse* Equus caballus x Equus asinus, Mule* Order Artiodactyla—Even-toed Ungulates Family Bovidae—Cattle, Antelope, Sheep, Goats, and African Exotics Bos taurus, Domestic Cattle* Capra hircus, Domestic Goat* Ovis aries, Domestic Sheep* Family Suidae—Pigs Sus scrofa, Feral Hog* Appendix 1. The Measurement System Appendix 2. Observation and Collection of Mammals Appendix 3. Selected References on Mammals from Texas and Adjoining States Appendix 4. Scientific Names Appendix 5. Mammalian Species: Accounts Available for Texas Mammals Appendix 6. Standard Measurements of Study Specimens Appendix 7. Basis for Distribution of Species Glossary Index to Scientific and Common Names

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn paleontology there are certain encounters considered breakthroughs. Occasionally a unique event is discovered that permanently impacts our interpretation of an entire species. The Waco Mammoth Site represents one such landmark moment. This volume offers a history of the site.Table of Contents Authors' Preface Foreword, by Charlie Walter 1 The Land, the Environment, and Proboscideans through Time 2 Mammoths, Mastodons, and Early Explorations 3 To Clone or Not to Clone 4 The Initial Discovery and Beginning Excavations 5 Introductions and Surprises 6 What Lies Ahead? 7 The Next Step Epilogue Glossary

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe grey wolf is one of the world's most polarizing and charismatic species. Respected, adored, or held in awe by many as an icon of wilderness, wolves have also sparked fear and hatred when they have come into conflict with human presence. Not surprisingly, they are one of the most intensively studied mammalian species in the wild.The World of Wolves offers a fresh and provocative look at current trends in wolf and wildlife management. Representative case studies, from geographically and culturally diverse areas of the world, highlight the existing interconnections between wolves, their prey, their habitat, their ecosystems and people, and the role of science in policy formation and wolf management. In addition, the studies involve many issues (for example, population genetics and livestock husbandry practices) that are entry points into larger aspects of ecology and evolution.This book will appeal to conservationists, scientists, wildlife managers, and anyone seeking a better understanding of wolves and their co-existence with us.Table of ContentsSection I: The Reason for the Book -- How it Came to Be; Section II: Research Methods Manual; Section III: Conducting Inquiries & Research.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn the Alaska Peninsula, where exceptional landscapes are commonplace, a small river attracts attention far beyond its scale. Each year, from summer to early fall, brown bears and salmon gather at Brooks River to create one of North America’s greatest wildlife spectacles. As the salmon leap from the cascade, dozens of bears are there to catch them (with as many as forty-three bears sighted in a single day), and thousands of people come to watch in person or on the National Park Service’s popular Brooks Falls Bearcam. The Bears of Brooks Falls tells the story of this region and the bears that made it famous in three parts. The first forms an ecological history of the region, from its dormancy 30,000 years ago to the volcanic events that transformed it into the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The central and longest section is a deep dive into the lives of the wildlife along the Brooks River, especially the bears and salmon. Readers will learn about the bears’ winter hibernation, mating season, hunting rituals, migration patterns, and their relationship with Alaska’s changing environment. Finally, the book explores the human impact, both positive and negative, on this special region and its wild population.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMajestic, noble, brave lions, with their tawny coats and luminous eyes, have inspired countless stories, traditions and beliefs. Whether we are seduced by their beauty or drawn to danger, we want to be near them. No other animal has had such an enduring symbolic resonance; lions have been painted on wood and canvas, chiselled in stone, cast in metal and featured on the pages of medieval manuscripts. In this lavishly illustrated book, Deirdre Jackson draws on the latest scientific research, folklore, travel literature, lion tamers' memoirs and little-known sources to guide readers on a memorable cultural safari. Roaring lions sound invincible, but like other large, wide-ranging predators they are in danger of disappearing. Poised at the top of the ecological pyramid, these adaptable and gregarious animals have always been far less plentiful than those on which they prey. The vulnerable African lion is now confined to the sub-Sahara, and its Asian cousin is critically endangered. "Lion", one of the few books to consider both, traces our relationship with the animals through the centuries and paints a fresh picture of these charismatic creatures.Trade Review'will appeal even to those who would never normally pick up a book on the natural world.' - Mary Beard, The Guardian 'Books of the Year' 'Considering that 30-odd titles have appeared in Reaktion's superbly realised Animals series, it has taken a surprising time to reach the king of beasts. Still, it was worth the wait. Jackson has produced a fascinating volume of leonine revelations ... she provides plenty for big cat lovers to purr about.' - The IndependentTable of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 Lions at Large 2 Captive Cats 3 Lion Lore and Legend 4 In Pursuit of the Lion 5 Golden Remnant Timeline References Select Bibliography Associations and Websites Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisBiological Anthropology is a concise introduction to the basic themes, theories, methods and facts of bioanthropology. The scientific method provides a framework that brings accessibility and context to the material. This seventh edition presents the most recent findings and interpretations of topics in anthropology including Australopithecus sediba, the Denisovians, and epigenetics.Table of ContentsPrefaceTo the Reader1 Biological AnthropologyIn the Field: Doing Biological AnthropologyAmong the HutteritesA Hawaiian in ConnecticutWhat Is Biological Anthropology?Defining AnthropologyThe Specialties of BioanthropologyBioanthropology and ScienceThe Scientific MethodSome Common Misconceptions about ScienceScience Is Conducted in a Cultural ContextContemporary Reflections: Is Evolution a Fact, a Theory, or Just a Hypothesis?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings2 The Evolution of Evolution"On the Shoulders of Giants": Explaining the Changing EarthThe Biblical ContextThe Framework of "Natural Philosophy""Common Sense at Its Best": Explaining Biological ChangeDarwin's PredecessorsCharles DarwinThe Modern Theory of EvolutionContemporary Reflections: Has Science Dehumanized Society?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings3 Evolutionary GeneticsHow Genes WorkAn Overview of the Human GenomeFrom Genes to TraitsHow Inheritance WorksContemporary Reflections: What is Genetic Cloning?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings4 The Processes of EvolutionSpecies: The Units of EvolutionThe Four Processes of EvolutionMutations: Necessary ErrorsNatural Selection: The Prime Mover of EvolutionGene Flow: Mixing Populations' GenesGenetic Drift: Random EvolutionSickle Cell Anemia: Evolutionary Processes in ActionGenetics and SymptomsContemporary Reflections: Are Humans Still Evolving?The Adaptive ExplanationOther RelationshipsSummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings5 The Origin of Species and the Shape of EvolutionNew SpeciesReproductive Isolating MechanismsProcesses of SpeciationThe Evolution of Life's DiversityOur Family TreeAdaptive RadiationThe Grand Pattern of EvolutionThe Pattern of SpeciationSpecies SelectionCatastrophic Mass ExtinctionsContemporary Reflections: Are There Alternatives to Evolution?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings6 A Brief Evolutionary TimetableFrom the Beginning: A Quick HistoryDrifting Continents and Mass Extinctions: The Pace of ChangeContemporary Reflections: Are Mass Extinctions a Thing of the Past?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings7 The PrimatesNaming the AnimalsWhat Is a Primate?The SensesMovementReproductionIntelligenceBehavior PatternsThe Primate Adaptive StrategyA Survey of the Living PrimatesProsimiansAnthropoidsThe Human PrimateThe SensesMovementReproductionContemporary Reflections: What Is the Status of Our Closest Relatives?IntelligenceBehavior PatternsAre We Hominids or Hominins?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings8 Primate Behavior and Human EvolutionBehavioral EvolutionHow Do Complex Behaviors Evolve?How Do We Study Behavior?Primate BehaviorBaboonsChimpanzeesBonobosCulture and Social CognitionContemporary Reflections: Are Some Human Behaviors Genetic?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings9 Studying the Human PastBones: The Primate SkeletonOld Bones: Locating, Recovering, and Dating FossilsFinding FossilsRecovering FossilsDating FossilsHow Fossils Get to Be FossilsGenes: New Windows to the PastThe "Molecular Clock"The Genetic Differences between Chimps and Humans Contemporary Reflections: Who Owns Old Bones?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings10 Evolution of the Early HominidsThe Origin and Evolution of the PrimatesBipedalismThe Benefits of BipedalismThe Evolution of BipedalismThe Early HominidsAustralopithecusParanthropusThe Search for the First HominidsArdipithecusKenyanthropusOrrorinSahelanthropusPutting It All TogetherConnecting the DotsThe Ecological ContextContemporary Reflections: Is There a "Missing Link"?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings11 The Evolution of Genus HomoThe Nature of Genus HomoThe First Members of Genus HomoThe First Stone ToolsThe FossilsA New Adaptive ModeTo New LandsThe First FossilsMigration and the Ice AgesThe Life of Homo erectusBig Brains, Archaic SkullsHomo antecessorHomo heidelbergensisThe NeandertalsPhysical FeaturesCultureModern HumansAnatomyDatesCultureContemporary Reflections: Who Are the "Hobbits" from Indonesia?More Neandertals and Yet Another Human Group?The Debate Over Modern Human OriginsThe ModelsThe EvidenceIs This Debate Important?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings12 Evolution and Adaptation in Human PopulationsPopulation AdaptationsSpecies AdaptationsVariation in AdaptationsAre All Variations Adaptively Important?Disease and Human PopulationsDiseases are "Natural"Disease and Hominid EvolutionDisease and Human HistoryEmerging DiseasesContemporary Reflections: Are There Jewish Diseases? Are There Black Pharmaceuticals?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings13 Human Biological DiversitySex and GenderWhy Are There No Biological Races Within the Human Species?Race as a Biological ConceptHuman Phenotypic VariationGenetic VariationEvolutionary TheoryWhat, Then, Are Human Races?Anthropology and the History of Race StudiesRace, Bioanthropology, and Social IssuesRace and IntelligenceRace and Athletic AbilityContemporary Reflections: Are Genetic Ancestry Tests Worth the Money?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested Readings14 Biological Anthropology and Today's WorldForensic Anthropology: Reading the BonesLessons from the PastBioanthropology and Global IssuesContemporary Reflections: What Can One Do with a Degree in Bioanthropology?SummaryQuestions for Further ThoughtKey TermsSuggested ReadingsAppendix I: Protein Synthesis and the Genetic CodeAppendix II: Genes in PopulationsGlossary of Human and Nonhuman PrimatesGlossary of TermsReferencesCreditsIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"[Ian McAllister] combines stunning photography of the natural world—lush underwater reefs, Kermode cubs feeding on salmon, spyhopping orcas, preening puffins—with stories from his explorations and perspectives from the indigenous people who have lived here for tens of thousands of years.The result is a convincing testament for a place on the planet largely untouched by the modern world, and a prayer to keep it that way." -- Christian Martin * Cascadia Weekly *"[A] jewel of conservation insight . . . Anyone who loves and honors the natural world and our place within it should reserve a place for this volume on their bookshelf." * American Book Review *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Inspired by a profound experience swimming with wild dolphins off the coast of Maui, the bestselling author of The Wave set out on a quest to learn everything she could about dolphins—the other intelligent life on the planet.“Part science, part memoir, part impassioned plea for change.” —People Susan Casey’s journey takes her from a community in Hawaii known as “Dolphinville,” where the animals are seen as the key to spiritual enlightenment, to the dark side of the human-cetacean relationship at marine parks and dolphin-hunting grounds in Japan and the Solomon Islands, to the island of Crete, where the Minoan civilization lived in harmony with dolphins, providing a millennia-old example of a more enlightened coexistence with the natural world. Along the way, Casey recounts the history of dolphin research and introduces us to the leading marine scientists and activists who have made it their life’s work to increase humans’ understanding and appreciation of the wonder of dolphins.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisBears used for advertising and publicity campaigns.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Victoria region is a natural wonderland--one of the most biologically rich areas of the country, with many plants and animals found nowhere else in Canada. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned naturalist, a visitor or a resident, this book will give you the knowledge you need to get the most out of your explorations of southeastern Vancouver Island. Ten local experts have contributed their knowledge about all things natural in this region, from mushrooms and dragonflies to owls and whales. They describe the species most likely to be seen here, and direct you to the best places to see them. Nature Guide to the Victoria Region is designed to help you understand the variety of habitats and natural wonders awaiting your discovery, all in a portable, easy-to-read format. It includes beautiful full-colour photographs, checklists and a map of all the great places to visit.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is an excellent resource for conservation biologists, researchers, and students as well as naturalists." -- Monika Rohlmann, CBRA 5021"This handbook is more than just a field guide. Right at the outset, I was enthralled with the General Biology section, which describes the many morphological and behavioural adaptations that set ungulates apart from other mammals. The black-and-white line drawings by Michael Hames and Denise Koshowski, scattered throughout the book, are excellent... The books major strengths include the background information on ungulate biology and the comprehensive species and subspecies accounts. Shackleton provides sufficient information to provoke interest and provides answers without ever overwhelming the reader. Everyone from the beginning naturalist to the working field biologist will find this handbook useful and informative ... In keeping with the quality of the first two volumes of the series ... Hoofed Mammals is an excellent and welcome addition to any natural historians bookshelf." -- Yolanda Morbey, Discovery (Summer 2000)"This is an excellent resource for conservation biologists, researchers, and students as well as naturalists." -- Dan R Kunkle, Wildlife Activist (Autumn 2000)

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisLumpkin and Seidensticker talk about conservation, because while rabbits may breed like, well, rabbits, several species are among the most endangered animals on Earth.Trade ReviewRabbits: The Animal Answer Guide is the one resource you will need to learn about rabbits' anatomy and physiology, evolutionary history, ecology, behavior, and their relationships with humans. Northeastern Naturalist 2011Table of ContentsAcknowlegmentsIntroduction1. Introducing RabbitsWhat are lagomorphs?What is the difference between rabbits, hares, and pikas?Is this book about rabbits, hares, pikas, or all three?How many kinds of rabbits are there?How are rabbits classified?Why are rabbits important?Why should people care about rabbits?How did rabbits evolve?When did rabbits evolve?What is the oldest fossil rabbit?What were the largest and smallest fossil rabbits?2. Form and Function of RabbitsWhat are the largest and smallest living rabbits?What is the metabolism of a rabbit?Why is rabbit scat round?Why are rabbits always sniffing?Why do rabbits have a "hare lip"?Is it true that rabbit teeth never stop growing?Do rabbits sleep?Can rabbits see color?Do all rabbits have big ears and short tails?Why do rabbits have whiskers?Can rabbits run?Can rabbits swim?3. Rabbit ColorsWhy are so many rabbits brown?What causes the fur colors of rabbits?Do fur colors change in different seasons?What color are a rabbit's eyes?What color are baby rabbits?Are there albino rabbits?4. Rabbit BehaviorAre rabbits social?Do rabbits fight? Do rabbits bite?How smart are rabbits?Do rabbits play?Do rabbits talk?Who eats rabbits?5. Rabbit EcologyWhere do rabbits live?Where do rabbits sleep?Do rabbits migrate?Which geographic regions have the most species of rabbits?Which rabbits have the largest distributions and which the most restricted?How do rabbits survive in the desert?How do rabbits survive in the winter?Do rabbits hibernate?Do rabbits get sick?Are rabbits good for the environment?6. Reproduction and Development of RabbitsHow do rabbits reproduce?How long are female rabbits pregnant?Where do rabbits give birth?Do rabbits nest at the same time and in the same place every year?How many babies do rabbits have?Are all babies in a rabbit's nest full siblings?Do rabbits care for their young?How fast do rabbits grow?How can you tell the age of a rabbit?How long do rabbits live?7. Rabbit Foods and FeedingWhat do rabbits eat?How much do rabbits chew their food?How do rabbits find food?Do rabbits drink water?Do rabbits ever store their food?8. Rabbits and HumansDo rabbits make good pets?How were rabbits domesticated?Why did people say "the rabbit died" to mean a woman was pregnant?Are rabbits used in a lot of experiments?Do rabbits feel pain?What if I find a baby rabbit or an injured rabbit or if I hit one with my car?How can I see rabbits in the wild?Should people feed rabbits?9. Rabbit Problems (from a human viewpoint)Are rabbits pests?How can I keep rabbits out of my garden?Are rabbits bad for lawns?Are rabbits dangerous?Is it safe to eat rabbits?What should I do if I get bitten by a rabbit?10. Human Problems (from a rabbit's viewpoint)Are any rabbits endangered?Will climate change affect rabbits?Are rabbits affected by pollution?Why do people hunt and eat rabbits?What products are made from rabbits?Why do so many rabbits get hit by cars?Do house cats kill rabbits?What can an ordinary citizen do to help rabbits?11. Rabbits in Stories and LiteratureWhat roles do rabbits play in mythology and religion?What roles have rabbits played in language and literature?What roles do rabbits play in popular culture?12. "Rabbitology"Who studies rabbits?Which species are best known?Which species are least known?How do scientists tell rabbits apart?How can I become an expert on rabbits?Appendix: Rabbits of the WorldBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisLumpkin and Seidensticker talk about conservation, because while rabbits may breed like, well, rabbits, several species are among the most endangered animals on Earth.Trade ReviewRabbits: The Animal Answer Guide is the one resource you will need to learn about rabbits' anatomy and physiology, evolutionary history, ecology, behavior, and their relationships with humans. Northeastern Naturalist 2011Table of ContentsAcknowlegmentsIntroduction1. Introducing RabbitsWhat are lagomorphs?What is the difference between rabbits, hares, and pikas?Is this book about rabbits, hares, pikas, or all three?How many kinds of rabbits are there?How are rabbits classified?Why are rabbits important?Why should people care about rabbits?How did rabbits evolve?When did rabbits evolve?What is the oldest fossil rabbit?What were the largest and smallest fossil rabbits?2. Form and Function of RabbitsWhat are the largest and smallest living rabbits?What is the metabolism of a rabbit?Why is rabbit scat round?Why are rabbits always sniffing?Why do rabbits have a "hare lip"?Is it true that rabbit teeth never stop growing?Do rabbits sleep?Can rabbits see color?Do all rabbits have big ears and short tails?Why do rabbits have whiskers?Can rabbits run?Can rabbits swim?3. Rabbit ColorsWhy are so many rabbits brown?What causes the fur colors of rabbits?Do fur colors change in different seasons?What color are a rabbit's eyes?What color are baby rabbits?Are there albino rabbits?4. Rabbit BehaviorAre rabbits social?Do rabbits fight? Do rabbits bite?How smart are rabbits?Do rabbits play?Do rabbits talk?Who eats rabbits?5. Rabbit EcologyWhere do rabbits live?Where do rabbits sleep?Do rabbits migrate?Which geographic regions have the most species of rabbits?Which rabbits have the largest distributions and which the most restricted?How do rabbits survive in the desert?How do rabbits survive in the winter?Do rabbits hibernate?Do rabbits get sick?Are rabbits good for the environment?6. Reproduction and Development of RabbitsHow do rabbits reproduce?How long are female rabbits pregnant?Where do rabbits give birth?Do rabbits nest at the same time and in the same place every year?How many babies do rabbits have?Are all babies in a rabbit's nest full siblings?Do rabbits care for their young?How fast do rabbits grow?How can you tell the age of a rabbit?How long do rabbits live?7. Rabbit Foods and FeedingWhat do rabbits eat?How much do rabbits chew their food?How do rabbits find food?Do rabbits drink water?Do rabbits ever store their food?8. Rabbits and HumansDo rabbits make good pets?How were rabbits domesticated?Why did people say "the rabbit died" to mean a woman was pregnant?Are rabbits used in a lot of experiments?Do rabbits feel pain?What if I find a baby rabbit or an injured rabbit or if I hit one with my car?How can I see rabbits in the wild?Should people feed rabbits?9. Rabbit Problems (from a human viewpoint)Are rabbits pests?How can I keep rabbits out of my garden?Are rabbits bad for lawns?Are rabbits dangerous?Is it safe to eat rabbits?What should I do if I get bitten by a rabbit?10. Human Problems (from a rabbit's viewpoint)Are any rabbits endangered?Will climate change affect rabbits?Are rabbits affected by pollution?Why do people hunt and eat rabbits?What products are made from rabbits?Why do so many rabbits get hit by cars?Do house cats kill rabbits?What can an ordinary citizen do to help rabbits?11. Rabbits in Stories and LiteratureWhat roles do rabbits play in mythology and religion?What roles have rabbits played in language and literature?What roles do rabbits play in popular culture?12. "Rabbitology"Who studies rabbits?Which species are best known?Which species are least known?How do scientists tell rabbits apart?How can I become an expert on rabbits?Appendix: Rabbits of the WorldBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor nearly twenty years, alone and unarmed, author Doug Peacock traversed the rugged mountains of Montana and Wyoming tracking the magnificent grizzly. His thrilling narrative takes us into the bear''s habitat, where we observe directly this majestic animal''s behavior, from hunting strategies, mating patterns, and denning habits to social hierarchy and methods of communication. As Peacock tracks the bears, his story turns into a thrilling narrative about the breaking down of suspicion between man and beast in the wild.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less