Product Description

Australia has a rich and diverse mammal fauna with many species found nowhere else - 89 per cent of Autralian marsupials, and 73 per cent of Australian placental mammals, are endemic. Only New Guinea shares with Australia the presence of representatives of all three subclasses of mammals - monotremes, marsupials and placentals. Until now there has been no comprehensive guide to the identification of all species of Australian mammals. This book provides concise and accurate details of the appearance, diagnostic features, distribution, habitat, and key behavioural characters of all mammals known to have occurred in Australia or its waters since the time of settlement by Europeans. It includes details of 156 species of marsupial, 2 monotremes, 76 bats, 64 native rodents, 10 seals, 44 whales and dolphins and 22 introduced species (total 376 species). The classic field guide layout, as perfected in bird field guides, has been adopted - each two-page spread provides all the information needed to make an identification - full colour illustration of the entire animal, smaller diagrams of diagnostic features, distribution map, and species text and measurements, including details of how to differentiate between similar species. For groups that are difficult to identify to species level, identification keys are provided to assist the identification process. These include keys to the genera of small marsupials, rodents and bats, and to all stranded marine mammals that could conceivably be washed onto an Australian beach - whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and the Dugong. Wherever possible, the keys utilise obvious features of external morphology, so that specialist knowledge is not required to use them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1539510 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 280 pages

Review
"This substantial guide is laid out in a side-by-side format, with the illustrations of each animal facing their description. Each entry includes the description, distribution, habitat, status, behavior, and similar species. An introduction provides instructions for using the guide, including field techniques, identification keys, and habitat types (with photos). The guide is beautifully produced: the quality of the illustrations alone makes this a noteworthy reference."--SciTech Book News

Customer Reviews

Excellent guide
I'd dissent from one of the "minor criticisms" raised in another review; the illustrations are extremely clear, and far better than photos could ever be (think about it; are there any *decent* photo-based field guides for birds?). It's true that a smaller page size could allow for "pocket sized" (actually, this does fit into the big pockets of my field jacket), but that would make it harder to show confusion species on a single page (and believe me, it's easy to get confused between one potoroo and another!). The distribution maps accompanying the clear text (in the ideal, opposite-the-drawing location) are a big help here, too.

Excellent colour drawings and informative
Very good book! Includes excellent hand drawn pictures including in-depth identifying features of similar species. Also includes an identification key and track prints for quick reference at the back.

Only two minor criticisms - I would have preferred a few photo's as you can't always tell the animal from a hand drawing (even though they are excellent drawings) and the guide is not pocket sized.

Overall excellent book - would have been 5* if I could find a pocket big enough.... can't wait to get to Australia to use it!!

Good guide.
Very good book that covers all known species, Some of the drawings leave a little to be desired but the majortiy are very well drawn.

The book clearly shows each animal and gives a distribution map as such, an easy guide to use & would recommend buying this to anyone going to Australia.