Product Description

This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date field guide to the mammals of North America. Written by two leading authorities, no other reference covers all resident species north of Mexico, mammals large and small. With full-color illustrations for every one of the 442 species, Mammals of North America shows the user how to identify any mammal encountered, from mouse to moose, bat to baleen whale, Abert's Squirrel to the Yuma Myotis.

The core of the book consists of 108 color plates featuring exceptionally detailed mammal illustrations. Each species is depicted on these plates, with subspecies, geographic, and sexual variation portrayed whenever relevant. The artwork is supplemented by maps showing present range and by a short paragraph of text highlighting key identification characteristics and relevant aspects of the animal's behavior and ecology. All the artwork, maps, and text for a species are on two facing pages, eliminating the need to flip through the book to learn about an animal. Mammal signs are often more easily found than the animals themselves, so illustrations of tracks and scat are also included.

North America's mammal fauna is one of the best documented in the world, and the authors have scoured the continent's outstanding mammalogy literature to make this book as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Amateur naturalists will appreciate the complete coverage, detailed range maps, and outstanding artwork; professionals will welcome the inclusion of subspecies variation and the illustration of obscure traits crucial in distinguishing some pairs of similar species. This spectacular guide is the definitive one-volume resource on the mammals of a vast and tremendously varied continent.

• 108 color plates with illustrations for all 442 of North America's mammal species north of Mexico
• Subspecies, geographic, and sexual variation depicted when relevant
• Artwork is supplemented on facing pages by range maps and by concise text noting key identification traits and relevant aspects of behavior and ecology
• Tracks and scat illustrated as well
• Well-documented, accurate, and completely up-to-date

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #674995 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
Well organized and laid out, and easy to drive, Mammals of North America sets new standards in field guides. A must for any biological traveller to the US or Canada, as well as for residents. . . . [It] is full of those lovely touches only experienced fieldworkers can give. . . . Straightforward range maps accompany a clear and concise text that is nevertheless full of delightful natural history tidbits.
(Adrian Barnett New Scientist )

Review
Mammals of North America is a must for anyone really interested in properly identifying every animal that can be found on our continent. The text superbly highlights every characteristic needed for species identification. The latest range maps, shown on the facing page, confirm whether or not the species you think you have identified can be found where you are seeing your subject. The superb paintings of all the mammals have captured the very essence of the animals.
(Leonard Lee Rue III )

From the Inside Flap

"Mammals of North America is a must for anyone really interested in properly identifying every animal that can be found on our continent. The text superbly highlights every characteristic needed for species identification. The latest range maps, shown on the facing page, confirm whether or not the species you think you have identified can be found where you are seeing your subject. The superb paintings of all the mammals have captured the very essence of the animals."--Leonard Lee Rue III

"Written concisely and clearly, the new Mammals of North America is the only guide available that offers a current treatment of North America's diverse mammals. It clearly fills a critical niche in publications on North American mammals. This book will be indispensable for field biologists, sportsmen, hikers, park-goers and outdoors people alike."--Bruce D. Patterson, President, American Society of Mammalogists

Customer Reviews

My "Go-To" Guide!!
I am thrilled to say that I have finally found what will be my "go-to" guide for North American mammal identification. This book does a fantastic job identifying all 442 mammal species of North America. Some of the more helpful features: a quick guide to point you to the right section of the book, fantastic artwork (not distracting photos) to reference, information on identifying the tracks of some of the larger species, and of course, most helpful to an amateur like me, there are plenty of pictures of scat!! And yet I am pleased to report that this beautiful reference does it all in a classic field guide size! For any interested amateur naturalist, hiker, hunter, etc - it will become the obvious choice to pack up and take along.

Buy it now!
This is a superb field guide, with all that is needed. The coverage is comprehensive, the colour plates excellent, and range maps etc provide all the details needed for anyone from the interetsed naturalist to professionals. I recomend it to anyone.