Book Description
"Destined to become a classic in the field of xenarthran biology and is a must for anyone interested in living armadillos, anteaters, and sloths, as well as their extinct relatives."--Michael A. Mares, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
"From their very early beginnings in mammalian history to their utility in modern human medicine, xenarthrans represent an ancient basal lineage of mammals deserving of interest from a wider audience."--Don E. Wilson, Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History
The Xenarthra are an order of the mammals consisting of the armadillos, anteaters, and sloths. The Biology of the Xenarthra is the first authoratative study of the Xenarthra in a generation.
The volume features an impressive group of international scholars who explore the current biology and ecological status of these mammals in each of the geographic regions they inhabit. Many of these populations reside in developing countries, and before now, information on these species has been scarce.
Topics cover a wide array of issues including genetics, physiology, behavior, ecology, and conservation. Discussions range from paleontological perspectives on xenarthran evolution to both lab and field-based studies of living species. Contemporary research in areas such as genome sequencing and leprosy in armadillos is also included.
About the Author
Sergio F. Vizcaíno is professor of vertebrate zoology at the Universidad
Nacional de La Plata and associate researcher in the División Paleontología
de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Argentina. W. J. Loughry, professor of biology at Valdosta State University, is author of a number of scientific papers on armadillos and is a contributor to the Encyclopedia of Mammals.
