Kangaroos: Biology of the Largest Marsupials (Comstock/Cornell Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Terence J. Dawson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 1995 | Series: Comstock/Cornell Paperbacks

Kangaroos may be the strangest of mammals - not so much because they keep their babies in pouches and lok like a cross between a giant rat and a deer - but because they alone among the large vertebrates can hop. This appealing natural history by an internationally known expert is the only up-to-date book on these unique animals. Illustrating his account with color photos and black-and-white drawings, Terence J. Dawson makes recent research on the biology, locomotion, behavior, and ecology of large kangaroos accessible to readers from tourists to specialists.The six species and four subspecies of red and gray kangaroos occupy habitats across most of Australia, and are distinguished mainly by size from their smaller relatives the wallabies. The largest marsupials, kangaroos belong to the Superfamily Macropodoidae, or "big foots", and are further characterized by complex stomachs and specialized teeth for grazing.Dawson considers the evolution of kangaroos, as well as their energetics, grazing habits, and classification. For each species, he details social organization, habitat, patterns of activity, population structure, reproductive biology and bheavior, feeding characteristics, and environmental physiology. The author documents as well the uneven history of coexistence between kangaroos and their human neighbors - both aboriginal and European. In addition to comparing cultural attitudes towards kangaroos, he explores such issues as hunting habits, conservation efforts, the problem of kangaroos as agricultural pests, and the economics of kangaroo ranching.Terence J. Dawson is Professor of Zoology at the School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This appealing natural history by an internationally known expert is the only up-to-date book on these unique animals. Illustrating his account with color photos and black-and-white drawings, Terence Dawson makes recent research on the biology, locomotion, behavior, and ecology of large kangaroos accessible to readers from tourists to specialists."-Wisconsin Bookwatch, July 1995

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Cornell University Press; 1st edition (August 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801482623
• ISBN-13: 978-0801482625
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,554,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative!, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kangaroos: Biology of the Largest Marsupials (Comstock/Cornell Paperbacks) (Paperback)

I run a kangaroo web site and already knew a lot about kangaroos before I acquired this wonderful book. This contains everything you might ever want or need to know (or not) about kangaroos!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute must for anyone interested in macropods., April 9, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kangaroos: Biology of the Largest Marsupials (Comstock/Cornell Paperbacks) (Paperback)

This book is one of the few, if not the only, modern looks at macropods and their habitats. It is factual and informative. Not an easy read for the lay-person. It is more of a text book than a coffee table book. Still, if you are interested in macropds, it is a must have.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scientific and Behavioral Information, December 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Kangaroos: Biology of the Largest Marsupials (Comstock/Cornell Paperbacks) (Paperback)

This book is really the best book I've ever found with scientific information about kangaroos.

Most of the books available in the US are either for children, or mainly focussed around photography. This book is extremely valuable as an authoritative factual source on biology and behaviour. If one ever gets annoyed by someone repeating some old chestnut about 'roo biology or behaviour (like competition with sheep, or not being able to move their legs independently) this book is likely to provide a good, convincing answer to them.