The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals [Paperback]

David W. Macdonald (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2009

The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals is the most comprehensive and accessible reference book on mammals available. Unsurpassed in scope and stunningly illustrated, this book covers every known living species, from aardvarks to zorros. The informative and lively text is written by acclaimed researchers from around the world and features a concise general introduction to mammals followed by detailed accounts of species and groups that systematically describe form, distribution, behavior, status, conservation, and more. There are superb full-color photos and illustrations on virtually every page that show the animals in their natural settings and highlight their typical behaviors. And throughout the book, numerous "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings provide at-a-glance overviews of key data. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals is the definitive one-volume resource--a must-have reference book for naturalists and a delight for general readers.

• Covers every living mammal
• Describes form, distribution, behavior, status, conservation, and more
• Features spectacular full-color photos and illustrations on virtually every page
• Includes "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings for at-a-glance reference
• Written by an international team of experts

Editorial Reviews

Review

Packed with photos, illustrations, and lively text that comfortably bridges the gap between a child's reference tool and a doctoral thesis. (Scott Kirkwood National Parks Magazine )

Princeton's winning combination of gorgeous photography, current biological and field research, an international team of scientist-contributors, and an accessible style. . . . This book successfully conveys the wonder and delight that its authors take in the study of the world's creatures. It is a worthy addition to any school or home library. (Teresa Scollon Foreword Magazine )

In short, this book remains a must have for anyone who is interested in mammals, from the casual reader to even the most knowledgeable mammalogist. Best yet, at the current price, there is simply no excuse anymore not to have it. (Olaf R. P. Bininda-Emonds Quarterly Review of Biology )

From the Back Cover

"The Princeton Encyclopedia of Mammals is a rare treasure that combines spectacular photographs and authoritative, easily accessible text describing the world's mammals, from aardvarks to zebras and everything in between. Drawing on experts from around the world, this compilation covers an amazing diversity of subjects, including anatomy, behavior, conservation, diseases, ecology, and much more. This encyclopedia will serve scholars, students, and anyone interested in the natural history of mammals."--Don E. Wilson, National Museum of Natural History

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 976 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (February 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691140693
• ISBN-13: 978-0691140698
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 2.2 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Mammals
  • #28 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Veterinary
  • #31 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > History

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect April 22, 2010

By Rabid Reader

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is, hands-down, one of the best home-reference books I've seen in ages.
It's the kind of book that kids take down & put on the floor (it's very heavy) and pore over for hours--and learn a tremendous amount from.
I especially like the little visual detail showing how big the animals are compared to a person--some things are best shown in graphic form, and this is one of them.

The photos will enchant you, and the species-articles (written by an impressive cadre of academics) cover every detail you might imagine. In addition there are articles on topics such as "The Bushmeat Trade."

If there's a way to put this on your shelf, do it. Or even better, give it as a gift to a child who has an interest in animals...which is what I will do next Christmas.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars princeton mammal encyclopedia April 10, 2009

By K. Cook

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is amazing. It's very detailed, has excellent pictures, and provides all the information you could want on practically any kind of mammal. It's organized into several groups, so you can find the animal you're looking for easily, along with other animals that are similar to it in family, genus, and behavior. I highly recommend purchasing this book, it has everything you're looking for and more!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Book - Very fragile - Quality seller January 31, 2012

By ValueDriven

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A beautiful, very nice book. My daughter had requested it for Christmas. She was quite happy with it.

Seller was top notch, fast & well packed. Book was as described.

However, as I've said before (see Essential Environment) I hate the lack of durability of large paperback books. Very fragile. I made the mistake of opening the book soon after it arrived. Book was probably still cold. Opening the front cover, the heavy paper cover separated slightly along the front 1/4" of the cover, at the left hand edge where the cover is attached to the binding. Brand new, I had to repair it! Went to the local public library, which was kind enough to offer a little book repair glue (adheres but remains a little flexible).