Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic reference. 2nd edition. (Smithsonian Series in Comparative Evolutionary Biology) [Hardcover]

Don E. Wilson (Author), DeeAnn M. Reeder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 1993

Wilson and Reeder's Mammal Species of the World is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today. The third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and, for the first time, common names. Each concise entry covers type locality, distribution, synonyms, and major reference sources. The systematic arrangement of information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level. This indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A uniquely valuable compendium of taxonomic and distributional data on the world's living and historically extinct mammalian species. Contributors and editors alike deserve the thanks of all mammalogists for helping to forge the nomenclatural mesh that holds our science together.

(Journal of Mammalogy 2005)

To refer to this work as a checklist undervalues it and does not give sufficient credit to the authors and editors for their meticulous efforts in its production. A valuable reference work and a vital tool, particularly for researchers.

(Journal of Natural History 2006)

By far the most convenient source for finding the correct scientific name of any mammal and should be on the reference shelf of libraries striving to have useful science sections.

(Science Books and Films 2006)

The editors and authors are to be congratulated for undertaking such an outstanding and authoritative work, and it should serve as a standard reference for mammalian species taxonomy for many years to come.

(Journal of Mammalian Evolution 2007)

The third edition adds to its reputation as an outstanding and authorative work.

(National Museum of Natural History Weekly Update & Forecast 2007)

Impressive and elegant work.

(G. R. Seamons Reference Reviews )

A landmark reference. By far the most authoritative and extensive compilation of the world's mammal species.

(Ronald Nowak, author, Walker's Mammals of the World, 4th, 5th, and 6th editions )

A must-have text for any professional mammalogist, and a useful and authoritative reference for scientists and students in other disciplines.

(Southeastern Naturalist )

A magnificent work important to anyone seriously interested in mammals. This work is essential for academic or special libraries supporting zoology or conservation and for large public libraries.

(American Reference Books Annual )

As were many of our colleagues, we were waiting for this revised edition since 2003... We can say that the wait was worth it.

(Sergio Solari and Robert J. Baker Journal of Mammalogy ) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Don E. Wilson is the curator of mammals and a senior scientist at the Smithsonian Institution. DeeAnn M. Reeder is an assistant professor of biology at Bucknell University.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1312 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian; 2 Sub edition (March 17, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560982179
• ISBN-13: 978-1560982173
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.5 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,550,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a mammalogist bible, October 21, 2001

By 

the Penguin (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic reference. 2nd edition. (Smithsonian Series in Comparative Evolutionary Biology) (Hardcover)

without doubt Wilson and Reeder's book is THE source of information for people looking for mammals in museums and old scientific publications. the superb listing of synonyms, the listings of the scientist describing the clades, and the brief biogeographic notes makes this book invaluable for people having any taxonomic question. The main attitude seems to be one of splitters, giving a lot of specific names to various populations others consider a single species, the biogeography can be a little more detailed, but there is no other source with that thoroughness and completeness in mammalian taxonomy.
I'm anxiously waiting a new edition

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Product, March 16, 2006

By 

Juan P. Carrera - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mammal Species of the World : A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 2-volume set (Hardcover)

Good book, useful, and essential for students and scientists interested to work with mammals.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mammals species, December 16, 2010

By 

Ursula T. D. MacHado "Ursula Taveira" (Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, BR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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