This unparalleled collection of scientific information on, and photographs of, Mexican wildlife belongs on the shelf of every mammalogist, in public and academic libraries, and in the hands of anyone curious about Mexico and its wildlife.

Neotropical Rainforest Mammals, the first color-illustrated field guide to these marvelously diverse and elusive creatures, has enjoyed tremendous success since its initial publication in 1990. Ecotourists and field researchers alike have applauded this guide's compact size, light weight, and durability. More important, they have appreciated its clear and concise accounts of the mammals of this broad region. Each species account includes information on identifying characteristics, similar species, vocalizations, behavior and natural history, geographic range, conservation status, local names, and references to the scientific literature. In this completely revised and updated second edition: A total of 226 species are treated in full (206 were included in the first edition). All species accounts retained from the first edition have been updated to include the most recent research. All 195 maps showing the distribution and geographic range of each species have been revised to reflect the most current information. Twenty-nine beautiful color plates illustrate more than 220 species (including significant color variants between males and females or adults and young). Seven black-and-white plates contain more than 60 images of individual species, mainly bats. A compact disc of mammal vocalizations--crucial to identifying nocturnal and otherwise cryptic animals that sometimes may be heard rather than seen--will be available for purchase separately. Praise for the first edition: "If you can't go to the Central and South American rain forests to see firsthand their threatened ecosystems, here is the next best thing."--Washington Post Book World "A large amount of information is presented concisely and in a way that is easy to use."--Choice "The presentation and wealth of information contained in this field guide is outstanding and will satisfy the needs of both the 'tourist' and 'researcher' traveling to the Neotropics."--Canadian Field-Naturalist

Publisher description

The Classifying Animals series welcomes readers to the world of classification, in which about 2 million different organisms have been identified and sorted into groups. This appealing and attractive book looks at the class of mammals, and the orders, families and species within it. Find out about the characteristics that distinguish the mammals in different groups and compare the differences in their life cycles. Discover the various ways in which mammals have adapted to life in different climates and habitats on land and in water.

How do mammals manage to maintain their body temperature within the same narrow range in environments as different as polar regions and hot deserts? This advanced text describes the morphological features and physiological mechanisms by which humans and other mammals maintain their body temperature within a narrow range despite large variations in climatic conditions and internal heat production. Its 19 chapters deal with the physics of heat exchange with the environment, and the autonomic and behavioural mechanisms available to control the loss and production of heat. The neuronal basis of temperature regulation and current concepts of the central nervous interface between temperature signals generated in the body and control mechanisms are examined in detail. This book is of invaluable help for undergraduates, postgraduates, teachers, physicians and scientists.