As a comprehensive guide, the book is quite informative, easy to use, beautifully designed, and an excellent resource for anyone interested in this family of mammals.
Squirrels of the Worldby Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele, James F. Whatton
Squirrels of the World, written by scientists with more than 100 years of collective experience studying these popular mammals, is the first comprehensive examination of all 285 species of squirrels worldwide. The authors reveal virtually every detail of the family Sciuridae, which includes ground squirrels, tree squirrels, flying squirrels, prairie/i>/i>
Squirrels of the World, written by scientists with more than 100 years of collective experience studying these popular mammals, is the first comprehensive examination of all 285 species of squirrels worldwide. The authors reveal virtually every detail of the family Sciuridae, which includes ground squirrels, tree squirrels, flying squirrels, prairie dogs, and chipmunks. Each speciesfrom the familiar gray squirrel of American backyards to the exotic and endangered woolly flying squirrel of Pakistanis described in a detailed account that includes distinguishing characteristics, ecology, natural history, conservation status, and current threats to its existence.
Squirrels of the World includes
• stunning color photographs that document rare and unusual squirrels as well as common varieties• evolution, morphology, ecology, and conservation status• colorful range maps marking species distribution• images of the skull of each genus of squirrel• extensive references
Squirrels of the World does a wonderful job at surveying this charismatic group of animals... The photographs in this book are worth the cost of the book themselves.
This is a wonderful book with hundreds of full-color photographs packed with loads of information on the 285 known living species of squirrels found all over the world.
The heart of this book is an account of each of the 285 species of squirrels... The photographs and color range maps give the book a striking and handsome appearance... excellent treatment of the squirrel family.
Squirrels of the World provides an excellent guide to the present state of scientific knowledge of the Sciuridae, but also sheds light on the degree of ignorance that remains.
Still think you know all you need to about the Sciuridae? What tree squirrel specializes in ant-eating, and has a distinct skull with a long snout? What bushy-tailed tree squirrel weighs only around 15 g, the size of a deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)? I’m not going to tell you. Buy the book.
If you need a squirrel inventory, this is a good one. And it's nice to feel that this type of catalogue is still appearing in print rather than on some obscure website of doubtful reliability. The back cover 'blurb' reveals the authors' impeccable institutional affiliations.
A guide to the squirrels of the world is long overdue. This one is information rich, clearly written and beautifully presented. It incorporates an extensive bibliography (well over 1,500 references), discussions about important squirrel biology topics, critical conservation information, a large array of images and a massive collection of species-dependent information.
This thorough guide to the squirrel family profiles 285 species, including not only the tree and flying squirrels, but also chipmunks, ground squirrels (including prairie dogs), and marmots.
As a teacher of mammalogy, this is a valuable contribution and I expect that I will use it while preparing multiple lectures for my courses. As a squirrel devotee, I am sure this I will return to many of the species accounts to glean more information and thereby bolster my enthusiasm for these fascinating animals.
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Publication date:
- Sales rank:
- Product dimensions:
- 7.90(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.30(d)
- Age Range:
- 18 Years
What People are saying about this
There is an astounding amount of information packed into this book, clearly demonstrating the breadth of knowledge by the authors.
Meet the Author
Richard W. Thorington, Jr., is a curator of mammals at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History and the author of Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide, also published by Johns Hopkins University Press. John L. Koprowski is a professor at the Wildlife and Fisheries Resources School of Natural Resources at the University of Arizona. Michael A. Steele is a professor in the Department of Biology at Wilkes University and is co-author, with Koprowski, of North American Tree Squirrels. James F. Whatton is a research assistant at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History.
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