The Encyclopedia of Mammals

Articles and photographs provide information on mammals from each of the orders, covering anatomy, breeding habits, behavior, migration, evolutionary development, and social organization.

Grade 8 Up—MacDonald refines his authoritative, cladistically arranged 2001 resource (Facts On File) to incorporate both current thinking about evolutionary relationships among mammals and the results of recent research into mammalian traits and genetics. Volume one opens with several overview essays ("What Is a Mammal?"), then covers monotremes, marsupials, and insect eaters; elephants and relatives; rodents; and lagomorphs. The second volume deals with primates, tree shrews, and colugos; shrews, moles, and hedgehogs; bats; pangolins; and carnivores. The third volume continues the coverage of carnivores, followed by sections on hoofed mammals and whales and dolphins. It also includes lists (in challengingly tiny type) of every species not described earlier and a set index. Each chapter is prefaced by general observations and includes occasional essays on intriguing discoveries ("Sex Ratio Manipulation in Red Deer," "Lemur Dialects"). The profiles are much enhanced by the title's most enticing feature: a huge array of big, sharp color photos of individual animals and groups and breathtaking shots of nature in action and graphics, including species distribution maps and drawings of animals. Though humans get barely a mention and the lively text is laid out in such dense blocks that less-motivated readers may quickly feel bogged down, the set provides an unusually inviting bridge to high-level research. Not an essential replacement for collections that already include the earlier edition, but a significant addition for those that don't.—John Peters, New York Public Library
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Distinguished by outstanding color photographs, this authoritative encyclopedia provides an overview of more than 5,000 species. Written at a level accessible to undergraduates as well as the general reader by an outstanding team of subject experts, the work has broad appeal. The signed articles range in length from one to several pages. There are four types of entries. For each order or group of orders, a general essay highlights the biology, ecology, behavior, and evolution of the group. Accounts of individual species, groups of species, or families of species comprise the majority of the entries and cover details such as physical characteristics, distribution, evolutionary history, diet, feeding behavior, social dynamics, classification, and relationships with humans. Also included are special-feature essays highlighting particularly interesting research and photo-essays showcasing evocative wildlife photography. Appendixes offer a species list, a 5-page bibliography, a 12-page glossary, and a comprehensive subject index.

A one-volume version of The Encyclopedia of Mammals was published in 1984 and expanded to three volumes in 2001. Of some concern is the lack of updated information in the 2006 edition. Many of the articles are essentially unchanged from the 2001 edition . Some of the illustrations date to the 1984 edition. The major changes are the taxonomic arrangement of the articles, an updated bibliography, and several new essays covering recent developments in mammalian conservation. In addition, current information is provided on ongoing threats to endangered species.

This work is recommended for public and academic libraries; however, because of the many similarities between the 2001 and 2006 editions, the 2006 edition is probably not worth the money for most libraries already owning the previous one. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia: Volumes 12-16; Mammals (Gale, 2004) is another excellent choice, notable for authoritative writing, comprehensive coverage, and ample color illustrations and photographs. Nancy Cannon
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