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

Don E. Wilson; DeeAnn M. Reeder

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1560982179 ISBN 13: 9781560982173

Publisher: Smithsonian, 1993

Synopsis

The first edition was published in 1982; production of the second included initiation of an electronic database which will be maintained and revised with the efficiencies afforded by computer technology. An important difference in the second edition is that dissenting opinions are not published alongside the consensus taxonomic arrangement; alternative viewpoints are relegated to the literature, where they can be substantiated by data and debated. Each section of the new edition carries authorship, and taxonomic decisions were the authors' (incorporating review and suggestions from other mammalogists). Serving as a starting point for the inevitable third edition, the second provides details on 4,629 species (up from 4,170), and identifies gaps in knowledge and controversies. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

About this title

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.

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)

"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)

"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)

"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)

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

(National Museum of Natural History Weekly Update & Forecast)

"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)

About this edition

• Publisher: Smithsonian
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 1560982179
• ISBN 13: 9781560982173
• Binding: Hardcover