Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity and Ecology

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This revised and updated edition of a leading mammalogy textbook reflects the expertise of five prominent mammalogists. The fourth edition significantly updates taxonomy, introduces a new chapter on mammalian molecular phylogenetics, and highlights several recently described species. With nearly 5,500 species in the class Mammalia, from the blue whale to the pygmy shrew, mammals play vital roles in various ecosystems, including marine, freshwater, and desert environments. The book addresses the critical conservation challenges facing many mammal species, often due to overharvesting, habitat loss, and emerging threats like wind turbines and diseases affecting bats and deer. Key updates include numerous new photos, figures, and cladograms, over 4,200 references, and a new chapter on mammalian phylogeny and genomics. It also covers current taxonomy, major changes to orders and families, and the recent classification of whales with terrestrial even-toed ungulates. Additional discussions include structural and functional adaptations, fossil history, climate change implications, and examinations of newly recognized species such as Durrell's vontsira and the Laotian rock rat. The text maintains an accessible style, making it an authoritative resource on this diverse class of vertebrates.