Mammals of the Southwestern United States offers the most complete and up-to-date survey of the region’s mammalian fauna. Covering Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, the volume includes accounts of 246 species, including native, introduced, extirpated, and extinct mammals.
Key features:
- A general discussion of important threats to mammals.
- A summary of the current conservation status of mammals in the southwestern United States.
- 246 species accounts, including extant species that currently or formerly occurred in the Southwest, native species extirpated from all or part of the region, one extinct native species, and several introduced species.
- Taxonomic orders, families, and genera arranged by kinship; species within genera arranged alphabetically.
- A survey of the basic biology of mammals, including results of research in the Southwest, elsewhere in North America, and other parts of the world.
- More than 500 color images of animals, their skulls, and their habitats, along with maps showing approximate current or historic ranges in the southwestern United States and in North America.
- Dental formulas, average and range in adult size and weight, and indications of presence or absence of sexual dimorphism.
- An overview of habitats, diets, predators, parasites, diseases, and behaviors.
- Information on mating season, length of gestation, litter size, size and growth rate of young, age at sexual maturity, and adult lifespan.
- Original type localities and references to historic scientific names.
- Names of persons honored in scientific names, with brief biographical notes.
- An extensive glossary and a complete list of cited references.
Unlike a simple field guide, this work integrates decades of research from across North America and beyond, providing readers with a scientifically rigorous yet accessible resource. It is ideal for students, wildlife professionals, conservationists, and anyone fascinated by the rich mammalian diversity of the American Southwest.
