Wednesday, February 18, 2015

New Arrivals in ORI Library


Mammals of Africa (Volumes 1-6)

 
Mammals of Africa (MoA) is a series of six volumes which describes, in detail, every currently recognized species of African land mammal. Each volume follows the same format, with detailed profiles of every species and higher taxa. The series includes some 660 colour illustrations by Jonathan Kingdon and his many drawings highlight details of morphology and behaviour of the species concerned. Diagrams, schematic details and line drawings of skulls and jaws are by Jonathan Kingdon and Meredith Happold. Every species also includes a detailed distribution map. Extensive references alert readers to more detailed information.

Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria (352 pages)
Volume II: Primates (560 pages)
Volume III: Rodents, Hares and Rabbits (784 pages)
Volume IV: Hedgehogs, Shrews and Bats (800 pages)
Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses (560 pages)
Volume VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids (704 pages)

Mammals of Africa Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria comprises eight introductory chapters covering topics such as evolution, geography and geology, biotic zones, classification, behaviour and morphology. The rest of Mammals of Africa Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria is devoted to the Afrotheria, a grouping that comprises six orders and 49 species; these are the hyraxes, elephants, dugong, manatees, otter-shrews, golden-moles, sengis (elephant-shrews) and aardvark.

Mammals of Africa Volume II: Primates is devoted to the order Primates, and includes the great apes, Old World monkeys, lorisids and galagos. Using the taxonomy adopted for Mammals of Africa, the four families represented comprise 25 genera and 93 species. A new species of monkey described in 2011 brings the total to 94, and this is briefly mentioned. Approximately 8% of Africa's species of mammal are primates.

Mammals of Africa Volume III: Rodents, Hares and Rabbits contains profiles of 395 species of rodents, comprising the squirrels, dormice, jerboas, blind mole-rats, African root-rats, pouched rats and mice, swamp mouse, climbing mice, fat mice, white-tailed rat, rock mice, voles, maned rat, spiny mice, brush-furred mice, gerbils, jirds, taterils, African forest mouse, rats and mice, vleirats, whistling rats, anomalures, springhares, gundis, African mole-rats, porcupines, noki (dassie rat), cane rats, and coypu. Mammals of Africa Volume III: Rodents, Hares and Rabbits concludes with 13 species of hares and rabbits.

Mammals of Africa Volume IV: Hedgehogs, Shrews and Bats profiles 156 species of insectivores, comprising the hedgehogs and shrews. The rest of Mammals of Africa Volume IV: Hedgehogs, Shrews and Bats is devoted to the 224 species of African bats. The latter are divided into nine families, namely fruit bats, horseshoe bats, leaf-nosed bats, false vampire bats, mouse-tailed bats, sheath-tailed bats, slit-faced bats, free-tailed bats, and vesper bats.

Mammals of Africa Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses comprises 83 species of carnivores, and includes jackals, wolves, dogs, foxes, weasels, polecats, striped weasels, zorilla, otters, ratel, fur seals, monk seals, palm civet, cats, genets, linsangs, African civet, hyaenas, aardwolf, and mongooses. Mammals of Africa Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses is completed with profiles of four pangolins, four zebras, and two rhinoceroses.

Mammals of Africa Volume VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids, the last volume in Mammals of Africa, comprises a single order, currently subdivided into three suborders, containing the pigs, hippopotamuses, chevrotains, giraffe, okapi, deer, buffalos, spiral-horned antelopes, dwarf antelopes, duikers, grysboks, beira, dik-diks, gazelles, klipspringer, oribi, reduncines, impala, alcelaphines, horse-like antelopes, sheep, and goats; Mammals of Africa Volume VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids contains 98 species profiles.

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