When the famous South African fish scientist Professor JLB Smith published Old Fourlegs - The Story of the Coelacanth in 1956 he created an international sensation. After all, this 400-million-year-old fish, known only from fossil remains, was thought to have become extinct around 66 million years ago! JLB Smith’s dramatic account of the discovery of the first and second coelacanths in 1938 and 1952 turned him into a cult figure and put South African science on the world map. His book was eventually published in six English editions and translated into nine foreign languages.

Mike Bruton’s The Annotated Old Fourlegs includes a facsimile reprint of the original book, to which he has added notes and images in the margins that provide an interesting and revealing commentary on Smith’s text, as well as new introductory and explanatory chapters that bring the coelacanth story up to date.

This fully updated edition of Birds of Nepal is the most comprehensive guide to the birds of this beautiful Himalayan country. Every species of bird recorded in Nepal is covered in this fantastic guide, including vagrants, with accurate distribution maps for most species. More than 790 species are featured with illustrations and concise text covering essential information for quick and easy reference. The comprehensive text covers voice, habits, habitats, altitudinal range, distribution and status to aid accurate identification. The texts have been completely re-written for this edition and many of the illustrations have been replaced. In addition, maps have been included for the first time.

Learn how to start a census program for terrestrial vertebrates with this handbook. Whether the information you need is for managing a population, surveying environmental impact, or conducting research on a particular species, this handbook has it all. Principles, methods, and calculations are explained. The following information is given for each species: name; range; reasons for census; life history; items of importance, e.g., migration; methods of census; recent and pertinent references; and comments about the various methods.
CONTENTS: Introduction. Methods for Species: Amphibians and Reptiles. Methods for Species: Birds. Methods for Species: Mammals. Various Species in a Habitat. Index.

There are 10,500 species of bird worldwide and wherever they occur people marvel at their glorious colours and their beautiful songs. We also trap and consume birds of every kind. Yet birds have not just been good to eat. Their feathers, which keep us warm or adorn our costumes, give birds unique mastery over the heavens. Throughout history their flight has inspired the human imagination so that birds are embedded in our religions, folklore, music and arts. Vast in both scope and scale, Birds and People explores and celebrates this relationship and draws upon Mark Cocker's 40 years of observing and thinking about birds. Part natural history and part cultural study, it describes and maps the entire spectrum of our engagements with birds, drawing in themes of history, literature, art, cuisine, language, lore, politics and the environment. In the end, this is a book as much about us as it is about birds. Birds and People has been stunningly illustrated by one of Europe's best wildlife photographers, David Tipling, who has travelled in 39 countries on seven continents to produce a breathtaking and unique collection of photographs. The book is as important for its visual riches as it is for its groundbreaking content. Birds and People is also exceptional in that the author has solicited contributions from people worldwide. Personal anecdotes and stories have come from more than 650 individuals in 81 different countries. They range from university academics to Mongolian eagle hunters, and from Amerindian shamans to some of the most celebrated writers of our age. The sheer multitude of voices in this global chorus means that Birds and People is both a source book on why we cherish birds and a powerful testament to their importance for all humanity.

The genus Perca includes only three species of fish, but they are ubiquitous and abundant in freshwater and brackish environments of the northern hemisphere, from North America to Europe and Asia. These species are important both ecologically and economically. In Biology of Perch, world-renowned specialists review and update the biology of these fish. The book opens with a review of the genetic makeup of this complex assemblage from early post-glacial dispersion to the colonization of new habitats. The influences of geomorphological and biological factors on the dispersal of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) are explored. Two case studies exploit unique historical databases to follow population dynamics of yellow perch and European perch (P. fluviatilis) and to demonstrate how fisheries and habitat management can drastically influence the fate of fish populations. Three other chapters are dedicated to the general reproductive physiology, parasitology, and behavior of Perca species. The third species, the Balkhash perch (P. schrenkii), is a rare and threatened species of the Balkans, and a chapter is dedicated to its biology. The book ends with a review of the use of Perca species around the world as sentinels of ecological integrity and biomonitors in ecotoxicological studies.

Birds are hosts to any parasites, internal and external. The parasites inevitably form a burden to the host bird and therefore may affect its ability to grow, survive and reproduce, its behaviour, and the abundance and distribution of the whole species. In consequence, bird-parasite systems have attracted attention from diverse fields, and the literature has been spread out in a wide range of specialized journals. The editors of this book have drawn together a comprehensive range of experts in the field to provide an invaluable reference of current work in bird-parasite interactions. The book is divided into four parts. The introduction provides the contemporary context of research in bird-parasite systems, and the following parts provide case studies which combine theoretical concepts with evidence from the literature and experimental data. Part 2, Ecology, examines the effects of parasites on individual fitness and population responses. Part 3 deals with behavourial responses to parasitism. The final part, sexual selection, pays particular attention to the significance of Hamilton and Zuk's predictions about the role of parasitism in choice and body ornamentation which have recen

In this comprehensive account of olfactory communication and territorial behavior in the Mongolian gerbil, Del Thiessen and PaulineYahr provide the first detailed study of the neurological and physiological mechanisms that control these basic functions. In addition to explaining the links between hormones, genes, olfactory cues, and territorial acts, they also offer a more general picture of gerbil behavior, as well as a brief look at other mammalian species that communicate social status by way of olfactory messages. Territorial behavior, as defined by the authors, includes all acts that are restricted to a particular area and are crucial for successful reproduction. In the Mongolian gerbil, and probably in other mammals as well, territoriality is controlled by sex hormones acting on specific areas of the central nervous system. Hormones from the gonads apparently act in the brain by altering the genetic apparatus controlling biochemicals used in neural communication. Without these hormones, the animal is socially inert and unable to transmit genes to the next generation. The authors conclude from the results of over ten years of investigation that the most complex social interactions depend on the integrity of the hormone system and its constant tuning by olfactory stimuli. The book incorporates a review of all previously known studies of gerbil behavior and representative data for many other scent-marking species. A stereotaxic brain atlas for the gerbil is a feature that will be especially helpful to other researchers. The book's eclectic nature should make it valuable to anyone concerned with territorial behavior, hormones and behavior, or brain processes, as well as to those who are specifically interested in the Mongolian gerbil.

Fish constitute an important natural renewable resource and any reduction in their ability to propagate as a result of human interference may have significant socioeconomic consequences. The negative effect of human activity on sex differentiation and reproductive output in fish is so diverse that it has been difficult to encompass it in a single book. This book serves as the first attempt to do so. Unlike in mammals, the expression of a host of sex differentiation genes in fish is mostly controlled by environmental factors. Not surprisingly, environmental sex differentiation is ubiquitous in fish. Overexploitation by capture fisheries does not disrupt sex differentiation but crowding in aqua-farms does, by reducing accessibility to food supply. Some of the man-made chemicals routinely used worldwide mimic endogenous hormones. For example endosulfan, which is widely used in developing countries, disrupts endogenous hormones and feminizes fish. For the first time, this book views endocrine disruption from the point of labile early life and non-labile adult stages. It shows that sex can irreversibly be reversed, when exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during early labile stages but reversibly impairs reproductive output on exposure to EDCs during non-labile adult stage. A consequence of climate change, elevated temperature, and declining oxygen and pH levels is that it masculinises genetic female fish. Fish display a remarkable ability to postpone the labile period. Besides postponement, some primary and tertiary gonochores have two distinct labile periods amenable to temperature and hormonal manipulations. Hermaphrodites have retained the period until the end of the adult stage and are capable of sex change/reversal more than once in both male and female directions.

This is the essential new field guide to the birds of Chile. Representing a great diversity of habitats, from the Andes in the north down to the tundra and sub-Antarctic rainforest of Tierra del Fuego in the far south, Chile is the breeding ground or temporary abode of 473 known species including 9 found nowhere else in the world. "Birds of Chile" covers them all, embracing not only the mainland but points offshore such as Easter Island as well as the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent islands, plus the Falklands and South Georgia. In addition to being a friendly and fruitful birding destination in its own right, Chile is the starting point for many Antarctic cruises.

Succinct, identification-focused text and distribution maps share a page opposite each of the 97 color plates to allow quick and easy reference. Between the boldfaced English name and the scientific name comes the Spanish name as used in Chile; this is important, for birders will find their quest far more enjoyable and effectual if they can explain to Chileans exactly what they are looking at, think they are looking at, or hope to be looking at.

Since Chile's list of resident species is yet far from conclusive, vagrants and rarities are also included. Indeed, some birds once thought to be accidentals in Chile have since proved to be regulars, including the Westland Petrel, Least Sandpiper, Cliff Swallow, and Golden-billed Saltator. Compact, comprehensive, and easy to use, Birds of Chile is the essential field guide to the birds of this spectacular and tourist-friendly country. The essential new field guide to the birds of Chile97 color plates with succinct text and maps on facing pages for quick reference and easy identificationAll 473 known species breeding in or visiting Chile, from the Andes in the north down to the tundra and sub-Antarctic rainforest of Tierra del Fuego in the southAlso covers points offshore such as Easter Island as well as the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent islands, plus the Falklands and South GeorgiaCompact, portable, and user-friendly

Marine mammals include some of the most fascinating animals on Earth. Large, majestic whales and stunning, playful dolphins have provided mysterious companionship to humans at sea for hundreds of years. These magical creatures, along with the equally fascinating manatees, dugongs, seals, sea lions, and walrusses, have developed a completely different set of adaptations from their terrestrial ancestors and relatives. Volume 4 of the HMW series provides complete accounts of all species and families in these important groups. Lavishly illustrated with colour photographs showing different behaviours of all of them, the text contains the latest up-to-date information on all families of sea mammals.

This book reexamines current knowledge on the evolution, ecology, and conservation biology of both New World vultures (Cathartidae) and Old World vultures (Accipitridae) and seeks answers to past and present regional extinctions, colorizations, and conservation questions. Extinct species of both families are examined, as is the disputed evidence for familial similarities and differences currently under review by geneticists and ornithologists. Conservation questions concern the extent to which recent land cover change (deforestation, urbanization, and desertification), wildlife depletions, and pollution have affected scavenging vultures. Such changes are examined as both positive and negative for vultures-a growing body of literature hints at the positive impacts of urban waste, more open forests, forest fires, landscape cultivation, road kills, and shore development, especially with increased attention to bird adaptation and "new" theories of adaptive management in conservation. These are contrasted with the conservation of other raptors and scavengers. Within new trends in conservation, with emphases on animal/human shared co-evolution in intensely habituated spaces, vulture conservation requires important new perspectives that contrast with the needs of other species conservation.

Recent advances in fish cytogenetics have enhanced the interest in chromosome analysis in both fundamental (systematics and comparative genomics among fishes and other vertebrate groups) and applied (aquaculture, conservation and response to pollutants, whole genome sequencing of model fish species) research. Although the genomic material, the chromosomes, is basically the same in the various organisms, experience has clearly shown that fish chromosomes have to be handled with specific protocols. In laboratories around the world, traditional cytogenetic techniques and molecular cytogenetics have seen a vast improvement but the technical details and protocols are often not published in scientific journals because of constraints in format and size and therefore they are not accessible to the whole scientific community. These shortcomings are very well known to fish cytogeneticists and the idea to prepare a specific manual was first discussed during the first "Workshop of Fish Cytogenetics" held in Concarneau (France), in 1992. Resulting from the above workshop, a draft compilation of the techniques and protocols in fish cytogenetics available at that time had been produced and distributed privately, but never published. There does not exist, at present, any published handbook or manual specifically dealing with fish cytogenetics. This book fills this void by bringing together and updating the main techniques so that the traditional methods can be standardized. Moreover, this book includes novel developments or improvements; some of the protocols provided here are practically unknown to the scientific community and even now unpublished.

Biology of European Seabass presents up-to-date reviews on key topics of seabass biology, written by leading scientific experts with extensive knowledge of seabass as well as their respective field of expertise. The book covers the biology and ecology of the different sea basses and the latest findings in molecular biology, physiology, and behavior of this species. Ranging from larval development to nutrition to pathology and immune system, the chapters cover a broad spectrum. The final chapter deals with novel tools such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. The social and commercial impact (fisheries and aquaculture) of seabass is also assessed.

From Ravens to Jackdaws and Choughs to Jays, crows are among some of Britain's most familiar, abundant and opinion-dividing birds. The UK's eight crow species all belong to the Corvidae family, and they have been deeply intertwined in our lives and culture since prehistoric times. Crows have long attracted a bad press. Reviled as scavengers, crop raiders and jewellery thieves, these birds - known to scientists are corvids - have often found themselves on the wrong end of a shotgun. Yet behind crows' supposed misdemeanours lies exceptional intelligence and resourcefulness, which both explain their success and have taught us much about animal behaviour. In Spotlight Crows, Mike Unwin introduces the UK's eight corvid species, outlining their fascinating natural history and offering essential identification tips. He also explores the mythology and folklore that have embedded these remarkable birds so deeply in our culture, from nursery rhymes to horror movies. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photography and informative expert text.

Immunity studies in sharks over the past three decades have produced some remarkable discoveries. If one message rings true, it is that alternative animal model systems, such as sharks and their relatives, have contributed very substantially to a better understanding of the development evolution of our own immune system. Immunobiology of the Shark describes the cellular, genetic, and molecular specifics of immune systems in sharks. Diverse approaches were employed to study the immunobiology of the shark from basic microscopic observations to detailed genome annotation. The book also raises a series of fascinating questions, which can be addressed experimentally using today's technology. This book will be a valuable resource for mainstream immunologists, comparative immunologists, geneticists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and investigators engaged in shark research. The book also aims to illustrate the magnificence of these animals as model systems and underscores the importance of their study to further understand their complex, and often enigmatic, biology.

Coordination in Human and Primate Groups presents one of the first collections of the different methods and approaches used to assess coordination processes in groups. Written by psychologists and primatologists, the book represents a broad range of coordination research fields such as social psychology, work and organizational psychology, medicine, primatology, and behavioral ecology. It is designed for researchers and practitioners interested in understanding the behavioral aspects of group coordination.

A premier birding destination in Southeast Asia, Thailand harbors a diverse and plentiful avifauna - over 1,000 species - and sanctuaries are easily accessible. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species and includes a map featuring prominent bird-viewing areas. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information for anyone interested in Asia birds, and is ideal for field use by Thailand's visitors and residents. Made in the USA.

Southern Africa is home to a diverse reptile fauna of more than 600 species. Of these, nearly 70% are endemic to the region, being found nowhere else. This compact guide features 276 of the more colourful and conspicuous species, as well as those unique to or endangered in the region. This up-to-date guide makes an ideal travelling companion on trips to the wildlife areas of southern Africa.

It features:

- authoritative text describing key identification features and symbols depicting endangered and venomous species;

- full-colour photographs of the featured species;

- distribution maps showing the range of each species;

- thumbnail outlines of each family group, enabling quick identification

Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species the first catalogue of its kind covers all living and fossil snakes described between 1758 and 2012, comprising 3,509 living and 274 extinct species allocated to 539 living and 112 extinct genera. Also included are 54 genera and 302 species that are dubious or invalid, resulting in recognition of 705 genera and 4,085 species.
Features:

• Alphabetical listings by genus and species
• Individual accounts for each genus and species
• Detailed data on type specimens and type localities
• All subspecies, synonyms, and proposed snake names
• Distribution of species by country, province, and elevation
• Distribution of fossils by country and geological periods
• Major taxonomic references for each genus and species
• Appendix with major references for each country
• Complete bibliography of all references cited in text and appendix
• Index of 12,500 primary snake names

The data on type specimens includes museum and catalog number, length and sex, and collector and date. The listed type localities include restrictions and corrections. The bibliography provides complete citations of all references cited in the text and appendix, and taxonomic comments are given in the remarks sections. This standard reference supplies a scientific, academic, and professional treatment of snakes appealing to conservationists and herpetologists as well as zoologists, naturalists, hobbyists, researchers, and teachers."

This book serves as an advanced text on fisheries and fishery population dynamics and as a reference for fisheries scientists. It provides a thorough treatment of contemporary topics in quantitative fisheries science and emphasizes the link between biology and theory by explaining the assumptions inherent in the quantitative methods. The analytical methods are accessible to a wide range of biologists, and the book includes numerous examples. The book is unique in covering such advanced topics as optimal harvesting, migratory stocks, age-structured models, and size models.

Chimpanzees, including common chimpanzees and bonobos, are our closest living relatives. This book, which is the first photographic and descriptive musculoskeletal atlas of the genus Pan, adopts the same format as the photographic atlases of Gorilla and Hylobates previously published by the same authors. These three books are part of a series of monographs that will set out the comparative and phylogenetic context of the gross anatomy and evolutionary history of the soft tissue morphology of modern humans and their closest relatives. The atlas, which includes detailed high-quality photographs of musculoskeletal structures from most anatomical regions of the body as well as textual information about the attachments, innervation, function and weight of the respective muscles, is based on dissections of up to 12 chimpanzees and on an extensive review of the literature. It provides an updated review of the anatomical variations within chimpanzees as well as an extensive list of the synonyms used in the literature. The book is designed for students, teachers and researchers studying primatology, comparative anatomy, functional morphology, zoology, and physical anthropology and to medical students, doctors and researchers who are curious about the origin, evolution, homology and variations of the musculoskeletal structures of modern humans.

The present work evaluates the toxic effects of some environmental stressors on fish eggs and larvae and describes the biomarker responses of fish from locations with varying levels of pollution. Development of the main groups of biomarkers is discussed. The book demonstrates general trends and specific peculiarities of biomarker induction in early fish life and their association with the animal's developmental stages. It addresses responses of fish eggs and larvae to pollution under experimental conditions and presents information obtained from in situ studies. Chapters describe xenobiotics accumulation, anoxia and hypoxia, increasing temperature, eutrophication, and other unfavorable environmental factors, including biotic and abiotic factors, and their impact on fish embryos. They also examine fluctuations in biomarker levels in fish eggs and larvae that have been impacted by climate changes and discuss possible scenarios, especially for fish population size, reproduction, growth, development and biodiversity.

This book provides an introduction to the latest gene mapping techniques and their applications in biomedical research and evolutionary biology. It especially highlights the advances made in large-scale genomic sequencing. Results of studies that illustrate how the new approaches have improved our understanding of the genetic basis of complex phenotypes including multifactorial diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity), anatomic characteristics (e.g., the craniofacial complex), and neurological and behavioral phenotypes (e.g., human brain structure and nonhuman primate behavior) are presented. Topics covered include linkage and association methods, gene expression, copy number variation, next-generation sequencing, comparative genomics, population structure, and a discussion of the Human Genome Project. Further included are discussions of the use of statistical genetic and genetic epidemiologic techniques to decipher the genetic architecture of normal and disease-related complex phenotypes using data from both humans and non-human primates.

Famous for their size and elegance in flight, albatrosses are familiar to anyone who has travelled through the southern oceans, and are a flagship family of conservation concern. However, albatrosses are just one of several groups of 'pelagic' birds - those that visit land only to breed, and spend the rest of their lives far from the coast, soaring from ocean to ocean in a never-ending search for food. Mysterious and graceful, these birds can present a formidable identification challenge to even the most experienced birder. This book provides the answer - the first comprehensive guide to pelagic birds, the albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, storm-petrels and diving petrels. A total of 46 spectacular colour plates highlight key ID criteria of the birds in flight, with close-ups of diagnostic regions of the plumage. The plates are accompanied by accurate distribution maps, while the sparkling text brings the world of these amazing birds to life. Several extremely rare species, such as Beck's Petrel, are illustrated for the first time, while the New Zealand Storm-petrel, rediscovered as recently as 2004, is also included. Sea-watchers all around the world will find this superb field guide indispensable.