More than 1 000 mammal species occur in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. These creatures vary in size from the massive elephant to the tiniest bats, shrews and mice. A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Southern, Central and East Africa was compiled with a view to easing identification of many of the larger and more conspicuous mammals in the region, as well as some of the smaller and more unusual ones.

This compact, easy-to-use guide features:

- 152 of the region's mammal species

- key identification features showing how to differentiate between similar species

- distribution maps and a list of major parks and reserves indicating where species are likely to be seen

- quick reference key on inside cover

- thumbnail silhouettes of each family group for quick identification

This new revised edition is an ideal pocket-sized travelling companion for nature lovers and visitors to nature reserves and wildlife areas.

We cannot catechise our stony ichthyolites, as did the necromantic lady of the Arabian Nights did the coloured fishes of the lake which had once been a city, when she touched their dead bodies with her wand, and they straightaway raised their heads and rephed to her queries. We would have many a question to ask them if we could - questions never to be solved. Hugh Miller, The Old Red Sandstone When I started this book in 1991, the subject of vertebrate origins was fusty and unfashionable. Early drafts for this preface read like an extend ed complaint at the lot of traditional morphologists, cast aside by the march of modern molecular biology. But no longer - this book should reach you at a time of renewed inter est in the origin of the vertebrates, our own particular corner of creation. For although the topic has excited interest for well over a century, molec ular biology has only lately achieved the maturity necessary to test its predictions. As a legitimate field of study, it is fashionable again."

Chondrichthyans possess unique anatomical features compared to other vertebrates, in particular a fully cartilaginous skeleton and a permanently renewed dentition. These characteristics make the fossilization of whole bodies difficult and consequently their fossil record consists mainly of a large number of isolated teeth. The study of their dentition is therefore of primary interest for our understanding of the evolution of this group. Beyond the dental morphology, the structure of the tissues composing the dentition has proved an important source of information, sometimes difficult to interpret, on the eating habits and the paleobiology of these animals. This book makes a thorough review of the existing theories in this field of research as well as introducing new elements from more recent studies. Through close reference to the fossil record of ancient selachians it examines what the study of dental tissue in cartilaginous fish can tell us about the evolution and the past biology of these animals, as well as what we can learn about the evolution of teeth themselves.

Shorebirds, or waders, are a large group of small to medium-sized birds that occur worldwide, in a wide range of predominantly coastal or wetland habitats. Some species are largely sedentary whilst others are amongst the world's most migratory bird species, travelling thousands of kilometres in a few days. In addition to describing physical behavioural traits such as feeding, breeding, migration, and particular physiological adaptations, Shorebirds in Action also covers territorial behaviour both when feeding and breeding. There is detailed discussion of the range of species and their different lifestyles together with feeding strategies, flocking, roosting and the avoidance of predators. The seasonal features of shorebirds' lives are included, such as the various plumages that they have when breeding, or not breeding, together with the intervening periods of moult, during which the birds change from one plumage to the next.Shorebirds in Action is in two parts - firstly basic behavioural information and then a photographic section that explains the specific behaviour being illustrated for that particular shorebird at the time the photo was taken.Consequently, the book can be read as a general text, split into chapters that provide the basic behavioural information and also by reference to the extended photograph captions which explain the details of the particular behaviour shown. The book contains excellent photographs of about 180 shorebird species - over three-quarters of the world's total - and therefore provides a general reference for the identification of shorebird species and the recognition of their various plumages. It will be relevant to readers worldwide, including Europe, North America and Australasia. This comprehensive work can be read as a general text and also the photographs can be enjoyed separately in their own right. Detailed references to source material are provided.

With more than 15,000 species, nearly a quarter of the total number of vertebrate species on Earth, freshwater fishes are extremely varied. They include the largest fish species, the beluga at over 7 meters long, and the smallest, the Paedocypris at just 8 millimeters, as well as the carnivorous, such as the piranha, and the calm, such as the Chinese algae eater. Certain species evolve rapidly, cichlids for example, while others transform very slowly, like lungfish. The fossils of these animals are very diverse in nature, sometimes just small scattered bones where sites correspond to ancient river beds or magnificent fossils of entire fish where there was once a lake. This book covers the history of these fishes over the last 250 million years by exploring the links between their biological evolution and the paleogeographic and environmental transformations of our planet, whether these be gradual or sudden.

This book is the first veterinary textbook dedicated to nursing care plans. It offers a broad overview of the theory and practice of care planning in veterinary nursing, answering three key questions: What are nursing care plans? Why should nursing care plans be used in practice? How should nursing care plans be used in practice? Author Helen Ballantyne provides basic definitions and explanations which will be useful to those unfamiliar with nursing care plans. For those veterinary nurses and technicians who are using nursing care plans, the content stimulates debate and discussion, by covering some of the philosophical and theoretical aspects of nursing and drawing comparisons and contrasts between the veterinary and human nursing roles and contexts. There is a pressing need for veterinary nurses to establish themselves as professionals and develop their unique role within the veterinary care team. Nursing care plans are a core tool to support that development. It is hoped that veterinary nurses may borrow tools from the pages of this book or use it as a resource design their unique care plans: either way, this practical guide will support the application of care planning, no matter the species of the animal kingdom for whom you are caring.

The fossil record of giant flightless birds extends back to the Late Cretaceous, more than 70 million years ago, but our understanding of these extinct birds is still incomplete. This is partly because the number of specimens available is sometimes limited, but also because widely different approaches have been used to study them, with sometimes contradictory results. This book summarizes the current knowledge of the paleobiology of seven groups of giant flightless birds: Dinornithiformes, Aepyornithiformes, Dromornithidae, Phorusrhacidae, Brontornithidae, Gastornithidae and Gargantuavis. The first chapter presents the global diversity of these birds and reviews the tools and methods used to study their paleobiology. Chapters 2 to 8 are each dedicated to one of the seven groups of extinct birds. Finally, a conclusion offers a global synthesis of the information presented in the book in an attempt to define a common evolutionary model.

This book offers an accessible and up-to-date reference on primate zoonoses. Recent years have witnessed a rise in human diseases zoonotically transferred from animals, with wild primates implicated in the spread of numerous newly emerging infections. The authors go beyond simply providing an inventory of diseases, helping readers to understand how and why they are transmitted. Important consideration is given to the contemporary cultural and ecological factors involved.

The names given to the variety of man-like fossils known to scientists should reflect no more than scientific views of the nature of human evolution. However, often in the past these names have also reflected confusion regarding the basic principles of scientific nomenclature; and the matter has been further complicated by the many new finds of recent decades. It is the unique purpose of this book to clarify the present state of knowledge regarding the main lines of human evolution by expressing what is known (and what is surmised) about them in appropriate taxonomic language. The papers in this volume were prepared by the world's leading authorities on the subject, and were revised in the light of discussions at a remarkable conference held in Austria in 1962 under the auspices of the Wenner-Gren Foundation. The authors review first the meaning of taxonomic statements as such, and then consider the substance of our present knowledge regarding the number and characteristics of species among living and extinct primates, including man and his ancestors. They also examine the relationship of behavior changes and selection pressures in evolutionary sequences. Ample illustrations, bibliographies and an index enhance the permanent reference value of the book, which will undoubtedly prove to be among the fundamental paleoanthropological works of our time.

This is a guide to all British birds whose sounds are likely to be encountered by the average birdwatcher. A total of 175 species are heard ranging from the familiar tawny owl to the very rare call of the bittern. This is an authorititive guide and an ideal gift for anyone wishing to learn the sounds of the great variety of birds that can be seen and heard throughout the season. A perennial bestseller. Includes an introductory booklet.

Gorilla Pathology and Health: With a Catalogue of Preserved Materials consists of two cross-referenced parts. The first, the book itself, is a review of pathological changes and tissue responses in gorillas (Gorilla gorilla and G. beringei), with an emphasis on free-living animals, but also with reference to those in captivity. The comparative aspects are discussed, stressing the relevance of research to both gorillas and humans. What makes the publication truly unique, however, is the second part, a comprehensive descriptive catalogue of the location and nature of gorilla material in museums and scientific institutions throughout the world. This is of great consequence because free-living gorillas are strictly conserved with restricted access, so the location of a wealth of preserved tissues and other material that has been collected over the decades is a great benefit for research and study. This book can, and should, be used to gain cardinal knowledge regarding the biology and pathology of this genus. The combination of book and catalogue in this extensive compilation makes it an invaluable tool for all those concerned with the health, welfare, and conservation of gorillas, one of our nearest living relatives.

Tropical estuaries are among the most modified and threatened of aquatic environments, supporting innumerable fisheries essential to the regions in which they occur. This book synthesizes the wealth of data available in this area, much of it being brought together by Stephen Blaber for the first time. It will provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the fishes, the environments in which they live, and the management of biologically healthy estuaries and sustainable fisheries.

Southern India is home to the greatest concentration of elephants in Asia. However, populations are fast diminishing and the Asian elephant is faced with extinction. In order to save this endangered creature we must increase our knowledge of this crucial population.

This is the broadest treatment of the subject yet,written by one of the leading workers in the field, Raman Sukumar, the book promises to bring the understanding of elephants to a new level, making it of interest not only to biologists but also a broader audience including field ecologists, wildlife administrators, historians, conservationists and all those interested in elephants and their future.

The Multilingual Illustrated Dictionary of Aquatic Animals and Plants provides a unique reference to the names of 1532 species of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, seaweeds and other fishery products that are landed worldwide. The names of these species can vary significantly between neighbouring regions of a country, from the size of the fish, from the stage of its life cycle, from the season of the year, and from its degree of treatment after capture. Co--published by the European Commission and Fishing News Books, the Multilingual Illustrated Dictionary of Aquatic Animals and Plants seeks to address this problem and to eliminate much of the existing confusion. New to the Second Edition of this acclaimed Dictionary is the addition of Finnish and Swedish to each existing entry. The Dictionary has been expanded to include new species and illustrations. For each entry, the following information is given: Reference number (the number given to the species within the index); Scientific (Latin) name; Family name; English name; Dutch name; French name; Danish name; German name; Greek name; Italian name; Portuguese name; Spanish name; Finnish name; Swedish name. Comprehensively illustrated, the New Second Edition of the multilingual Illustrated Dictionary of Aquatic Animals and Plants is an essential reference for all involved in the commercial fishing industries both within and beyond the boundaries of the European Union

This completely revamped second edition of Avian Medicine and Surgery includes over 260 all-new colour illustrated cases, with questions and answers fully exploring a breadth of diseases and disorders. Avian patients are a routine part of the veterinary case load and are being seen by many clinicians across the world. This book provides a unique quick reference for clinicians and a useful self-test for students by offering comprehensive, clinically-oriented information that can be quickly accessed, easily understood and applied. With contributions from leading international authorities with diverse fields of expertise, the book covers a wide range of disciplines, organ systems and species. The cases are presented in a random order, just as they would appear in daily practice, challenging the reader to address real clinical situation and offering, where possible, a comprehensive solution.

The second edition of the book has sold over 3850 copies, making this our bestselling veterinary textbook. Day passed away in 2020 and Professor Brian Catchpole and Harm HogenEsch are the ideal authors to update this in his stead, actively teaching and researching in this field at the RVC, the UK's biggest veterinary college, and Purdue, a huge vet school in the US. The two new authors give this greater international coverage. The most accessible book on this topic for veterinary students: chapters are concise and informative, focused on the main message. It stands out among the competitor 'tomes' which are expensive and inaccessible, or are geared towards human (or mouse) immunology. In a nutshell, this book provides the essential immunological information specifically for vet students, but remains light and easy to read. Colour illustrations are effective, clear, simple and straight to the point, with nearly one illustration/schematic for each important section/paragraph. The clinical cases bring the material to life, while a short animation adds new practical application via the Support Materials tab on the Routledge website.

The Raven is one of the most spectacular and romantic of British birds, but relatively neglected in the modern literature of ornithology. Derek Ratcliffe here presents a thorough summary of our knowledge of its natural history, emphasizing the long association of the bird with humankind. The place of the Raven in myth, legend and history is long established, and this book describes the bird's fall from grace as a valued scavenger in medieval cities to a persecuted outcast in the modern wilds. The previous wide occurrence of Ravens is reviewed against the relationships between their present distribution, status and habitat requirements, as both a nesting and a non-breeding resident. The dependence of Ravens on carrion (especially sheep) within an omnivorous diet is the key to the species' ecology, and its social behaviour has evolved in close relation to this lifestyle. Today, Raven carry a new omen in the modern world, as a barometer of goodwill to wildlife. Like those in the Tower of London, the continued existence of Ravens in our wild countryside will reveal something about both our current situation and our prospects for the future.

1. Site Directed Mutagenesis to Probe for Active Site Components of Liver Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 2. Substrate Binding Pocket Structure of Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenases: A Substrate Specificity Approach.- 3. Human Class 1 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase: Expression and Site-Directed Mutagenesis.- 4. Nitrate Esters as Inhibitors and Substrates of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 5. Use of a Chromophoric Reporter Group to Probe the Active Site of Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 6. Studies of the Esterase Activity of Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Using Sterically Hindered and Cyclic Substrates.- 7. The Reduction of Propionic Anhydride by Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-Nadh Mixtures at pH 7.- 8. Cloning and Characterisation of the cDNA for Sheep Liver Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 9. Crystallization of Sheep Liver Cytosolic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase in a Form Suitable for High Resolution X-Ray Structural Analysis.- 10. Progress toward the Tertiary Structure of (Class 3) Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 11. UDP-Glucose Dehydrogenase: Structural Characteristics.- 12. Kinetic Studies on Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase from Bovine Cornea.- 13. Covalent Modification of Class 2 and Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase by 4-Hydroxynonenal.- 14. Constitutive and Overexpressed Human Cytosolic Class-3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenases in Normal and Neoplastic Cells/Secretions.- 15. Metabolism of Cyclophosphamide by Aldehyde Dehydrogenases.- 16. Tissue-Specific Expression and Preliminary Functional Analysis of the 5? Flanking Regions of the Human Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH2) Gene.- 17. Transgenesis of the Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) Locus in a Mouse Model and in Cultured Human Cells.- 18. Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase: A Northern Perspective in the Land Down Under.- 19. Studies on the Induction of Rat Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenase.- 20. Mouse Class 3 Aldehyde Dehydrogenases.- 21. Cloning and Characterization of Genes Encoding Four Additional Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Isozymes.- 22. New Human Aldehyde Dehydrogenases.- 23. Retinoic Acid Synthesizing Enzymes in the Embryonic and Adult Vertebrate.- 24. Retinoic Acid Synthesis in the Developing Spinal Cord.- 25. Structure and Mechanism of Aldehyde Reductase.- 26. Expression of Human and Rat Carbonyl Reductase in E. coli: Comparison of the Recombinant Enzymes.- 27. Molecular Cloning and Sequencing of Mouse Hepatic 11ss-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase/Carbonyl Reductase: A Member of the Short Chain Dehydrogenase Superfamily.- 28. Molecular Modelling Calculations on the Binding of D- and L-Xylose to Wild-Type Aldose Reductase and Its H11OQ and H11OA Mutants.- 29. Stopped-Flow Studies of Human Aldose Reductase Reveal which Enzyme Form Predominates during Steady-State Turnover in Either Reaction direction.- 30. Lysine Residues in the Coenzyme-Binding Region of Mouse Lung Carbonyl Reductase.- 31. Substrate Specificity and Kinetic Mechanism of Tetrahymena 20?-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase.- 32. Purification and Characterization of Recombinant Human Placental and Rat Lens Aldose Reductases Expressed in Escherichia coli.- 33. Rat and Human Bile Acid Binders Are Members of the Monomeric Reductase Gene Family.- 34. The Alcohol Dehydrogenase System.- 35. Promoters of the Mammalian Class III Alcohol Dehydrogenase Genes.- 36. Class I and Class Iv Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Retinol Dehydrogenase) Gene Expression in Mouse Embryos.- 37. Molecular Evolution of Class I Alcohol Dehydrogenases in Primates: Models for Gene Evolution and Comparison of 3? Untranslated Regions of cDNAS.- 38. the Role of Leucine 116 in Determining Substrate Specificity in Human B1 Alcohol Dehydrogenase.- 39. Mutations of Human Class III Alcohol Dehydrogenase.- 40. Human and Rat Class IV Alcohol Dehydrogenases: Correlations of Primary Structures with Enzymatic Properties.- 41. Cloning and Expression of a Human Stomach Alcohol Dehydrogenase Isozyme.- 42. Purification and Properties of Murine Corneal Alcohol Dehydrogenase: Evidence for Class IV ADH P

This book is actually a product of efforts of many people, not only of the authors. W ide investigations of marine mammals began in Russia (that time, in the former Soviet Union) in the 1960s when a few teams of enthusiasts founded in captivity experimental stations intended for keeping dolphins and seals and for performing experimental studies of these fascinating animals. It was a time when attention of many people throughout the world was attracted to dolphins and other marine mammals due to appearance of oceanariums and dolphinariums, which demonstrated unique capabilities of these animals. So scientists in many countries concentrated on studies of them. There was much to learn about the morphology, physiology, and psychology of marine mammals, and investigators spending their time and efforts on studies in this field were rewarded by a number of surprising findings. The authors of this book represent one of such research teams focused on the neuro- and sensory physiology of marine mammals. A few decades of studies naturally resulted in the idea to summarize in a book both the results of these studies and a large body of data in adjacent fields. Our goal was to synthesize the many research findings and the present knowledge on sensory capabilities and mechanisms of sensory systems of aquatic mammals. We realize, however, that the appearance of this book was made possible due to the help and assistance of many colleagues.

This volume provides the reader with an overview of an intriguing and interdisciplinary field of research. For the first time the mammalian pineal gland, its mode of action and its physiological effects are discussed in a comprehensive, single-authored work.

From an evolutionary perspective, understanding chimpanzees offers a way of understanding the basis of human nature. This book on cognitive development in chimpanzees is the first of its kind to focus on infants reared by their own mothers within a natural setting, illustrating various aspects of chimpanzee cognition and the developmental changes accompanying them. The subjects are chimpanzees of three generations inhabiting an enriched environment, as well as a wild community in West Africa. There is a foreword by Jane Goodall and 26 color photos of chimpanzees in the laboratory and in the field in West Africa are included.

A review of our understanding of this area of the brain, showing how it fits into the general picture of those areas concerned with modulating mammalian behavior. The chapters, all written by leading figures in behavioral neuroscience, discuss the anatomy, neurochemistry, physiology, and behavioral relations in the septal area. Due to the great deal of current research shown in the related areas of hippocampus and the amygdala, this book will be of great interest to all those who research the hippocampus and the amygdala in addition to the septum itself.

The most accurate guide to feathers of European birds. This guide to the feathers of Europe's birds covers more than 400 species, with an innovative key allowing for exceptionally precise identification by colour as well feather structure and shape. Collection and conservation methods, locations of feathers on the bird, and identification and description of the feathers of species are clearly explained and richly illustrated. The large format of the book allows feathers to be shown in great detail. - The feathers of more than 400 European species are described, more than 300 are illustrated, and there is a total of 400 photographs. - A large format guide allows for efficient identification. - Presents a novel and innovative method to recognise the feathers of Europe's birds.

Anguillid eels have fascinated biologists for centuries due to their spectacular long-distance migrations between freshwater habitats and their spawning areas far out in the ocean. This book provides a long overdue update on the biology and ecology of anguillid eels and features comprehensive coverage of the key features of the genus Anguilla. It covers a broad spectrum of topics on the biology (taxonomy, phylogeny, evolution, reproduction, feeding, salinity adaptation) and ecology (life history, recruitment, migration) of anguillid eels. It also brings together important information on the state of eel fisheries, conservation, exploitation, and management.

Taxonomy of Australian Mammals utilises the latest morphometric and genetic research to develop the most up to date and comprehensive revision of the taxonomy of Australian mammals undertaken to date. It proposes significant changes to the higher ranks of a number of groups and recognises several genera and species that have only very recently been identified as distinct. This easy to use reference also includes a complete listing of all species, subspecies and synonyms for all of Australia's mammals, both native and introduced as well as terrestrial and marine. This book lays a foundation for future taxonomic work and identifies areas where taxonomic studies should be targeted, not only at the species and subspecies level but also broader phylogenetic relationships. This work will be an essential reference for students, scientists, wildlife managers and those interested in the science of taxonomy.