"The Biology of Small Mammals" is the first exploration of the
lives of small mammals undertaken in decades. Mammalogist Joseph F.
Merritt offers an engaging, in-depth discussion about a diverse
array of small mammals, from the rare Kitti's hog-nosed bat of
Southeast Asia to the bizarre aye-aye of Madagascar to the familiar
woodchuck of North America.
Small mammals include those mammals weighing under five
kilograms (approximately eleven pounds). Merritt introduces the
various species that fall under this heading, then follows with
chapters that cover such topics as behavior, modes of feeding,
locomotion, habitat use, reproduction, and coping with heat
loss.
Animals of this size face different physiological and ecological
challenges than larger mammals. Merritt describes in rich detail
how mammals across the globe have adapted to compensate for their
small stature, showing how they contribute to and survive in
diverse environments in many fascinating ways. For example, arctic
foxes, weighing just 3 to 4.3 kilograms, are champion survivors in
the cold. They cope with their harsh environs by decreasing
activity, seeking shelter in temporary dens and snow burrows,
growing a lush winter fur, and undergoing complex physiological
changes to insulate themselves from chilling temperatures.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Biology of Small
Mammals" provides a valuable and updated reference on nature's more
diminutive creatures.
General
Imprint: |
Johns Hopkins University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
May 2010 |
First published: |
2011 |
Authors: |
Joseph F Merritt
|
Dimensions: |
235 x 156 x 27mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
336 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8018-7950-0 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-8018-7950-7 |
Barcode: |
9780801879500 |
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