Mammals of Africa, Volume 1 Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria

About this book

Available again after an absence of several years, this is an unmodified reprint of this benchmark encyclopedia that was originally published in 2013.

Mammals of Africa is a series of six volumes which describes, in detail, every currently recognized species of African land mammal. This is the first time that such extensive coverage has ever been attempted, and the volumes incorporate the very latest information and detailed discussion of the morphology, distribution, biology and evolution (including reference to fossil and molecular data) of Africa's mammals. With more than 1,160 species and 16-18 orders, Africa has the greatest diversity and abundance of mammals in the world. The reasons for this and the mechanisms behind their evolution are given special attention in the series.

Each volume follows the same format, with detailed profiles of every species and higher taxa. The series includes hundreds of colour illustrations and pencil drawings by Jonathan Kingdon highlighting the morphology and behaviour of the species concerned, as well as line drawings of skulls and jaws by Jonathan Kingdon and Meredith Happold. Every species also includes a detailed distribution map.

Edited by Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Tom Butynski, Mike Hoffmann, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina, and written by more than 350 authors, all experts in their fields, Mammals of Africa is as comprehensive a compendium of current knowledge as is possible. Extensive references alert readers to more detailed information.

This first volume in the series comprises eight introductory chapters covering topics such as evolution, geography and geology, biotic zones, classification, behaviour and morphology. The rest of the book is devoted to the Afrotheria, a grouping that comprises six orders and 49 species; these are the hyraxes, elephants, manatees, otter-shrews, golden moles, sengis (elephant-shrews) and Aardvark.

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Biography

Jonathan Kingdon (Department of Zoology, University of Oxford) was born in Tanzania and has spent much of his life in Africa. Over the course of a long career he has achieved acclaim as both a leading academic and a prominent artist. He tis also the author of The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals and The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals.

David Happold (School of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University) has held academic positions at the University of Khartoum (Sudan), University of Ibadan (Nigeria), University of Malawi, and The Australian National University. He is also the author of Ecology of African Mammals (with M. J. Delany) and The Mammals of Nigeria.

Thomas M. Butynski (Zoological Society of London/King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre) is a conservationist and ecologist who has worked in Africa  for 35 years, mostly in Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, and Equatorial Guinea.

Michael Hoffmann (International Union for Conservation of Nature – Species Survival Commission) is trained as a mammalogist at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and the University of Oxford, UK. He has since moved into the field of international biodiversity conservation.

Meredith Happold (School of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University) spent several years studying bats in Nigeria. Since 1977 she has held a Visiting Fellowship at the Australian National University and her research has focused on African bats.

Jan Kalina (Soita Nyiro Conservancy, Kenya) is a conservation biologist. Her work with mammals began at Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo in New York and at Colorado State University. She is currently joint-owner of Soita Nyiro Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya.