Mammals of China (Pocket Edition)

About this book

China's breathtaking diversity of natural habitats – from mountains and deserts to grasslands and lush tropical forests – is home to more than 10 percent of the world's mammal species.

This one-of-a-kind pocket guide describes the characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of all 558 species of mammals found in China. An up-to-date distribution map accompanies each species account, and beautiful color illustrations by wildlife artist Federico Gemma depict a majority of the species. The definitive text is written by leading specialists and follows the most current global standards for mammalian systematics. This field-ready pocket edition of A Guide to the Mammals of China makes the rich mammal fauna of China accessible to ecotravelers and naturalists like never before.

Contents

List of Figures 5
List of Maps 6
List of Habitat Images 6
Preface 7
Contributors 7
Introduction 8
China's Geography and Mammal Biogeography 9
Mammal Conservation 12
China's Protected-Area System 14
How to Use This Book 15
Acknowledgments 18

CLASS MAMMALIA-The Mammals 35
ORDER PROBOSCIDEA 36
Family Elephantidae-Elephants 36
ORDER SI RENIA 37
Family Dugongidae-Dugongs 37
ORDER SCANDENTIA 38
Family Tupaiidae-Tree Shrews 38
ORDER PRIMATES 39
Family Lorisidae-Lorises 39
Family Cercopithecidae 41
Subfamily Cercopithecinae-Old World Monkeys 42
Subfamily Colobinae-Leaf-eating Monkeys 46
Family Hylobatidae-Gibbons and Siamangs 52
ORDER RODENTIA 58
Family Sciuridae 58
Subfamily Ratufinae-Giant Squirrels 59
Subfamily Sciurinae-True Squirrels 60
Subfamily Callosciurinae-Oriental Tree Squirrels 69
Subfamily Xerinae-Afro-Asian Ground Squirrels 76
Family Gliridae-Dormice 84
Family Castoridae-Beavers 85
Family Dipodidae 87
Subfamily Allactaginae-Four- and Five-toed Jerboas, Fat-tailed Jerboas 87
Subfamily Cardiocraniinae-Dwarf Jerboas 91
Subfamily Dipodinae-Three-toed Jerboas 93
Subfamily Euchoreutinae-Long-eared Jerboa 96
Subfamily Sicistinae-Birch Mice 96
Subfamily Zapodinae-Jumping Mice 98
Family Platacanthomyidae-Spiny Dormice 99
Family Spalacidae 100
Subfamily Myospalacinae-Zokors 100
Subfamily Rhizomyinae-Bamboo Rats 103
Family Cricetidae 105
Subfamily Arvicolinae-Voles, Lemmings, and Water Voles 106
Subfamily Cricetinae-Hamsters 129
Family Muridae 138
Subfamily Gerbillinae-Gerbils 138
Subfamily Murinae-Murine Rodents 143
Family Hystricidae-Old World Porcupines 164
ORDER LA GOMORPHA 166
Family Ochotonidae-Pikas 166
Family Leporidae-Rabbits and Hares 178
ORDER ERINA CEOMORPHA 184
Family Erinaceidae 184
Subfamily Erinaceinae-Hedgehogs 184
Subfamily Galericinae-Gymnures 187
ORDER SORICOMORPHA 189
Family Soricidae 189
Subfamily Crocidurinae-Crocidurine Shrews 189
Subfamily Soricinae-Red-toothed Shrews 195
Family Talpidae 211
Subfamily Scalopinae-American Moles 211
Subfamily Talpinae-True Moles 212
Subfamily Uropsilinae-Shrew Moles 216
ORDER CHIROPTERA 217
Family Pteropodidae-Old World Fruit Bats 217
Family Rhinolophidae-Horseshoe Bats 224
Family Hipposideridae-Old World Leaf-nosed Bats 233
Family Megadermatidae-False Vampire Bats 238
Family Emballonuridae-Sheath-tailed Bats 239
Family Molossidae-Free-tailed Bats 240
Family Vespertilionidae 242
Subfamily Vespertilioninae-Vesper Bats 243
Subfamily Myotinae-Little Brown Bats 260
Subfamily Miniopterinae-Long-fingered Bats 269
Subfamily Murininae-Hairy-winged and Tube-nosed Bats 270
Subfamily Kerivoulinae-Woolly Bats 274
ORDER PHOLI DOTA 275
Family Manidae-Pangolins 275
ORDER CARNIVORA 277
Family Felidae 278
Subfamily Felinae-Purring Cats 278
Subfamily Pantherinae-Roaring Cats 287
Family Viverridae 292
Subfamily Hemigalinae-Hemigaline Civets 293
Subfamily Paradoxurinae-Palm Civets 294
Subfamily Prionodontinae-Linsangs 297
Subfamily Viverrinae-Civet Cats 298
Family Herpestidae-Mongooses 301
Family Ursidae-Bears 308
Family Otariidae-Eared Seals 313
Family Phocidae-True Seals 315
Family Mustelidae 318
Subfamily Lutrinae-Otters 318
Subfamily Mustelinae-Weasels, Wolverine, Martens, and Badgers 321
Family Ailuridae-Red Panda 333
ORDER PERISSODACTYLA 334
Family Equidae-Horses, Zebras, and Asses 334
ORDER ARTIO DACTYLA 337
Family Suidae-Pigs 338
Family Camelidae-Camels 339
Family Tragulidae-Chevrotains and Mouse-deer 340
Family Moschidae-Musk Deer 341
Family Cervidae 345
Subfamily Capreolinae-Deer, Moose, and Reindeer 345
Subfamily Cervinae-Deer and Muntjacs 349
Subfamily Hydropotinae-Water Deer 359
Family Bovidae 360
Subfamily Antilopinae-Gazelles and Saiga 360
Subfamily Bovinae-Cattle and Spiral-horned Antelopes 365
Subfamily Caprinae-Goats and Sheep 367
ORDER CETACEA 377
Family Delphinidae-Dolphins 378
Family Phocoenidae-Porpoises 379
Family Iniidae-River Dolphins 380

APPENDIXES 381
I. Cetaceans Found off the Coast of China 381
II. Hypothetical Mammals 382
III. Introduced Alien, Feral, or Free-ranging Domestic Mammals 383
GLOSSARY 384
FURTHER READING 387
Index to Scientific Names 388
Index to Common Names 391

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Biography

Andrew T. Smith is President's Professor and Parents Association Professor of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. Yan Xie is associate research professor in the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.