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Most living carnivorous marsupials lead a secretive and solitary existence. From tiny insect eaters to the formidable Tasmanian Devil, Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials offers rare insight into the history and habits of these creatures – from their discovery by intrepid explorers and scientists to their unique life cycles and incredible ways of hunting prey.
Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials provides a guide to the world's 136 living species of carnivorous marsupials and is packed with never-before-seen photos. Biogeography, relationships and conservation are also covered in detail. Readers are taken on a journey through remote Australia, the Americas and dark, mysterious New Guinea – some of the last truly wild places on Earth. The book describes frenzied mating sessions, minuscule mammals that catch prey far larger than themselves, and extinct predators including marsupial lions, wolves and even sabre-toothed kangaroos.
Foreword
Acknowledgements
1: The carnivorous marsupials
2: Guide to carnivorous marsupials
3: Biogeography
4: Relationships
5: Extinct fauna
6: The mammal hunters: discovery of carnivorous marsupials
7: Habitats and distributions
8: Habits: secret lives
9: Diets and eating habits
10: Reproduction and life histories
11: Conservation
Appendix: List of carnivorous marsupial species
References
Index
Andrew Baker is Senior Lecturer in Ecology at Queensland University of Technology and author of several books, including the Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia. Andrew has discovered six new species of carnivorous marsupial, two of which are being considered for Endangered Species Listing.
Chris Dickman is Professor in Ecology at the University of Sydney and world expert on marsupials. Over his 30-year career, he has studied and discovered numerous carnivorous marsupials. He has produced over 300 publications including the Whitley Medal-winning book A Fragile Balance: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Marsupials.
