A Manual of Mammalogy
with Keys to Families of the World
Third Edition
Refined in detail through three editions, the manual’s outstanding features include: an explanation of keys and how to use them; the inclusion of keys designed to identify by order or family extant mammals of the world; special sections containing comments and suggestions on identification; information on working with map coordinates and global positioning receivers; coverage of the use of computer programs to get estimates of home-range size and characteristics; and ideas for locating reliable, authoritative literature on mammals. A section on techniques for studying mammals in the field and in the laboratory rounds out this student-friendly learning tool. Beautifully wrought illustrations and diagrams accurately portray visual details of mammal groups or characteristics that are unavailable to study in person. Moreover, well-designed laboratory exercises provide opportunities to apply knowledge and master understanding.
“I am pleased you have reprinted this important lab manual. I use it every year.” — Reginald Hoyt, Delaware Valley College
“Excellent coverage.” — Graham A. J. Worthy, University of Central Florida
“A good basic book for lab identification.” — Brian Smith, Black Hills State University
“Excellent. The best available.” — Michael A. Mares, University of Oklahoma
1. Introduction
Characters Defining Mammalia / Systematics and Nomenclature / Distribution / The Structure and Use of This Manual / Care of Specimens
2. The Skull
The Mandible / Variation / Determination of Maturity / Measurements / Key to Labeling of Figure 2.1
3. Teeth
Tooth Anatomy and Replacement / The Kinds of Teeth / Dental Formulas
4. The Integument
Scales / Hair Anatomy / Classification of Hair / Hair Replacement / Color / Integumentary Glands / Mammary Glands
5. Horns and Antlers
True Horns / Pronghorns / Antlers / Giraffe "Horns" / Rhinoceros "Horns" / Function
6. The Postcranial Skeleton
Postcranial Axial Skeleton / The Appendicular Skeleton / Claws, Nails, and Hoofs
7. Locomotor Adaptations
Terrestrial Locomotion / Fossorial Adaptations / Aquatic Adaptations / Arboreal Adaptations / Aerial Adaptations
8. Keys and Keying
Selection of Key Characters / Key Construction / The Keys in This Manual
9. The Orders of Living Mammals
Key to the Orders of Living Mammals / Comments and Suggestions on Identification
10. The Monotremes
Order Monotremata
11. The Marsupials
Order Didelphimorphia / Order Paucituberculata / Order Microbiotheria / Order Dasyuromorphia / Order Peramelemorphia / Order Diprotodontia / Order Notoryctemorphia
12. The Insectivores
Order Insectivora
13. The Colugos
Order Dermoptera
14. The Bats
Order Chiroptera
15. The Tupaiids
Order Scandentia
16. The Primates
Order Primates
17. The Xenarthrans: Anteaters, Armadillos, and Sloths
Order Xenarthra
18. The Pangolins
Order Philodota
19. The Carnivores
Order Carnivora
20. The Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises
Order Cetacea / Suborder Mysticeti / Suborder Odontoceti
21. The Macroscelidans
Order Macroscelidea
22. The Rabbits, Hares, and Pikas
Order Lagomorpha
23. The Rodents
Order Rodentia
24. The Aardvark
Order Tubulidentata
25. The Subungulates
Order Proboscidea / Order Hyracoidea / Order Sirenia
26. The Perissodactyls
Order Perissodactyla
27. The Artiodactyls
Order Artiodactyla
28. Sign and Habitat Analysis
Identifying Mammal Sign / Habitat Analysis
29. Recording Data
Equipment / Field Notes / Locality / Date / Measurements, Weight, and Sex / Reproductive Condition / Parasites / Portions Preserved (Type of Preservation) / Methods of Collection / Specimen Labels / Study Skins / Skulls and Skeletons to Be Cleaned / Skins to Be Tanned / Fluid Preservation / Special Data Forms / Recording Measurements / Recording Behavior / Computers / Documentation Standards for Museum Specimens
30. Collecting
Health and Safety / Collecting, Conservation, and the Law / Conservation / Locating a Collecting Area / Records / Methods of Trapping Mammals / Methods of Trap Placement / Timing of Trapping Activity / Calculating Trapping Success / Baits and Scents / Minimizing Damage to Trapped Mammals / Adjusting Trapping Methods for Regional and Climatic Differences / Other Methods of Capturing or Collecting Mammals / Marking Mammals / Care of Collected Mammals
31. Specimen Preparation and Preservation
Supplies and Equipment / Prior to Preparation / The Standard Study of Skin / Special Specimen Preparation Techniques / Preparation of Skins to Be Tanned / Cleaning Skeletal Material
32. Collecting Ectoparasites of Mammals
Segregation of Hosts / Kinds of Ectoparasites / Key to Arthropod Ectoparasites of Mammals / Supplies and Equipment Needed / Searching for and Removing Ectoparasites from the Host / Identification of Ectoparasites
33. Age Determination
Types of Aging Criteria / Use of Statistics and Known-Age Samples / Growth of Skull, Skeleton, and Body / Relative Growth and Morphology of Teeth / Growth of Eye Lenses / Growth Lines / Age Determination in Live Mammals / Limitations of Age-Determination Methods
34. Diet Analysis
Collection of Samples / Identification of Food Items / Analysis of Dietary Samples / Determination of Resource Levels / Calculating Indices of Preference
35. Analysis of Spatial Distribution
Spatial Organization / Home Range / Territory / Habitat Utilization and Preference / Movements / Methods for Studying Movements
36. Estimation of Abundance and Density
Basic Population Concepts / Types of Population Estimates / use of Computers for Estimation of Animal Abundance / Sampling Configurations for Estimating Density / Estimating Size of Sampling Area / Accuracy of Estimates / Recording Data / Estimation by Census or Direct Counts / Relative Estimates of Density / Density Estimates Based on Mark and Recapture / Estimates Based on Multiple Marking Occasions (Deterministic) / The Jolly-Seber Stochastic Method / Removal Trapping and Catch per Effort Methods
37. Literature Research
The Literature of Mammalogy / Bibliographies and Abstracts / Making a Search / Computerized Literature Databases / Computerized Literature Search Strategies
Glossary