Mammals of the Neotropics. The Northern Neotropics. Volume 1: Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Gui- ana. 1989. 14 colour plates. 103 line-drawings. 7 half tones. 316 maps. X,449 p. Lex8vo. Paper bd.

In recent decades there has been much research into the rich and highlythreatened biotic diversity of the Neotropics, where mammals are amongthe most difficult animals to observe and study in detail. This newseries at last fills the need for a comprehensive, up-to-date survey ofexisting knowledge of the area's wild mammals, both terrestrial andmarine. It is planned as a three-volume work, and will be the onlydetailed account available of South and Central American mammals. Thisvolume includes nearly 450 species accounts, covering all the indigenousmammalian orders, with physical descriptions and summaries of range andhabitat; notes on each species natural history, where available; rangemaps, line drawings and colour plates; field keys for identifyingspecimens of the large taxa; and discussions on historical biogeography,contemporary habitats, morphological diversity, worldwide biogeography,taxonomic controversies, speciation events, and mammalian communityecology.