شیطان تاسمانی: حیوانی منحصر به فرد و در خطر

Packed with information that has only been published in scientific journals, if ever at all, this collection of biological facts challenges the misconceptions associated with Australia's most famous marsupial. Far from being a scavenging, ferocious oddity, an image perpetuated by the infamous cartoon character, the Tasmanian Devil is actually a treasured and valuable wildlife species facing extinction. By sharing the surprising, controversial, funny, and tragic history behind the world's largest marsupial carnivore, this new guidebook covers all aspects of the biology and the habitat of the Tasmanian Devil. "The story of the Tasmanian devil is a remarkable one - controversial and surprising, funny and tragic. Few mammals have been so negatively named, so misunderstood, or persecuted as a rural pest. Yet the popular image of the Tasmanian devil as a ferocious and scavenging loner is wrong. This, the first book on the Tasmanian devil, overturns myth and prejudice and takes the reader on a journey into the world of this complex, robust little marsupial about which there is much to discover in these pages. Tragically, its last remaining refuge - the island of Tasmania - may also become its extinction ground. A deadly, mysterious cancer is wiping out devils across the island and their numbers have been decimated. Severe disruption to population stability and the restricted gene pool of the species now threatens its survival."--Jacket Title page......Page 5 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Introduction......Page 13 1: Beelzebub's Pup: A reappraisal of the Tasmanian Devil......Page 19 2: Evolution and extinction......Page 42 3: Relationships in the wild......Page 55 4: 'Made for travelling rough': Devil ecology......Page 75 5: Devils and Europeans, 1803-1933......Page 90 6: In the matter of the society and the board......Page 110 7: From Antichrist to ambassador......Page 129 8: In captivity......Page 144 9: 'The spinning animal from Tasmania'......Page 157 10: Owning the devil" Tasmania and Warner Bros.......Page 171 11: Devil facial tumour disease......Page 182 Notes......Page 211 Select bibliography......Page 226 Index......Page 229 Few animals have been so negatively named, misunderstood, or persecuted as the Tasmanian devil. Yet, the popular image of this animal as a ferocious, scavenging loner is wrong. Focusing on the Tasmanian devil, this work aims to overturn myth and prejudice and takes the reader on a journey into the world of this complex, robust little marsupial. Far from being a scavenging, ferocious oddity, Tasmanian Devil is a treasured and valuable wildlife species, and one that faces the threat of extinction. This work tells its story since Europeans first encountered this animal. Few mammals have been so negatively named, but it aims to reveal the true nature of the Tasmanian devil. "This, the first book on the Tasmanian devil, overturns myth and prejudice and takes the reader on an amazing journey into the world of this complex, robust little marsupial about which there is much to discover in these pages."--Jacket This first book on the Tasmanian Devil is a fascinating look at this famous Australian marsupial David Owen And David Pemberton. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [214]-216) And Index.