The Mammals of Luzon Island : Biogeography and Natural History of a Philippine Fauna

A beautifully illustrated guide to the complete mammalian biodiversity of the Philippines' largest island. Revealing the astounding mammalian diversity found on the largest Philippine island, The Mammals of Luzon Island is a unique book that functions both as a field guide and study of tropical fauna. The book features 120 fully illustrated species profiles and shows how the mammals fit into larger questions related to evolution, ecology, and biogeography. Luzon's stunning variety of mammals includes giant fruit-eating bats; other bats so small that they can roost inside bamboo stems; giant plant-eating rodents that look like, but are not, squirrels; shrews that weigh less than half an ounce; the rapidly disappearing Philippine warty pig; and the long-tailed macaque, Luzon's only nonhuman primate. While celebrating Luzon's remarkably rich mammal fauna, the authors also suggest conservation strategies for the many species that are under threat from a variety of pressures. Based on a century of accumulated data and fifteen years of intensive study, The Mammals of Luzon Island delivers a message that will appeal equally to scientists, conservationists, and ecologically minded travelers.

Revealing the astounding mammalian diversity found on the largest Philippine island, The Mammals of Luzon Island is a unique book that functions both as a field guide and study of tropical fauna. The book features 120 fully illustrated species profiles and shows how the mammals fit into larger questions related to evolution, ecology, and biogeography. Luzon’s stunning variety of mammals includes giant fruit-eating bats; other bats so small that they can roost inside bamboo stems; giant plant-eating rodents that look like, but are not, squirrels; shrews that weigh less than half an ounce; the rapidly disappearing Philippine warty pig; and the long-tailed macaque, Luzon’s only nonhuman primate.

While celebrating Luzon’s remarkably rich mammal fauna, the authors also suggest conservation strategies for the many species that are under threat from a variety of pressures. Based on a century of accumulated data and fifteen years of intensive study, The Mammals of Luzon Island delivers a message that will appeal equally to scientists, conservationists, and ecologically minded travelers.

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsPart I. The Biogeography of Diversity1. The Mammals of Luzon, 1895- 20122. Climate and Habitats3. Discovering Diversity4. Geological History and Fossil Mammals5. Producing Diversity6. Habitat Disturbance and Invasive Species7. Conservation of Luzon's Mammalian Diversity8. SynthesisPart II. Natural History of Luzon Mammals9. Large Mammals10. A Guide to the Small Mammals1: Order Soricomorpha2: Old Endemics3: Old Endemics4: New Endemic Rodents5: Non-Native Rodents11. A Guide to the Bats1: Introduction to Bats2: Family Pteropodidae3: Family Emballonuridae4: Family Megadermatidae5: Family Hipposideridae6: Family Rhinolophidae7: Family Vespertilionidae8: Family MolossidaeGlossaryLiterature CitedIndex