This remarkable evolution series, narrated by the Universe itself, concludes with Book 3, the amazing story of mammals. It picks up with the extinction of dinosaurs, and tells how tiny mammals survived and morphed into lots of new Earthlings . . . horses, whales and a kind of mammal with a powerful imagination-you. It's a story of chaos, creativity and heroes-the greatest adventure on Earth! And it's a personal story . . . about our bodies, our minds, our spirits. It's our story.

This remarkable evolution series, narrated by the Universe itself, concludes with Book 3, the amazing story of mammals. It picks up with the extinction of dinosaurs, and tells how tiny mammals survived and morphed into lots of new Earthlings . . . horses, whales and a kind of mammal with a powerful imagination-you. It's a story of chaos, creativity and heroes-the greatest adventure on Earth! And it's a personal story . . . about our bodies, our minds, our spirits. It's our story.

Presents a history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the formation of Earth, in the form of a letter written by the thirteen-billion-year-old universe itself to an Earth child.

The roots of this book and its sister volume, Mammal Phylogeny: Placentals, go back to discussions and plans, shelved for a while, between F. S. Szalay and W. P. Luckett during the international and multidisciplinary symposium on rodent evolution sponsored by NATO, July 2-6, 1984, in Paris. That conference, orga nized by W. P. Luckett and J. -L. Hartenberger, the proceedings of which were published in 1985, proved an inspiring experience to all of the participants, as this was repeatedly expressed both during and after the meetings. In addition to issues relating to rodents, general theoretical topics pertaining to the evolutionary biol ogy and systematics of other groups of mammals regularly surfaced during the presentations and discussions. M. J. Novacek, who was also a participant in the rodent symposium, shared with Luckett and Szalay the enthusiasm acquired there, and he also expressed strong interest for a meeting on mammal evolution with a general focus similar to that of the rodent gathering. In 1988, Szalay and Luckett, after having planned in detail a program, direc tion, and core list of participants, were awarded a $30,000 grant by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation through the Research Foundation of the City University of New York. The grant was contingent upon obtaining additional funds sufficient to assure that the symposium would be held. Raising the remaining funds proved to be a problem.

Examines mammals morphed into lots of new earthlings. Explains the evolution of life on Earth, from the dinosaurs to the rise of modern humans, in the form of a letter written by the thirteen-billion-year-old universe itself to an Earthling.

The best field guide to North American mammals The best-selling field guide that "sets new standards" (New Scientist) and "makes all other field guides for mammals of the United States. . . and Canada obsolete" (Journal of Mammalogy) is now even better. Covering 20 species recognized since 2002 and including 13 new color plates, this fully revised edition of Mammals of North America illustrates all 462 known mammal species in the United States and Canada—each in beautiful color and accurate detail. With a more up-to-date species list than any other guide, improved facing-page descriptions, easier-to-read distribution maps, updated common and scientific names, and track and scat illustrations, this slim, light, and easy-to-use volume is the must-have source for identifying North American mammals. Roland Kays and Don Wilson have scoured the technical literature to pull out the key differences between similar species, and illustrated these whenever possible, making the guide useful to amateur naturalists and professional zoologists alike. Casual animal watchers will appreciate the overview of mammal diversity and the tips on identifying animals they can spy in their binoculars, while scientists will appreciate the exacting detail needed to distinguish similar species, including illustrations of shrew teeth, bat toes, and whale dorsal fins. The best-illustrated and easiest-to-use field guide to North American mammals Beautiful and accurate color illustrations of all 462 mammals found in the United States and Canada—including 20 species recognized since 2002 112 color plates—including 13 new ones Key identification information—fully revised—on facing pages The most current taxonomy/species list Fully revised, easy-to-read range maps Illustrations of tracks, scat, and whale and dolphin dive sequences

Presents a history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the formation of Earth, in the form of a letter written by the thirteen-billion-year-old universe itself to an Earth child.

VIII equally to this first English edition. The work deals with the body cavities, digestive system and teeth, spleen, and with the respiratory and urogenital systems of the dog, cat, pig, ox, sheep, goat, and horse. Each organ system is described in a general and comparative chapter, which is followed by shorter special chapters for the carnivores, pig, ruminants, and horse. In agreement with the original authors, substantive changes were made in several instances to take into account the results of recent research and to eliminate conflicts between views commonly held by German anatomists and those outside of Europe, but foremost to profit by the advances in Nomina anatomica veterinaria* (NAV), a uniform international nomenclature, which came into existence while this translation was in progress. This nomenclature lists a single, usually descriptive term for homologous structures in all domestic mammals, and wherever possible for the same structure in man; and thus has the potential of simplifying student instruction and promoting interdisciplinary understanding. The work of the International Committee on Veterinary Anatomical Nomenclature in many instances included re-evaluations of existing anatomical concepts; and it was these that necessitated most of the changes in the present work. The nomenclature conforms, with very few exceptions, to the second edition of the NA V.