Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Vol 5 (Monotremes and Marsupials)

Platypus, Echidnas, Opossums, Kangaroos, Koalas, Wallabies, and Wombats – Monotremes and marsupials include a host of animals that have intrigued mammal fanciers for centuries. Monotremes are a very distinctive ancient group of mammals with only a handful of extant species in Australia and New Guinea and marsupials, with roots in South America, likely reached Australia via Antarctica some 50 million years ago. With relatives remaining in America, Marsupials have adapted to an amazing diversity of lifestyles and habitats.

Handbook of the Mammals of the World Volume 5 provides complete coverage of these two important groups of mammals. Lavishly illustrated with color photographs showing different behaviors of all of them, the text contains the latest up-to-date information on all families of Monotremes and Marsupials, both Australasian and American.

This volume also includes a Special Chapter on Extinct Marsupials and Monotremes, by Kristofer Helgen and Elizabeth Veatch.

Contents

Introduction
Special Chapter on Extinct Marsupials, by Kristofer Helgen.

Family Tachyglossidae (Echidnas) Stewart Nicol
Family Ornithorhynchidae (Platypus) Tom Grant
Family Didelphidae (Opossums) Diego Astúa
Family Caenolestidae (Shrew Opossums) Bruce Patterson
Family Microbiotheriidae (Monito del Monte) Eduardo Palma & Alejandro Valladares
Family Notoryctidae (Marsupial Moles) Ken Aplin
Family Myrmecobiidae (Numbat) Tony Friend
Family Dasyuridae (Carnivorous Marsupials) Andrew Baker
Family Thylacomyidae (Bilby) Rick Southgate
Family Peramelidae (Bandicoots) Christopher Dickman
Family Phascolarctidae (Koala) Stephen Jackson
Family Vombatidae (Wombats) Rod Wells
Family Burramyidae (Pygmy Possums) Stephen Jackson
Family Phalangeridae (Cuscuses, Brush-tailed Possums and relatives) Kristofer Helgen & Stephen Jackson
Family Pseudocheiridae (Ring-tailed Possums and Greater Gliders) Stephen Jackson
Family Petauridae (Striped Possums, Leadbeater’s Possum and Lesser Gliders) Stephen Jackson
Family Tarsipedidae (Honey Possum) Ronald Wooller
Family Acrobatidae (Feather-tailed Gliders and Feather-tailed Possum) Ken Aplin
Family Hypsiprymnodontidae (Musky Rat Kangaroo) Andrew Dennis
Family Potoroidae (Bettongs and Potoroos) Mark Eldridge & Greta Frankham
Family Macropodidae (Kangaroos and Wallabies) Mark Eldridge & Graeme Coulson