Synopses & Reviews
This highly anticipated new edition of Mammals of Indiana by John O. Whitaker, Jr., and Russell E. Mumford, first published by Indiana University in 1982, places strong emphasis on ecology with descriptions of Indiana's habitats, climate, and vegetation and detailed species accounts. This well-illustrated book will be a boon to residents of Indiana, many of whom have little acquaintance with the state's 57 species of wild, mostly small, secretive, and nocturnal mammals, and it is sure to please the most avid ecology enthusiast. Summarizing current knowledge about Indiana's mammal species, the volume will also be an important reference for biologists, veterinarians, and wildlife managers throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Review
This book is a welcome revision of the dated 1982 first edition. In a highly informative and lengthy introduction, Whitaker (ecology and organismal biology, Indiana State) and Mumford (emer., wildlife management, Purdue) describe the natural environment of Indiana, including its physiognomy, vegetation, and habitats. They provide a general introduction to the mammals, their distribution, general biology, and new to this edition, population and community structure. Keys to species within each order precede updated accounts of 57 species, including three new to the state: smoky and pygmy shrews, and otter. Redrawn maps and skull drawings replace the original ones, and color photographs supplement the black-and-white photos from the first edition... The usefulness of this updated volume extends beyond Indiana, and is a major contribution to North American mammalogy. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels of academic, professional, and general readers. --CHOICER. L. Smith, emeritus, West Virginia University, July 2009
Review
"Mammals of Indiana is an excellent contribution to the literature in mammalogy; it is well organized and clear. It represents a thorough, comprehensive biogeographic treatment of mammals of Indiana written in an effective style." --Joseph H. Merritt, author of Guide to the Mammals of Pennsylvania Indiana University Press
Review
"The usefulness of this updated volume extends beyond Indiana, and is a major contribution to North American mammalogy.... Highly recommended." --Choice, July 2009
Review
"... this is one of the better state mammals book[s] around. The authors provide incredibly thorough and detailed descriptions for a book of this scope, and include abundant visual aids and key references. This book is a must have for any public and academic library in Indiana or the surrounding region." --Kevin McDonough, American Reference Books Annual, Vol. 40 2009
Review
"The new edition of this excellent contribution to the literature in mammalogy for Indiana is a bigeographic approach with special focus on ecology." --Mammalia 73 , 2009 Indiana University Press Indiana University Press
Synopsis
Revised and enlarged edition of an essential reference work
About the Author
John O. Whitaker, Jr., is Professor of Ecology and Organismal Biology at Indiana State University. He is author of Keys to the Vertebrates of the Eastern United States and co-author of Mammals of the Eastern United States, as well as many scientific papers on mammals of Indiana and elsewhere.
Russell E. Mumford is Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Management in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University's School of Agriculture. He is author of Waterfowl Management in Indiana and Distribution of the Mammals of Indiana.
Table of Contents
Preface
Preface to Second Edition
Introduction
I. Indiana: The State as an Environment
Physiographic Features
Vegetation
Climate
Habitats
II. The Mammals of Indiana
Pleistocene Mammals
Recently Extirpated Species
Extirpated but Reintroduced Native Species
Extirpated Native Species
Species of Questionable Recent Occurrence
Species Treated as Extirpated Earlier; Probably Never Occurred in Indiana
Species Nearly Extirpated or of Accidental Occurrence in Indiana
Species Probably Incorrectly Reported
Species Introduced Early, Then Disappeared
Endangered and Threatened Species of Indiana
Distribution
Migration
Hibernation
Reproduction
Population/Community Studies
Food Habits
Parasites and Other Associates
Humans, Agriculture, and Domestic Animals
Taxonomy
Key to the Orders
Species Accounts
Order DIDELPHIMORPHIA -- Opossum
Order SORICOMORPHA - Shrews and Moles
Order CHIROPTERA -- Bats
Order LAGOMORPHA -- Rabbits
Order RODENTIA - Rodents
Order CARNIVORA
Order ARTIODACTYLA
References
Index