Marsupials are nearly synonymous with Australia.
Although one of these enigmatic pouched mammals—the
opossum—inhabits the United States and another 80 or so
thrive in South America, some 220 species are confined to the
Australasian region. In Australia, marsupials are the most diverse and
dominant indigenous species, from the wallaby and the wombat to the
kangaroo and koala.
The extraordinary story of these fascinating animals, provides the most
up-to-date information on marsupials without losing sight of the unique
set of circumstances that led them to prevalence Down Under. Covering
all marsupial species in Australia, the book uses an evolutionary
framework to interpret the marsupial’s biological traits.
Each species account includes a basic biological description, a range
map, and a measure of conservation status. The accounts are bounded by
general chapters on biology, natural history, cultural history, and
conservation. A
Fragile Balance is the first book to
emphasize interactions between and among marsupials, as well as between
humans and marsupials.
Combining the expertise of renowned biologist Christopher Dickman with
the artistic talents of illustrator Rosemary Woodford Ganf, A Fragile
Balance will be a much celebrated reference for mammalogists worldwide,
as well as for readers interested in Australian natural and cultural
history.
|
A Fragile Balance
The Extraordinary Story of Australian Marsupials
by Christopher Dickman
University Of Chicago Press,
2008
Order
a copy
|
