First comprehensive account of the mammals of the entire southeastern US The southeastern United States is home to a remarkable and diverse mammalian fauna that is a significant part of the region’s rich natural heritage. Mammals of the Southeastern United States presents accounts of 137 species that currently or previously occurred in the Southeast. Although accessible and useful for the generalist, this book provides an up-to-date compilation of basic knowledge about native and nonnative mammals of the region that is suitable for students of all ages and for professional mammalogists and biologists alike. This volume profiles common species like the eastern gray squirrel, the white-tailed deer, and the Virginia opossum, but also includes among its accounts many extant species, such as the jaguar and porcupine, that once occurred in the region; native species, like the Caribbean monk seal, that are now extinct; native species that have been extirpated, or wiped out, from all or part of the region, such as the red wolf, cougar, American bison, and elk; and many introduced species, including the Mexican mouse opossum, common squirrel monkey, and capybara. Each species account includes full-color images of the animal, plates featuring at least three views of its skull, color distribution maps of its approximate geographic range in the Southeast and in North America, and an up-to-date synthesis of several aspects of its biology, including habitat, diet, predators, parasites, diseases, and behaviors. An introductory chapter on conservation summarizes the current status of mammalian populations in the region and provides insight into some of the threats mammals now encounter in the Southeast.

The book is organized according to the various mammalian orders (insectivores, bats, pouched mammals, rabbits and hares, whales, and so on) under which the species accounts are given. Each species account contains concise information about identifying characteristics, geographical range, habitat, natural history, and additional factors such as longevity and economic significance. Complementing this text are more than two hundred illustrations, which include photographs, drawings, and range maps. An eight-page selection of color plates is an especially attractive feature of the book. In addition to the species accounts, the book's introductory sections are filled with fascinating general information on southeastern mammalogy: the study of mammals, mammal conservation, the southeastern region and mammal affinities, and the preservation of mammal specimens. A checklist of southeastern mammals, a key to the terrestrial orders, and a bibliography of selected references further enhance the usefulness of this guide.