Wild Cats of the World

Portada
University of Chicago Press, 15 d’ag. 2002 - 452 pàgines
Did you know that European royalty once used cheetahs to hunt deer, or that caracals can capture birds by leaping six and a half feet straight up into the air from a standing start? Have you ever wondered whether domestic cats really do land on their feet when they fall, or how Canada lynx can stalk their prey in the winter without falling through the deep snow?

Wild Cats of the World is a treasure trove of answers to questions like these, and many others, for anyone who's interested in learning more about the world's felids, including the ones with whom we share our homes. Mel and Fiona Sunquist have spent more than a decade gathering information about cats from every available source, many of them quite difficult to find, including scientific papers, descriptions of hunts, archeological findings, observations by naturalists and travelers, reports from government agencies, and newsletters from a wide variety of organizations. Weaving information from these sources together with their own experiences observing wild cats around the world, the Sunquists have created the most comprehensive reference on felids available. Each of their accounts of the 36 species of cat contains a description of the cat, including human interactions with it, as well as detailed data on its distribution, ecology and behavior, status in the wild, and efforts to conserve it. Numerous photographs, including more than 40 in full color, illustrate these accounts.

Ranging from the two-pound black-footed cat to the five-hundred-pound tiger, and from the African serval with its satellite-dish ears to the web-footed fishing cat of Asia, Wild Cats of the World will fascinate and educate felid fans of any stripe (or spot).
 

Continguts

Introduction
1
What Is a Cat?
3
Species Accounts
17
Study and Conservation
395
CITES Listings Governing Trade in Wild Cats
409
IUCN Red List Conservation Status of Wild Cats
411
Olfactory Communication in Felids
413
Vocal Communication in Felids
421
Reproduction in Felids
425
List of Scientific and Common Names Mentioned in the Text
435
Photographic Credits
441
Index
443
Copyright

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Sobre l'autor (2002)

Mel Sunquist is professor emeritus in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Fiona Sunquist is a science writer. Her work appears in print, interactive multimedia, and on websites; she is the author of five books and numerous popular articles.

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