Walker's Primates of the World

About this book

From Nigerias needle-clawed bush baby to the snub-nosed langur of Tibet from loris to lemur from the woolly monkey to the "naked ape " primates are among the worlds most diverseand distinctivegroups of mammals. Seventy million years of evolving primate anatomy (much of it significantly influenced by a tree-dwelling lifestyle) has resulted in such defining characteristics as stereoscopic vision a relatively large brain grasping hands and feet and superior levels of dexterity and muscular coordination. Now Ronald M. Nowak offers a comprehensive guide to this fascinating and varied order of mammals. Walkers Primates of the World includes scientific and common names the number and distribution of species measurements and physical traits habitat daily and seasonal activity population dynamics home range social life reproduction longevity and status of threatened species. Recently extinct genera such as the giant lemurs of Madagascar are covered in full. Textual summaries present accurate well-documented descriptions of the physical characteristics and living habits of primates in every part of the world. In a new introduction noted primate conservationists Russell A. Mittermeier Anthony B. Rylands and William R. Konstant discuss the taxonomy and distribution of primates as well as their distinguishing characteristics special adaptations and particularly striking features such as sociality. They also report on conservation efforts past and future and assess the factors largely human-caused that are threatening non-human primates with extinction.