"For most of us, the story of mammal evolution starts after the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs, but over the last 20 years scientists have uncovered new fossils and used new technologies that have upended this story. In Beasts Before Us, palaeontologist Elsa Panciroli charts the emergence of the mammal lineage, Synapsida, beginning at their murky split from the reptiles in the Carboniferous period, over three-hundred million years ago....

Explores the world of mammals, identifying their characteristics and describing individual species.

Introduces us to the most diverse group of animals ever to live on this planet. From the smallest to the largest, from the slowest to the fastest, from the least attractive to the most irresistible. Looks at 4,000 species, including ones that have outlived the dinosaurs and conquered the farthest places on Earth. Examine how their adaptations for finding food have had an effect on the way they socialize, mate and live.

Reveals the most amazing facts and folklore about our favorite furry animals. Towering or tiny, ferocious or friendly, mammals trot, hop, swim, and soar. Meet the creatures that make up this huge and varied family.

Introduces the traits that all mammals have and discusses some of their differences, including where they live, eating habits, and physical characteristics.

Introduces the different kinds of mammals, from orcas in the sea to koalas in the treetops, and explores their life cycles, habitats, diet, and homes.

"Step inside a magical museum... and meet the mini-mammals! These itty bitty beasts may be some of the world's smallest mammals, but they live big, fascinating lives. Come learn about them--and find out which mini-mammal is the teeniest of all"--Provided by publisher.

An illustrated reference guide to the world's mammals, covering every known living species and including information on anatomy, behavior, conservation, and distribution.

There are more than 1,300 species of bats - or almost a quarter of the world's mammal species. But before you shrink in fear from these furry "creatures of the night," consider the bat's fundamental role in our ecosystem. A single ten-gram bat may eat several thousand insects in a night. Throughout the tropics and subtropics, fruit and nectar-feeding bats are also crucial to the lives of plants, providing both pollination and seed dispersal. Bats:...