Britain’s Mammals

£9.99

An illustrated guide to the mammals found in Britain and around its coast, along with some that are now extinct. For each species there is a description followed by key facts including size, lifespan, reproduction, diet, habitat, distribution and threats. “Great value for money” (BBC Wildlife magazine)

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SKU: 9781873580813 Categories: ,

Description

Britain’s Mammals – A Concise Guide
ISBN: 978 1 873580 813
Publisher: Whittet Books
Authors: People’s Trust for Endangered Species
Format: 210 mm x 148 mm (A5)
Paperback with flaps
96 pages
80 colour photographs + 80 maps
Publication: 24 November 2010
Mammals are among the most popular of all wild creatures. Otters, hedgehogs, dormice—everyone has a soft spot for them.
The experts at the People’s Trust for Endangered Species have compiled this introduction to the mammals in the UK and around its coast.. From timid shrews to commonly seen rabbits, red deer to minke whales, and including the wide range of bats, there are over 60 resident wild mammal species in the UK or around its coasts. The aim of this book is to provide a brief account of these and also of some that are no longer here. They represent a diverse and sometimes surprising group.
The essential illustrated guide for children and adults alike.

  • Features 64 mammal species found in Britain and around its coast, along with some that are now extinct—one species per page
  • Describes each species and gives key facts relating to size, lifespan, reproduction, diet, habitat and predators
  • Includes notes on threats, status and conservation
  • Colour photographs illustrate each mammal and its identifying features
  • Individual maps show the distribution of each species in the British Isles
  • Includes a mammal ‘family tree’ showing how the main mammal groups evolved and a guide to the tracks of foxes, badgers, rabbits and deer

Foreword by respected zoologist Pat Morris.

Contents:
Mammal ‘family tree’
Shrews, moles and hedgehogs
Rodents – Squirrels, voles, mice, dormice, rats, beavers
Rabbits and hares
Carnivores – Foxes, pine martens, otters, badgers, wildcats, etc.
Seals
Deer and wild boar
Whales and dolphins
Bats
Marsupials
Extinct mammals
Glossary
Scientific names
Further reading
Mammal tracks
The People’s Trust for Endangered Species
Established for over 30 years, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species is a conservation charity working worldwide to ensure a future for endangered species. It has a special interest in protecting Britain’s wild mammals, runs wildlife events for people to enjoy our sometimes elusive mammals in their natural habitats and involves thousands of people nationwide in monitoring how they are doing.
Reviews
Did you know that about half of the world’s grey seals live in British and Irish waters, or a pygmy shrew consumes 125 per cent of its bodyweight each day? This family-friendly book is packed full of fascinating facts about more than 60 species. Covering diet, habitat, predators, reproduction and conservation status, and with an evolutionary family tree and track-identification chart, Britain’s Mammals is great value for money.‘ – BBC Wildlife magazine, March 2011
This is essentially an introduction to the mammals of the UK and it is much more than an illustrated guide as it can also claim to be an up-to-date reference…One only has to think of the various deer species, mink, otter and mountain hare to realise the importance of up-to-date information. This is a book I have already consulted, as few others have current information about the species … The publishers and authors should be congratulated on this boost to the conservation of mammals at a time when many of them are in dire straights.’ – Ray Collier, Highland News Group, December 2010
Do not imagine that in Britain’s Mammals – A Concise Guide, succinctness means a lack of substance. The guide packs into each page an admirable range of information, all very clearly displayed, with a consistency that encourages and facilitates comparison in a most enlightening way.
The species pages are a rich delight to read. Facts present themselves wherever the reader looks – did you know there are no weasels in Ireland? Or that a lesser horseshoe bat with wings folded, is the size of a plum? This ranger didn’t. And there’s much more in the same vein. Nor are these facts listed out as a series of trivia. Each page is meticulously and thoroughly laid out to ensure that the species are dealt with in the same way, with no detail omitted. Though the diagrams and paragraphs are small, they are accurate. Even the Isle of Wight, about 1mm in size on these pages, is correctly depicted; showing that by contrast to the nearby mainland no mink, no grey squirrels, no deer and no otters live here. Other islands and inland distributions are equally carefully rendered. This is a work by people who know and appreciate the importance of such accuracy.
‘Britain’s Mammals – A Concise Guide is a fascinating and well-crafted volume, with a refreshingly crisp and contemporary interpretation of its subject. Too many plush coffee-table books on wildlife, and particularly mammals, fill the bottom shelves of charity shops, because their content is of little worth beyond some pretty photographs. The Concise Guide avoids this trap with ease, and will never share their fate. This book cannot fail to prove useful and interesting to any reader with the slightest interest in Britain’s mammals, and is strongly recommended. – The Ranger’s Blog, Naturenet, December 2010
Just a line to congratulate you on your new book which I have just purchased. It is really excellent… All in all a really nice book – thank you very much.’ – Mike Robinson, North West Birds, December 2010
‘Great book, beautifully produced. You have certainly filled a gap in the market!‘ – Laurie Campbell, Wildlife photographer, December 2010

Additional information

Weight 0.4 kg