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Princeton Pocket Guides

The books are listed by publication date with the most recent at the top.

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Wildlife of The Caribbean

Herbert A. Raffaele and James Wiley

Princeton University Press

2014

"This is the first comprehensive illustrated guide to the natural world of the Caribbean islands. It contains 600 vivid color images featuring 451 species of plants, birds, mammals, fish, seashells, and much more. While the guide primarily looks at the most conspicuous and widespread species among the islands, it also includes rarely seen creatures - such as the Rhinoceros Iguana and Cuban Solenodon - giving readers a special sense of the region's diverse wildlife. Each species is represented by one or more color photos or illustrations; details regarding its identification, status, and distribution; and interesting aspects of its life history or relationship to humans. In addition, an introductory section focuses on the unique characteristics of the Caribbean's fauna and flora, the threats faced by both, and some of the steps being taken to sustain the area's extraordinary natural heritage."

Wildlife of Australia

Iain Campbell and Sam Woods

Princeton University Press

2013

"Ideal for the nature-loving traveler, Wildlife of Australia is a handy photographic pocket guide to the most widely seen birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and habitats of Australia. The guide features more than 400 stunning color photographs, and coverage includes 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs likely to be encountered in Australia's major tourist destinations. Accessible species accounts are useful for both general travelers and serious naturalists, and the invaluable habitat section describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife. Animal species with similar features are placed on the same plates in order to aid identification."

Mammals of China

Editor: Andrew T. Smith & Yan Xie

Princeton University Press

2013

"China's breathtaking diversity of natural habitats--from mountains and deserts to grasslands and lush tropical forests--is home to more than 10 percent of the world's mammal species. This one-of-a-kind pocket guide describes the characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of all 558 species of mammals found in China. An up-to-date distribution map accompanies each species account, and beautiful color illustrations by wildlife artist Federico Gemma depict a majority of the species. The definitive text is written by leading specialists and follows the most current global standards for mammalian systematics."

Wildlife of Southern Africa

Martin Withers and David Hosking

Princeton University Press

2011

"Highly portable, concise, and informative, this is the essential guide for identifying Southern Africa's most visible wildlife. Featuring full-color photos of more than 400 species of birds, mammals, snakes, lizards, and insects, Wildlife of Southern Africa provides a spectacular sense of what travelers can see in the major game reserves and national parks of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and southern Mozambique. Each species in this guide is accompanied by at least one full-color photograph plus a full textual description."

Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa

Stephen Spawls, Kim Howell & Robert C. Drewes

Princeton University Press

2006

"This lightweight and portable guide covers the 150 reptiles and 80 amphibians you are most likely to encounter across the five countries of East Africa--Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Encompassing a wealth of landscapes rare in tropical Africa, from deserts to rain forests to snow-capped mountains, this vast region is home to such famous national parks and game reserves as the Serengeti and the Selous in Tanzania and the Tsavo and the Maro in Kenya. Here you will find a corresponding wealth of secretive yet often unwittingly conspicuous tortoises, lizards, crocodiles, snakes, and frogs. Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa offers concise and accessible, identification-oriented text, color photographs, and color distribution maps for each species."

The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals

Jonathan Kingdon

Princeton University Press

2005

"This is an essential guide for anyone with an interest in wildlife who visits Africa--from the tourist on safari to the more experienced naturalist. Compact and beautifully illustrated, it is ideal for use in the field, while its coverage is the most comprehensive for any book of its size."

Wildlife of East Africa

Martin B. Withers and David Hosking

Princeton University Press

2002

"Ideal for the nature-loving traveler, Wildlife of Australia is a handy photographic pocket guide to the most widely seen birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and habitats of Australia. The guide features more than 400 stunning color photographs, and coverage includes 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs likely to be encountered in Australia's major tourist destinations. Accessible species accounts are useful for both general travelers and serious naturalists, and the invaluable habitat section describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife. Animal species with similar features are placed on the same plates in order to aid identification."

Wildlife of the Galapagos

Julian Fitter, Daniel Fitter and David Hosking

Princeton University Press

2002

"The Galápagos is a truly special place. Unlike the rest of the world's archipelagoes, it still has 95 percent of its prehuman quota of species. Wildlife of the Galápagos is the most superbly illustrated and comprehensive identification guide ever to the natural splendor of these incomparable islands - islands today threatened by alien species and diseases that have diminished but not destroyed what so enchanted Darwin on his arrival there in 1835. Covering over 200 commonly seen birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants, it reveals the archipelago's striking beauty through more than 400 color photographs, maps, and drawings and well-written, informative text."

Coral Reef Fishes: Indo-Pacific and Caribbean

Ewald Lieske & Robert Myers

Princeton University Press

2002

"Expanded and updated to include an additional 44 species, this is a handy guide to those fishes that are likely to be observed by anybody visiting or diving on the coral reefs of the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific to a depth of sixty meters. Accessible to amateur marine life enthusiasts, this book is the first comprehensive guide of its kind. It enables the reader to quickly identify 2,118 species of fish and includes over 2,500 color illustrations depicting the major forms of each species--male, female, immature, or geographical varieties. The text proceeds according to region, depicting each species and its varieties, and offering information on its geographic range and where on the coral reef itself the fish may be found. Important identification characteristics are highlighted on every color plate."