Authoritative and engaging, this volume from the Walker's Mammals series focuses on marsupials, pouched animals whose unusual method of reproduction-between egg laying and placental birth-places them in a unique category among mammals.

A comprehensive guide to the biology and distribution of marsupials, this book includes common and scientific names, size and physical traits, habitat and ecology, behavior and social interactions, reproduction, life span, and conservation. The text is coupled with illustrations from the collections of leading photographers and the world's greatest museums. An introduction by marsupial expert Christopher R. Dickman describes the evolution and current status of marsupials and reveals why they add so much intrigue to the natural world.

Professional naturalists will find [these volumes] invaluable as a handy reference, and amateurs - at least those citizens alive to their earthly environment - should delight in finding so much fascinating information made so available and palatable. - Audubon "Walker has made available a mine of information, for the specialist as well as for the casually interested." - New York Times "Speaking as a reader who is mildly addicted to 'standard works of reference,' I must say that I find it a very welcome addition to my library, and suspect that it will become my regular first port of call when trying to answer any mammalogical question." - International Zoo News "After being exposed to this kind of thorough, detailed information saturation, many readers may find it hard to go back to a plain old encyclopedia for their animal questions." - Bloomsbury Review"

Ronald M. Nowak is the author of the fifth and sixth editions of Walker's Mammals of the World. His other works on mammalogy include North American Quaternary Canis and several sections in the National Geographic Society's Wild Animals of North America, for which he also was editorial consultant. He was staff mammalogist at the former Office of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, from 1974 to 1987.