Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials

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By: Andrew Baker, Chris Dickman

eBook - August 2018 - eRetailers

Provides a unique insight into the history and habits of the world's carnivorous marsupials.

Most living carnivorous marsupials lead a secretive and solitary existence. From tiny insect eaters to the formidable Tasmanian Devil, Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials offers rare insight into the history and habits of these creatures – from their discovery by intrepid explorers and scientists to their unique life cycles and incredible ways of hunting prey. + Full description

Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials provides a guide to the world’s 136 living species of carnivorous marsupials and is packed with never-before-seen photos. Biogeography, relationships and conservation are also covered in detail. Readers are taken on a journey through remote Australia, the Americas and dark, mysterious New Guinea – some of the last truly wild places on Earth. The book describes frenzied mating sessions, minuscule mammals that catch prey far larger than themselves, and extinct predators including marsupial lions, wolves and even sabre-toothed kangaroos.

Recipient, 2019 Whitley Awards Certificate of Commendation: Highly Commended

- Short description

News

Head to our blog to read an extract from the book about Dr Marissa Parrott's adventures with the Agile Antechinus.

Reviews

"The book is informative, beautifully presented and intriguing to read. Perhaps the greatest aspect of this book is that Baker and Dickman take the reader on a unique journey of their careers researching marsupial carnivores. As a wildlife researcher, this journey and affection for their study species is particularly inspirational. Providing the reader with a small window into the mysterious lives of these charismatic and sturdy creatures, Baker and Dickman encourage us to join them in caring about their plight."
Judy Dunlop, Austral Ecology 44(2), 2019

"To be sure, this book fills a gap; it is also just a very interesting read for anyone with inclinations toward natural history. It should stimulate new generations to continue the study and conservation of this fascinating group of mammals."
Analía M. Forasiepi, Journal of Mammalian Evolution 26(2), 2019

"This is an outstanding book, deserving of a spot in the library of any practising mammalogist. Furthermore, it contains a wealth of up-to-date information that could be incorporated into a mammalogy or life-history strategy course, and I can easily envision it being used as the main text for a course on carnivorous marsupials. As such, I highly recommend the Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials."
Brian S. Arbogast, Journal of Mammalogy 100(2), 2019

"Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials provides an important insight into the history and habits of the world’s carnivorous marsupials, enabling readers to more fully appreciate these unique and secretive animals. The authors contend that without such knowledge little can be done collectively to intervene and address the threat of extermination currently facing many carnivorous marsupials. Who can argue with that!"
Barbara Wilson, The Victorian Naturalist 136(1), 2019

"This volume not only represents the authors’ passion for a group of cryptic and, in many cases, overlooked group of mammals, but it is an entertaining and informative work that progresses our understanding of their evolutionary history and role in the ecosystem."
Rodrigo Hamede, The Quarterly Review of Biology 94, September 2019

"Taken together this volume not only represents the authors’ passion for a group of cryptic and, in many cases, overlooked group of mammals, but it is an entertaining and informative work that progresses our understanding of their evolutionary history and role in the ecosystem."
Rodrigo Hamede, The Quarterly Review of Biology 94(3), September 2019

"The book is informative, beautifully presented and intriguing to read. Providing the reader with a small window into the mysterious lives of these charismatic and sturdy creatures, Baker and Dickman encourage us to join them in caring about their plight."
Judy Dunlop, Austral Ecology 44(2), April 2019

Details

Features

A fascinating insight into the lives and behaviours of these secretive and solitary marsupials
Extensively illustrated with stunning colour photographs
Includes extinct species such as giant kangaroos, marsupial lions and tigers

Foreword
Acknowledgements
1: The carnivorous marsupials
2: Guide to carnivorous marsupials
3: Biogeography
4: Relationships
5: Extinct fauna
6: The mammal hunters: discovery of carnivorous marsupials
7: Habitats and distributions
8: Habits: secret lives
9: Diets and eating habits
10: Reproduction and life histories
11: Conservation
Appendix: List of carnivorous marsupial species
References
Index
View the full table of contents. (PDF, 471kb)

Authors

Andrew Baker is Senior Lecturer in Ecology at Queensland University of Technology and author of several books, including the Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia. Andrew has discovered six new species of carnivorous marsupial, two of which are being considered for Endangered Species listing.

Chris Dickman is Professor in Ecology at the University of Sydney and world expert on marsupials. Over his 30-year career, he has studied and discovered numerous carnivorous marsupials. He has produced over 300 publications, including the Whitley Medal-winning book A Fragile Balance: The Extraordinary Story of Australian Marsupials.