The Mammalian Radiations: An Analysis of Trends in Evolution, Adaptation, and Behavior

Abstract

A familiar bestiary eyes us from the cover: big cats stand above a herd of galumphing herbivores. But the scene changes with the first page, and we’re reminded that most mammals are small, nondescript, and relatively unknown. Why are they interesting? Comparisons lead both to theories of social evolution and to ways of testing them. With this in mind John Eisenberg has collected data on every available species. In this massive, generous book he uses three perspectives to present his findings. The first, a descriptive review, reflects the author’s unique credentials. His twenty years of work with captive and wild mammals enables him to survey each Order with an astonishingly even hand. He covers the key features of their evolution, distribution, and natural history, all in about 10 pages per Order. The result accounts for half of the book. As a source of information and references it holds unprecedented value to anyone requiring an introduction to a particular group of mammals, or to the mammals as a whole. A principal contribution of comparative analysis is to show how far some characteristics are constrained by others. This is the second perspective, an examination of relationships among life-history variables and body size. The volume