"This book explores the evolution and ecology of the world's 120+ species of semi-aquatic mammals. It includes illuminating photographs and original illustrations by an award-winning artist. The book covers topics such as behavior, habitat use, special evolutionary adaptations, and ecological roles"--.

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Introduction
  • What Is a Semi-aquatic Mammal?
  • The Semi-aquatic Mammals
    • THE MONOTREMES
    • THE MARSUPIALS
    • THE EUTHERIANS
      • Order Afrosoricida
      • Order Lagomorpha
      • Order Rodentia
      • Order Eulipotyphla
      • Order Carnivora
      • Order Artiodactyla
  • Freshwater Habitats
• PART I. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND HABITATS
  • 2. Paleobiology
    • Introduction
    • Extinct Mammal-like Semi-aquatic Taxa
    • Extinct Mammalian Orders
    • Paleobiology of Extant Orders
      • ORDER MONOTREMATA (MONOTREMES)
        • Family Ornithorhynchidae (Platypus)
      • ORDER DIDELPHIMORPHIA (AMERICAN MARSUPIALS)
        • Family Didelphidae (Opossums)
      • ORDER AFROSORICIDA (TENRECS AND ELEPHANTS)
        • Family Tenrecidae (Tenrecs)
      • ORDER PROBOSCIDEA (ELEPHANTS AND EXTINCT RELATIVES)
        • Family Moeritheriidae (Extinct Relative of Elephants)
      • ORDER LAGOMORPHA (PIKAS, HARES, AND RABBITS)
        • Family Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits)
      • ORDER RODENTIA (RODENTS)
        • Family Castoridae (Beavers)
        • Family Thryonomyidae (Cane Rats)
        • Family Capromyidae (Hutia)
        • Family Caviidae (Cavies, Maras, and Capybaras)
        • Family Myocastoridae (Coypu/Nutria)
        • Family Cricetidae (Hamsters, Voles, and Lemmings)
        • Family Muridae (True Mice and Rats, Gerbils, and Relatives)
        • Family Nesomyidae (Pouched Rats, Climbing Mice, and Fat Mice)
      • ORDER EULIPOTYPHLA (TRUE SHREWS, DESMANS, AND SHREW-LIKE MOLES)
        • Family Soricidae (Including Subfamily Crocidurinae)
        • Family Talpidae (Desmans and Shrew-like Moles)
      • ORDER CARNIVORA
        • Family Felidae (Cats)
        • Family Herpestidae (Mongoose)
        • Family Viverridae (Otter Civet and Genet)
        • Family Mustelidae (Mink and Otters)
        • Family Procyonidae (Raccoons)
      • ORDER ARTIODACTYLA (EVEN-TOED UNGULATES)
        • Family Suidae (Swine)
        • Family Hippopotamidae (Hippopotami)
        • Family Tragulidae (Mouse Deer)
        • Family Cervidae (Deer)
        • Family Bovidae (Cloven-Hoofed Ruminants)
      • INFRAORDER CETACEA (WHALES AND RELATIVES)
        • Family Protocetidae
        • Family Ambulocetidae
  • 3. Ranging across the Continents
    • Introduction to Distributions
    • Types of Distributions and Why
    • Distributions across Broad Zoogeographic Realms
      • AFROTROPICAL
      • AUSTRALIAN
      • MADAGASCAN
      • NEARCTIC
      • NEOTROPICAL
      • OCEANIAN
      • ORIENTAL
      • PALEARCTIC
      • PANA MANIAN
      • SAHARA-ARABIAN
      • SINO-JAPANESE
  • 4. Ecological Niches
    • Introduction
    • Species Interactions
    • Species as Engineers
      • BURROWS, CHANNELS, AND TRAILS
      • LODGES AND NESTS
    • Special Environments
      • BEAVERS
      • MUSKRATS
      • RIVER OTTERS
      • MINK
      • WATER SHREWS
    • Temporal Niche Partitioning
• PART II. PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS
  • 5. Morphology
    • Morphological Adaptations
    • Body Mass and Shape
    • Integumentary System
      • SKIN
      • INTERDIGITAL WEBBING
      • FAT
      • HAIR
      • EXOCRINE GLANDS
      • CLAWS, NAILS, AND HOOVES
      • NERVES AND SENSORY ORGANS
        • Eyes
        • Ears
        • Nose and Olfactory Structures
      • AXIAL AND APPENDICULAR SKELETON
      • MUSCLE
  • 6. Physiological Adaptations
    • Water as a Medium
    • Basic Physiology of Semi-aquatic Mammals
      • TEMPERA TURE REGULATION
      • BODY SIZE
      • METABOLISM
      • REGIONAL HETEROTHERMY
      • THERMOGENESIS
      • OXYGEN EXCHANGE AND ENERGETICS
        • Swimming and O2
      • ENERGY IN TAKE AND DIGESTION
    • Neurobiology
  • 7. Locomotion and Buoyancy
    • Moving through Water
    • General Physical Characteristics
      • LIMB AND TAIL MODIFICATIONS
    • Buoyancy and Stability
    • Swimming Modes
• PART III. FEEDING ECOLOGY
  • 8. The Predators: Foraging Strategies and Niches
    • Types of Predation
    • Foraging Strategies
      • SOLITARY AND GROUP FORAGING
        • Foraging Theories
        • Caching and Hoarding
      • Foraging Niches
      • CARNIVOROUS MAMMALS
        • Carnivores
        • Crustacivore/Clam-Eater
        • Insectivores/Omnivores
        • Piscivore/Squid-Eater
      • HERBIVOROUS MAMMALS
        • Herbivore/Browser
        • Herbivore/Grazer
        • Herbivore/Frugivore
        • Frugivore/Granivore
        • Frugivore/Omnivore
    • Summary
  • 9. The Prey: Predator-Prey Interactions
    • Nature of Predation
      • INDIVIDUAL LEVEL EFFECTS
      • POPULATION LEVEL EFFECTS
      • COMPENSATORY REACTIONS
      • OTHER FORMS OF PREDATION
        • Microparasites
        • Macroparasites
    • Predator Detection and Avoidance
      • DETECTION
      • CHEMICAL
      • BEHAVIOR
    • Surviving Predation
      • INTIMIDATION
      • FLIGHT
      • FIGHTING BACK
• PART IV. REPRODUCTION
  • 10. Mating and Offspring
    • Reproductive Biology
    • Mating Systems
    • Sociality
      • GROUP LIVING AND ASSOCIATED BREEDING STRATEGIES
      • SOLITARY BEHAVIOR
    • Delayed Implantation
    • Parental Care
    • Reproduction and Conservation
• PART V. CONSERVATION CHALLENGES & MANAGEMENT APPROACHES
  • 11. Status and Threats
    • Conservation: A Background
    • Categories of Threatened Species and Population Trends
      • EXTINCT AND EXTINCT IN WILD
      • CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
      • ENDANGERED
      • VULNERABLE
      • NEAR THREATENED
      • LEAST CONCERN
      • DATA DEFICIENT
      • NOT EVALUATED
    • Threats
      • HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH
      • HABITAT LOSS
      • HABITAT DEGRADATION
      • OVEREXPLOITATION
      • CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS OF WILDLIFE
      • CLIMATE CHANGE
      • SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS
      • FUTURE DIRECTIONS
  • 12. Introductions and Reintroductions
    • Translocations
    • Introductions
      • NORTH AMERICAN BEAVER
      • COYPU
      • MUSKRAT
      • AMERICAN MINK
    • Reintroductions and Assisted Colonization
      • PLATYPUS
      • SWAMP RABBIT
      • MARSH RABBIT
      • NORTH AMERICAN BEAVER
      • EURASIAN BEAVER
      • RUSSIAN DES MAN
      • EUROPEAN MINK
      • EURASIAN OTTER
      • NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER
      • MARSH DEER
      • PÈRE DAVID’S DEER
    • Conservation Considerations
  • 13. Management Approaches
    • Population Recovery
    • Habitat Protection and Enhancement
      • PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT AND AQUATIC CONNECTIVITY
      • FRESHWATER AND RIPARIAN HABITAT CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION
      • INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
    • Ex Situ Conservation
    • Research and Monitoring
      • EMERGING APPROACHES
    • Legal Protections and Enforcement
    • Wildlife Conservation Organizations
    • Future Considerations
• Appendix A. Taxonomic List of Semi-aquatic and Riparian-Dependent Mammals
• Appendix B. Online Resources
• Glossary
• References
• Subject Index
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z