Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference

Abstract

D. E. Wilson, D. M Reeder. (eds.). 2005. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 2142 pp. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4, 2 volumes, price (hardbound), $125.00. This is the 3rd edition of the now classic and official (endorsed by the American Society of Mammalogists), compendium of the living or recently extinct mammal species of the world. This edition is issued in a 2-volume set (the 2nd volume for Rodentia only), including 9,373 references and an index of scientific and common names. As were many of our colleagues, we were waiting for this revised edition since 2003 when it became common knowledge that the revision was essentially complete. Our interests were further enhanced by some chapters being circulated individually as preprinted copies. We can say that the wait was worth it. Benefits of ' this kind of effort are innumerable, as attested by its wide use as the reference for lists of local, regional, and national fauna; conservation status; updating taxonomic accounts in museums, zoos, and similar institutions; or even as a source of common names. In this volume, as in the previous one, D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder are general editors for 41 sections corresponding to 29 orders plus 1 infraorder, 1 superfamily, and 10 family accounts. This work resulted from contributions of 26 authors, fewer than 10 of them living outside the United States. The format of accounts in this edition is similar to the previous volume, with the order Rodentia deserving a more detailed revision through subordinal division. Given the positive reviews received for the 2nd edition (Corbet and Hill 1994; Patterson 1994), this arrangement seems to be well accepted by the scientific community. Under this format, each author has freedom to organize their correspondent section in terms of systematic and taxonomic decisions, following minimal requirements (e.g., geographic distribution, common names, conservation status, and identification of synonyms) set by the editors. The scope and aim of the work are defined in …