"This helpful reference for students of all ages and professional mammalogists doing research provides an up-to-date compilation of basic knowledge about native and introduced mammals of the region. Although accessible and useful for the generalist, this book is not intended to be a field guide because encouraging persons to capture and handle these mostly nocturnal animals is not a good idea. Many mammals are protected by state and federal laws, are well adapted for defending themselves with teeth and claws, and are potential vectors of disease organisms. The volume presents accounts of 137 different species that currently or previously occurred in the southeastern United States. Included are extant species that once occurred in the region (jaguar, porcupine), native species that are now extinct (Caribbean monk seal), native species that have been extirpated from all or part of the region (red wolf, cougar, bison, elk), and many introduced species (Mexican mouse opossum, common squirrel monkey, capybara), as well as more common and ubiquitous species (gray squirrel, white-tailed deer, opossum). Each species account includes full-color images of the animals in their natural habitats, skulls plates with at least three views, color distribution maps of their approximate geographic ranges in the southeast and in North America, and up-to-date syntheses of several aspects of their biology (habitats, diets, preda-tors, parasites, diseases, and behaviors). An introductory chapter on conservation summarizes the current status of mammalian populations in the region and provides insight into some of the threats mammals are encountering in the Southeast. The region is home to a remarkable and diverse mammalian fauna that is a significant part of its rich natural heritage"-- Provided by publisher.