Book Review - Felids and Hyenas of the World - Princeton University Press

      Princeton Field Guides have an enviable reputation, much deserved, based on a long history of fine publications, all of which have proven invaluable for field observation and research alike.

     Felids and Hyenas of the World maintains this tradition of excellence.

     José R. Castelló has already carved out his niche in the realm of mammal field guides with his earlier works Bovids of the World (2016) and Canids of the World (2018). This latest volume maintains, perhaps even exceeds, the high standards that are the trademark of this renowned mammalogist.

     I am often at pains to encourage users of a field guide to read the introductory pages, all too frequently skipped over. In Castelló's guides there is so much information contained in the Introduction that you are seriously short-changing yourself if you fail to read it thoroughly. Everything from skeletal structure to feeding habits, classification, taxonomy, mating practices, distribution and conservation are covered extensively. This is akin to setting the table before you begin to eat.

     There is a section called, appropriately enough "How to use this book". I cannot imagine ignoring these directions because they enable you to fully benefit from what follows.

     A full account of all the felids by lineage ensues, comprehensively illustrated with excellent photographs. It is somewhat depressing, I must say, that in species after species, under the heading "Conservation Status", so many are designated "Endangered" or "Critically Endangered". We have modified and destroyed habitat, and persecuted these top predators in every way possible, and there is a serious threat that without active and enlightened intervention we may lose some of these magnificent animals to extinction.

     The situation with Hyenas is somewhat brighter, but of the nine species extant, only two are classed as "Least Concern". Human attitudes towards these creatures have been negative, and Hyenas have been shot, poisoned and trapped mercilessly. 

      In some areas at least, there is a faint glimmer of hope that we are starting to view all organisms as an integral and essential component of a healthy, functioning ecosytem, without pejorative anthropomorphic bias. One must fervently hope that this shift in attitude will form a new consciousness, and that animals and humans alike will benefit from a greater degree of commitment to preserve and protect nature writ large.

     The illustrations of the skulls of all the felids and the hyenas are quite fabulous. Key details are revealed about the hunting strategies of these predators and scavengers, by an examination of skull structure and dentition.

     The book ends with a comprehensive glossary and no less than ten pages of links to other references. 

     Felids and Hyenas of the World is a compendium of knowledge about some of the world's most emblematic species. What would East Africa be without lions? South America would be much the poorer without jaguars. 

     Whether you are an armchair naturalist, a member of your local zoo, or expect to encounter these animals in the wild, this is a book you should not be without.

Felids and Hyenas of the World

José R. Castelló

US $29.95 - £25.00 - ISBN: 9780691205977 -280 pages - 150 colour plates

Publication date: 20 October 2020

   

Book Review - Canids of the World, Princeton Field Guides

     Canids hold a special fascination for humans, from the domestic dog sitting on your lap, to the wolves, foxes and wild dogs that occupy virtually every habitat on earth.
     I am always thrilled when I see a Coyote, or a Red Fox, making a living within the confines of a city. The two encounters I have had with North American wolves remain significant memories etched in my brain forever. My mind is indelibly imprinted by a morning spent in the company of Ethiopian Wolves high on the Bale Plateau in those remote highlands of the Horn of Africa.
     As far as I know, there has been no previous publication of a field guide consolidating into one volume all of the Canids of the World.

      Princeton Field Guides are legendary for their quality and depth of coverage and this volume does not disappoint. Modern field guides have gone far beyond their original purpose, when simple depictions of the subjects were included, with accompanying notes as to the characters to clinch identification.
    This volume starts out with a fabulous introductory section covering all of the vital aspects of canid ecology and biology, including an excellent phylogenetic tree. Feeding behaviour and diet is covered, as is reproduction, visual communications, olfactory communications and many other topics. Skeletal structure is discussed, including highly detailed illustrations, all presented with precision and ease of use.

   
     The photographs, assembled from the combined efforts of a stellar group of canid specialists and wildlife photographers are nothing short of superb.

     The accompanying text is precise and well organized.

    Each species account has a range map included with the account of the species, always so useful, especially when placed within the body of the section on a given species. One of the most annoying things about some field guides is that all the maps are included at the back, or, horror of horrors, there is no range map at all.
     I very much like the way the book is organized into sections titled South American Canids, Wolf-like Canids, Red Fox-like Canids, and Gray (Grey) Fox-like Canids, with each segment colour-coded for ease of reference.

     This treatment is very helpful to the user of a field guide, likely a dedicated naturalist and canid enthusiast who is not, however, necessarily familiar with all the taxonomic niceties that a specialized biologist might bring readily to hand.

     It is by any account a fine work, worthy of its place on your bookshelf, an essential work of reference, in addition to being a field guide. Don't forget to take it with you when you go out to explore any facet of nature. Whatever your interests there is always a good chance you will come across these wily creatures making a living wherever you happen to find yourself, in a bucolic setting, or in the derelict wasteland of a crumbling city. Canids will be there!

Canids of the World: Wolves, Wild Dogs, Foxes, Jackals, Coyotes and Their Relatives
José R. Castelló
Paperback - $29.95 - 9780691176857 - 336 pages - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" - 150 colour plates - 139 black-and-white illustrations - 174 maps
Publication date: 11 September 2018