The Guide to Tasmanian Wildlife

Book excerpt: The Guide to Tasmanian Wildlife is the only comprehensive guide to identifying the 11 amphibians, 22 reptiles, 44 mammals, 15 marine mammals, 173 birds, and 61 seabirds that inhabit Tasmania and its territorial waters, including Macquarie Island, and the 32 endemic Tasmanian species that occur nowhere else. Detailed and user-friendly accounts of each species include physical descriptions, distribution maps, details on where and when to see each species, preferred habitat types, similar species and how to tell them apart, plus notes on subspecies, conservation status and ecology.Over 1100 images help identify each species, subspecies, including images of male, female and young where necessary. Details on extinct species and the 177 vagrants and visitors that have been recorded within Tasmania and its territorial waters are included, with photographs depicting a range of these species.Angus McNab, MSc (Zoology) has always been fascinated by reptiles and amphibians, and enthusiastic university friends broadened his interests to mammals and birds. With over fifteen years' experience as a wildlife ecologist, Angus has extensive knowledge of Australian wildlife. His passion for nature and wildlife photography took him to live in Tasmania where he gained an understanding of the wildlife described throughout this guide.