BOOK REVIEW Journal of Mammalogy, 93(3):879, 2012
ends with a short summary and an Appendix that lists all 47 species by common and scientific name and their protection status; there are no keys to the species. A useful index is included, as is a brief biography of each of the authors. The copy that I reviewed was both stitched and glued and should hold up to considerable use. I was surprised that there was no reading list for those desiring more information, especially since the booklet had such a list. Certainly it is a challenge to know just what references a likely diverse audience might find useful. To span the spectrum of potential readers, I would mention Kunz and Parsons (2009), Kunz and Racey (1998), Nowak (1994), and Wilson (1997). Bat Conservation International is mentioned (p. 194) and interested readers can go to their website for additional information. Some readers may regret the absence of literature citations in the text. The authors, perhaps anticipating this criticism, note that this is due to the general nature of the book. Yet in spite of this general nature, I think almost anyone who has an interest in bats will find the book useful. For the expert it’s a quick but not overly detailed description of the biology, distribution, and appearance of the species in question and perfect for quick questions regarding life history or distribution. For novice bat biologists it should be a great introduction to the biology of bats; I can see it as an inexpensive text for an undergraduate class in bats. And for the general reader it’s an easy way to start to plumb bat diversity, biology, and threats. The publisher’s price is eminently fair and copies are likely available at a discount on the Internet.— MICHAEL A. BOGAN, Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; e-mail:
[email protected].
E 2012 American Society of Mammalogists Harvey, M. J., J. S. Altenbach, and T. L. Best. 2011. BATS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. 1st ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 202 pp. ISBN-978-14214-0191-1, price (paper), $24.95. This book, as the authors note, ‘‘is an updated and expanded version’’ of their 1999 booklet, ‘‘Bats of the United States.’’ Indeed, the book reviewed here is new and improved; it covers considerably more facets of bat biology, updates details of life history, occurrence, and nomenclature of the 47 species (plus 4 species of accidental occurrence), and comes in a much more convenient and durable size (think field-guide size). The first 90 or so pages include overviews of a variety of topics including classification, biology, echolocation, foraging, summer and winter habitats, hibernation, migration, reproduction and longevity, bats as food (and bombs), attracting and controlling bats, diseases, current concerns (e.g., wind power, white-nose syndrome), conservation, and status. There also are short discussions of research techniques such as inventories, thermal imaging, nets and traps, bat banding (for more information on the government bat-banding program see Ellison 2008), radiotelemetry, and acoustic identifications. The preceding booklet covered perhaps half of these topics and not nearly so completely as is done here. These sections are amply illustrated with photographs by the authors and colleagues. The ‘‘meat’’ of the book is the next 100 or so pages, which consist of informative, 1-page species accounts for all species of bats known from the United States and Canada. Each account includes a currently accepted common name, the scientific name, and the legal status, if any, in the 2 countries. Embedded in the text for each species is a shaded distribution map, most of which appeared current to the best of my knowledge. Several maps have been updated since the booklet was published. On the opposite page is a photograph of the species by Scott Altenbach. Many, but not all, of the portraits also appeared in the booklet but upon direct comparison I prefer the reproductions in the book. The species of accidental occurrence (Diphylla ecaudata, Erophylla sezekorni, Phyllonycteris poeyi, and Phyllops falcatus; the 1st known from 1 record in Texas, the others from the Florida Keys) have a page of text each but no distribution map or photograph. The 1999 booklet listed 45 species and the increase to 47 reflects recent nomenclatural changes within Myotis. The authors recognize M. occultus, formerly M. lucifugus occultus, occurring primarily in Arizona and New Mexico, and M. melanorhinus, formerly a subspecies of M. ciliolabrum, supposedly occurring generally west of the Rocky Mountains but also in western Texas. The book
LITERATURE CITED ELLISON, L. 2008. Summary and analysis of the U.S. government Bat Banding Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 20081363. HARVEY, M. J., J. SCOTT ALTENBACH, AND T. L. BEST. 1999. Bats of the United States. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Little Rock, Arkansas. KUNZ, T. H., AND S. PARSONS. 2009. Ecological and behavioral methods for the study of bats. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. KUNZ, T. H., AND P. A. RACEY. 1998. Bat biology and conservation. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. NOWAK, R. M. 1994. Walker’s bats of the world. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. WILSON, D. E. 1997. Bats in question: the Smithsonian answer book. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
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