Birds, Mammals and Reptiles of the Galapagos Islands
A comprehensive guide to the striking and charismatic birds, mammals and reptiles of the Galápagos.
Until the discovery of the Islands in 1535, the flora and fauna of the Galápagos evolved in isolation, producing strange and marvellous island species, as Charles Darwin found when he visited 300 years later. Nowadays many people visit the islands to see the unique wildlife and still encounter almost all the species that were present when Darwin visited. This is in striking contrast to the chains of extinctions that have occurred in every other large oceanic archipelago following the arrival of man.
This compact, well thought out and clearly presented book provides a comprehensive guide to all recorded species. It is simple to use, the text is concise and the innovative use of digital technology has produced a remarkable collection of 53 colour plates. Distribution maps are included for each resident species.
An informative guide of this kind will help everyone, from beginner to experienced naturalist.
Andy Swash is a zoologist, ecologist and accomplished photographer. During his visits to the Galápagos he has obtained excellent photographs of most of the resident birds, mammals, and reptiles.
Rob Still is an ecologist and widely travelled naturalist. The authors are partners in WildGuides, a publishing organisation established to support wildlife conservation.