Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide (The Animal Answer Guides: Q&A for the Curious Naturalist) - Tapa dura

"A completely authoritative scholarly guide to the biology of a group of organisms and... a completely readable, fully illustrated, and fascinating introduction for the general public."

"Got squirrels? This book has answers. This is not a children's book... read it with an adult. Fun for all ages."

"Only a master at both scholarship and communication could pull this off as eloquently and clearly as Thorington and Ferrell have done."

"A deft account, for backyard naturalists and scientists both."

"You may enjoy watching these acrobatic characters... [Thorington and Ferrell] will make them more interesting to observe."

"Unravels the mysteries of the 278 species of squirrels that inhabit the planet... this is a must read."

"Well written and organized and contains numerous color and black-and-white photos."

"It's rare to see all the science of a college text embedded into a lively presentation also geared for the general audience―but here, it works very well."

"Eminently interesting."

"This engaging guide sheds light on a common mammal that is anything but commonplace."

Did you know that a groundhog is really a type of squirrel? That squirrels control their body temperature with their tails? That most squirrels have yellow-tinted eye lenses that work like sunglasses to reduce glare? That tree squirrels can turn their hind feet completely around when climbing down a tree head-first? In Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide, Richard W. Thorington Jr. and Katie Ferrell unveil the fascinating world of one of the "most watched" mammals on the planet.

The diversity of squirrels is astounding. There are 278 species that inhabit all continents except Antarctica and Australia―varying in size from the lumbering 18-pound gray marmot to the graceful pygmy flying squirrel that is smaller than most mice. In many parts of the world they readily share human habitats, joining us for lunch in a city park, raiding our bird feeders, and sneaking into college dorm rooms through open windows. Reviled as pests or loved as an endearing amusement, squirrels have played important roles in trade, literature, and mythology.

Thorington and Ferrell cover every aspect of this diverse animal family, from the first squirrels of 36 million years ago to the present day. With over one hundred photographs and an intuitive question-and-answer format, this authoritative and engaging guide sheds light on a common mammal that is anything but commonplace.