Mammals of Middle and South America: History, Biogeography, Conservation

The first volume of the Handbook of the Mammals of Middle and South America presents a comprehensive synthesis of the historical, biogeographic, and conservation dimensions of Latin American mammalogy. This volume offers a rigorous, region-wide account of mammalian research across Middle and South America and the Caribbean region, with country-specific chapters documenting the historical development of mammalogy in over 20 countries. A country-by-country chronicle of the history of mammalian research. In-depth analyses of speciation, mammal taxonomy, and biogeography, with cutting-edge insights from phylogenomics. Critical discussions on climate change, invasive species, wildlife trafficking, and Anthropocene extinctions. Reviews of mammal conservation strategies, human-mammal interactions, and the shifting dynamics of mammal habitats and biodiversity hotspots. Explorations of paleontological transformations from theMiddle Miocene to the Holocene, including the rise and fall of megafauna. With chapters on zoonotic diseases, conservation status, and the Linnaean shortfall in species discovery, this volume is an indispensable resource for academics, students, and professionals in mammalogy, ecology, and wildlife management. Rich in historical context and scientific rigor, it illuminates the past and present of mammal science in the region—and helps shape its future. A landmark reference for understanding the mammals of Latin America and the Caribbean region—where biodiversity meets biogeography, and history meets hope.