From the rabbit-sized Black-footed Cat of southern Africa to bear-killing Amur tigers of the Russian Far East, the 38 members of the Cat Family include some of the world`s most fascinating & magnificent species on earth. Supremely adapted for the kill, all cats are obligate carnivores; they survive only by preying upon other animals, & they have become one of evolution`s most successful predatory lineages of mammals. Wild Cats of the World explores the spectacular Cat Family in unprecedented depth. Drawing on thousands of scientific papers & direct observations in the field, each species is profiled at length, covering all aspects of felid behaviour & ecology. The book is profusely illustrated with colour plates, black-&-white sketches showing important aspects of cat life & accurate images of every species` skull. Over 400 spectacular photographs are included, many of them showing extremely rare & little-known cats published here for the first time. Each profile
Includes:: an up-to-date range map & explains the most current science on how cats are classified & related to each other, including some very recent, surprising discoveries. Despite their great evolutionary success, the challenges facing felids in the modern world are profound. Only one, the ubiquitous domestic cat, does not require dedicated conservation action to ensure survival for the next century. The book also explores the current conservation issues facing wild cats, the increasingly perilous status of many species & how they can be saved.