The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals

by Bo Beolens, Michael Watkins, Michael Grayson

Overview

Just who was the Przewalski after whom Przewalski's horse was named? Or Husson, the eponym for the rat Hydromys hussoni? Or the Geoffroy whose name is forever linked to Geoffroy's cat? This unique reference provides a brief look at the real lives behind the scientific and vernacular mammal names one encounters in field guides, textbooks, journal articles, and other scholarly works.

Arranged to mirror standard dictionaries, the more than 1,300 entries included here explain the origins of over 2,000 mammal species names. Each bio-sketch lists the scientific and common-language names of all species named after the person, outlines the individual's major contributions to mammalogy and other branches of zoology, and includes brief information about his or her mammalian namesake's distribution. The two appendixes list scientific and common names for ease of reference, and, where appropriate, individual entries include mammals commonly—but mistakenly—believed to be named after people.

The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is a highly readable and informative guide to the people whose names are immortalized in mammal nomenclature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801893049
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	11/18/2009
Pages:	592
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Bo Beolens is a coauthor of The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals, also published by Johns Hopkins.

Michael Watkins is a coauthor of The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals, also published by Johns Hopkins.

Michael Grayson is a coauthor of The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals, also published by Johns Hopkins.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals
Chapter 1. A
Chapter 2. B
Chapter 3. C
Chapter 4. D
Chapter 5. E
Chapter 6. F
Chapter 7. G
Chapter 8. H
Chapter 9. I
Chapter 10. J
Chapter 11. K
Chapter 12. L
Chapter 13. M
Chapter 14. N
Chapter 15. O
Chapter 16. P
Chapter 17. Q
Chapter 18. R
Chapter 19. S
Chapter 20. T
Chapter 21. U
Chapter 22. V
Chapter 23. W
Chapter 24. X
Chapter 25. Y
Chapter 26. Z
Appendix I: Vernacular Names
Appendix II: Scientific Names
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

Anyone interested in mammalian nomenclature will want this book.
—Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report

The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is a small treasure trove of information about the people whose names are immortalized in mammalian nomenclature. Given that we mammalogists are prone to ancestor worship, I expect it to be a best-seller.
—Don E. Wilson, Journal of Mammalian Evolution

This is a great reference for the mammalogy professional or student, or the curious naturalist.
—Wildlife Activist

This is a splendid book which fills a real gap in zoological literature.
—Nicholas Gould, International Zoo News

This is a unique resource for the curious.
—Choice

Useful and fascinating. The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is recommended for public libraries and academic libraries, particularly those at schools with biology and veterinary programs.
—Megan W. Lowe, American Reference Books Annual

This is a fascinating book—highly readable—I didn't want to put it down.
—Helen Ashton, Reference Reviews

This comprehensive book is generously peppered with all manner of tantalising, fascinating trivia unlikely to be encountered so readily anywhere else . . . Scrupulously well-written, researched, and presented. Moreover, its contents guarantee that never again will a mammalian eponym pose a mystery, and will also provide countless hours of entertaining, educational browsing.
—KarlShuker.com

I suspect that there are few people interested in picking up a dictionary for 'fun' reading. The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals should be an exception, however. Although it is intended as a reference for professionals and students of mammalogy, it will also serve as an enjoyable, nontechnical read for all curious naturalists or anyone interested in mammals.
—Quarterly Review of Biology

The reference makes for fascinating reading and is a top pick for any serious college-level collection strong in herpetology references.
—The Midwest Book Review

Not a single page was boring to read.
—Olivier S.G. Pauwels and Richard Wahlgren, Russian Journal of Herpetology

I think that the authors are to be congratulated for the effort that they have put into these books, and for the apparent scrupulousness with which they have pursued their goals. An immense amount of research has gone into the work, tracking down obscure references and re-checking data from the original sources.
—David A. Morrison, Systematic Biology

From the Publisher

This is a unique resource for the curious.

Choice

The reference makes for fascinating reading and is a top pick for any serious college-level collection strong in herpetology references.

The Midwest Book Review

The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is a small treasure trove of information about the people whose names are immortalized in mammalian nomenclature. Given that we mammalogists are prone to ancestor worship, I expect it to be a best-seller.

Journal of Mammalian Evolution - Don E. Wilson

Useful and fascinating. The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is recommended for public libraries and academic libraries, particularly those at schools with biology and veterinary programs.

American Reference Books Annual - Megan W. Lowe

I think that the authors are to be congratulated for the effort that they have put into these books, and for the apparent scrupulousness with which they have pursued their goals. An immense amount of research has gone into the work, tracking down obscure references and re-checking data from the original sources.

Systematic Biology - David A. Morrison

Not a single page was boring to read.

Russian Journal of Herpetology - Olivier S.G. Pauwels and Richard Wahlgren

This is a splendid book which fills a real gap in zoological literature.

International Zoo News - Nicholas Gould

I suspect that there are few people interested in picking up a dictionary for 'fun' reading. The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals should be an exception, however. Although it is intended as a reference for professionals and students of mammalogy, it will also serve as an enjoyable, nontechnical read for all curious naturalists or anyone interested in mammals.

Quarterly Review of Biology

This comprehensive book is generously peppered with all manner of tantalising, fascinating trivia unlikely to be encountered so readily anywhere else . . . Scrupulously well-written, researched, and presented. Moreover, its contents guarantee that never again will a mammalian eponym pose a mystery, and will also provide countless hours of entertaining, educational browsing.

KarlShuker.com

This is a fascinating book—highly readable—I didn't want to put it down.

Reference Reviews - Helen Ashton

This is a great reference for the mammalogy professional or student, or the curious naturalist.

Wildlife Activist

Anyone interested in mammalian nomenclature will want this book.

Birdbooker Report - Ian Paulsen

This is a fascinating book—highly readable—I didn't want to put it down.

— Helen Ashton

Reference Reviews

Useful and fascinating. The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is recommended for public libraries and academic libraries, particularly those at schools with biology and veterinary programs.

— Megan W. Lowe

American Reference Books Annual

This is a splendid book which fills a real gap in zoological literature.

— Nicholas Gould

International Zoo News

The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals is a small treasure trove of information about the people whose names are immortalized in mammalian nomenclature. Given that we mammalogists are prone to ancestor worship, I expect it to be a best-seller.

— Don E. Wilson

Journal of Mammalian Evolution

Anyone interested in mammalian nomenclature will want this book.

— Ian Paulsen

Birdbooker Report