Primates of the World: An Illustrated Guide [Hardcover]

This stunningly illustrated guide to the world's primates covers nearly 300 species, from the feather-light and solitary pygmy mouse lemurs of Madagascar--among the smallest primates known to exist--to the regal mountain gorillas of Africa. Organized by region and spanning every family of primates on Earth, the book features 72 splendid color plates, facing-page descriptions of key features of each family, and 86 color distribution maps.

Primates of the Worldalso includes concise introductory chapters that discuss the latest findings on primate origins and evolution, behavior and adaptations, and classification, making it the most comprehensive and up-to-date primate guide available.

• Covers nearly 300 species and every family of primates worldwide


• Features 72 color plates--the finest illustrations of primates ever produced


• Includes facing-page descriptions for each family and 86 color distribution maps


• The most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the world's primates

Jean-Jacques Petter(1927-2002) was a world authority on lemurs and one of France's leading primatologists. He was a research fellow at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris.Fran?ois Desbordesis one of France's premier wildlife illustrators.Robert Martinis the A. Watson Armour III Curator of Biological Anthropology at the Field Museum in Chicago. I can think of no better introduction to the non-human primates than Jean-Jacques Petter's and Francois Desbordes'Primates of the World. . . . The text is authoritative and readable and includes very good sections on the evolution of primates and the roles of environment and competition in influencing primate adaptations. There are also excellent chapters on territorial behavior, social organization, and sociality. The book is richly and beautifully illustrated by Francois Desbordes, and there are excellent life historil£)