South America's wide range of habitats support a tremendous diversity of plants and animals, including more than 400 species of larger mammals--those the size of a guinea pig or bigger. Many are truly iconic: Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot and numerous other beautiful cats; the fantastic Maned Wolf; the incomparable Giant Anteater; and an incredible variety of extraordinary primates. This groundbreaking guide provides detailed coverage of these and many other wonderful mammals, including porcupines and peccaries; squirrels, sloths, skunks and seals; opossums, olingos and otters; armadillos, agoutis and Andean Bear; and viscachas and Vicuña--not to mention tapirs and river and estuarine dolphins.

The species accounts include a description of key features and information on subspecies, comparisons with similar species that overlap in range, details of the habitats in which the species occurs, a summary of its distribution in South America and information on its conservation status. Each species is illustrated with carefully selected photos, or artwork where suitable photos were not available.

• Detailed coverage of 420 species
• Showcases over 550 stunning photos, many of rarely photographed species
• Features specially commissioned artwork for almost 100 species, including comparative plates of all marmosets and titi monkeys
• Includes up-to-date distribution maps