Key-Guide to Mammal Skulls and Lower Jaws

by Aryan I. Roest

A non-technical, illustrated key, intended to be used in the field. Written for the student, hiker, or naturalist who comes upon mammal remains and wishes to know what kind of a beast it was. Identifies the skulls and jaws to species. Covers the native and domesticated mammals of the US and southern Canada. Unusual in making possible identification from lower jaws alone.

Genres: Wildlife, Field Guides, Reference, Biology

39 pages, Spiral-bound

First published June 1, 1986

Reviews

[Fernleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stupendous key for identifying the most commonly found mammal species in north america if all you have is a skull or mandible. This book is small, spiral-bound, and lightweight so it's perfect for tossing in your field bag and easy to use while handling a skull. It is geared towards the layman, and while it has an excellent glossary and some illustrations throughout the key it strives to identify skulls and mandibles while using less technical terms and minimal criteria. The guide includes a list of the scientific names of the species and a bit of advice on cleaning skulls for display, although I'm not sure it's the very best advice on the subject. There is even a to-scale ruler on the back so you can use it to help make measurements.

For those skull aficionados with a decent feel for skull anatomy this book wouldn't be as useful, but for a beginner it is superb and for a science nerd like me it's a must-have!