An introduction to the study of mammals living and extinct

The work provides a systematic overview of mammalian biology, combining comparative anatomy, functional morphology, and taxonomy to explain characters such as hair, dentition, skeleton, organs, senses, and reproduction. It surveys methods of classification and traces geographical and geological distributions, including living orders and extinct groups, and treats monotremes, marsupials, and placentals with family-level descriptions. Practical notes on identification, dental notation, and fossil evidence accompany discussions of form and function, while selected bibliographical references and illustrations support readers seeking a concise, structured introduction to mammalian diversity and evolution.