Animals: The Encyclopedia of Malaysia Vol 3

Malaysia is rich in wildlife. The country’s equatorial climate has encouraged the evolution of an exceptional number and variety of animal species, in Sabah and Sarawak as well as Peninsular Malaysia. This volume introduces the animals of Malaysia in a way never done before. There are many different environments for animals in Malaysia, including mangroves, mountainsides and rivers, former mining land, primary and secondary forest and open fields. The resulting diversity includes over 1,000 species of butterflies, more than 600 species of birds, 280 species of mammals, 140 species of snakes and 165 species of frogs and toads. Many of the species are endemic to Malaysia – they are not found anywhere else in the world. New species are constantly being identified, especially in the depths of the rainforest. This book explores this exciting world of animals, many of which are not only important economically, but valuable as part of the world’s gene bank. Each section of the volume deals with a major group of animals – mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, aquatic animals, chelicerates, myriapods and annelids, insects, and parasites -focusing on the main species in Malaysia, their habitats, characteristics, habits, and the roles they play in the ecosystem. A final section discusses the importance of conserving Malaysia’s animal diversity in the face of rapid industrialization and the commercial demands for animal products – and how the country is trying to achieve this aim. The text has been written by well-known academics and wildlife experts, and there are over 800 full-colour illustrations, including 200 drawings, specially commissioned.