Wildlife of the Pantanal

The Pantanal of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay is South America's Serengeti: its wetlands are the largest on earth (they're half the size of France) and, in the dry season, crocodiles and storks jostle to gobble the last of the dying fish. Here, the continent's largest cat, the jaguar, lives alongside giant otters, anacondas and the world's largest parrot. A comprehensive introduction to the best place to watch wildlife in South America, and beautifully illustrated throughout, Bradt's Pantanal Wildlife is the only portable book to cover all the main wildlife groups while focussing exclusively on the Pantanal. Bradt's fully illustrated wildlife guides focus on regions of the world particularly celebrated for their amazing and often unique species. With spectacular photography or exclusive watercolour drawings throughout, each visitors' guide provides an introduction to the region's principal flora and fauna alongside suggested wildlife itineraries, practical information on when to go and what to take and photography tips. Written in a deliberately engaging way, they offer something different from dry field guides, and will appeal to the interested layman as much as the wildlife devotee. Ideal as a lightweight companion to any wildlife trip they also make a handsome souvenir.

'Bradt Travel Guides simply have the best wildlife coverage of any of the popular guide books.' BBC Wildlife

Vorwort
. The first book to cover the best areas to search for particular wildlife specialities - and to give tips on how to find, identify and enjoy them . Written by a South American wildlife expert, it includes entertaining snippets on behaviour and biology . 80% of the Pantanal falls within Brazil, whose foreign tourism increased by 20% from 2002 to 2006

Autorentext
Based in Argentina, James Lowen is a wildlife writer, editor, photographer and lecturer. He is editor of the only magazine to focus on birdwatching in Latin America.

Klappentext

CONTENTSIntroduction 2Introduction 2, About this book 4, What's in a name? 5The Australian environment 3Geography and geology 8, Climate 9, TheHuman connection 10, Conservation 13, Habitats 14Mammals 19Anteaters and armadillos 20, Primates 24, Carnivores 27,Ungulates 39, Bats 43, Rodents and rabbits 46, Marsupials 49Birds 51Ground birds 52, Waterbirds 54, Raptors 62, Guans 65,Parrots and their allies 66, Near-passerines 69, Passerines 78Reptiles, amphibians and fish 89Reptiles 90, Amphibians 99, Fish 102Invertebrates 105Insects 106, Arachnids 114, Centipedes, snailsand crustaceans 117Where to go 119Mato Grosso (Brazil) 121, Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil) 138,Paraguay 144, Bolivia 148Top tips 151Finding wildlife 152, Practicalities 160,Wildlife photography 162Further information 163Index 165

Zusammenfassung
Pantanal Wildlife Guide - Expert wildlife information covering the Pantanal of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, wetland habitats and endemics, practical field advice. This guide also includes species classification featuring jaguars, giant otters and anacondas, when and where to visit, photography tips, birdwatching, conservation and natural history.

Inhalt
CONTENTS Introduction 2 Introduction 2, About this book 4, What's in a name? 5 The Australian environment 3 Geography and geology 8, Climate 9, The Human connection 10, Conservation 13, Habitats 14 Mammals 19 Anteaters and armadillos 20, Primates 24, Carnivores 27, Ungulates 39, Bats 43, Rodents and rabbits 46, Marsupials 49 Birds 51 Ground birds 52, Waterbirds 54, Raptors 62, Guans 65, Parrots and their allies 66, Near-passerines 69, Passerines 78 Reptiles, amphibians and fish 89 Reptiles 90, Amphibians 99, Fish 102 Invertebrates 105 Insects 106, Arachnids 114, Centipedes, snails and crustaceans 117 Where to go 119 Mato Grosso (Brazil) 121, Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil) 138, Paraguay 144, Bolivia 148 Top tips 151 Finding wildlife 152, Practicalities 160, Wildlife photography 162 Further information 163 Index 165