| African Mole-Rats: Ecology and Eusociality Contributor(s): Bennett, Nigel C. (Author), Faulkes, Chris G. (Author), Jarvis, Jennifer (Foreword by) |
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ISBN: 0521771994 ISBN-13: 9780521771993 Publisher: Cambridge University Press OUR PRICE: $133.00 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: March 2000 Annotation: African mole-rats are a unique taxon of subterranean rodents that range in sociality from solitary-dwelling species to two "eusocial" species, the Damaraland mole-rat and the naked mole-rat. The naked mole-rat is arguably the closest that a mammal comes to behaving like social insects such as bees and termites, with large colonies and a behavioral and reproductive division of labor. As a family, the Bathyergidae represent a model system with which to study the evolution and maintenance of highly social cooperative breeding strategies. In this book, Nigel Bennett and Chris Faulkes provide a synthesis of the current knowledge of bathyergid systematics, ecology, reproductive biology, behavior, and genetics. They explore the role of these factors in the evolution of sociality in the Bathyergidae in the context of both vertebrates and invertebrates. This volume will be an important new resource for anyone interested in the evolution of sociality, specifically in mole-rats. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Nature | Animals - Mammals - Pets - Science | Life Sciences - Zoology - General |
| Dewey: 599.35 |
| LCCN: 99035145 |
| Physical Information: 0.79" H x 6.16" W x 9.27" (1.20 lbs) 288 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: African mole-rats are a unique taxon of subterranean rodents that range in sociality from solitary-dwelling species to two eusocial species, the Damaraland mole-rat and the naked mole-rat. The naked mole-rat is arguably the closest that a mammal comes to behaving like social insects such as bees and termites, with large colonies and a behavioral and reproductive division of labor. As a family, the Bathyergidae represent a model system with which to study the evolution and maintenance of highly social cooperative breeding strategies. In this book, Nigel Bennett and Chris Faulkes provide a synthesis of the current knowledge of bathyergid systematics, ecology, reproductive biology, behavior, and genetics. They explore the role of these factors in the evolution of sociality in the Bathyergidae in the context of both vertebrates and invertebrates. This volume will be an important new resource for anyone interested in the evolution of sociality, specifically in mole-rats. |