Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia

Monika Rohlmann is an environmental consultant in Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories.

This book is the third in a series of six handbooks meant to revise the
Royal British Columbia Museum’s out-of-print handbook The Mammals of
British Columbia. Many changes have occurred since its last publication
35 years ago, particularly regarding genetic knowledge that now allows
us to examine evolutionary relationships. Hoofed mammals are known
scientifically as ungulates. They are the most abundant species of land
mammal on earth, and British Columbia has the greatest diversity of
ungulates in Canada.

The first of the book’s two main sections describes the general
biology of hoofed mammals (e.g., evolution, survival adaptations,
behavior, mating, and weapons systems). The second section contains
accounts of nine native species (including 18 subspecies) and a species
that was introduced into British Columbia. This section groups the
animals into three divisions: the deer family, the bison (bovidae)
family, and the sheep/goat family. Each species description is packed
with information regarding identification, natural history, conservation
status, and more. There are range maps and a drawing of every species
(including skull drawings for further identification).

The book teems with illustrations describing every imaginable aspect of
these animals: digestive system, environment, tooth structure,
camouflage, horn growth, tracks, and so on. Given the nonscientific
language, Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia will be of particular
interest to casual or amateur wildlife observers.