Volume 9 completes the Handbook of Mammals of the World series, and it deals with the bats, order Chiroptera. Our knowledge of bats has exploded in the past two decades, and all of that information is reflected in this volume. The number of recognized species has increased by more than 400 during that time and is still growing. Bats occupy almost every habitat on six continents and their ecology is incredibly diverse. Pollinators and seed dispersers for thousands of species of plants, bats are critical for the maintenance of tropical ecosystems.

As always, the text includes up-to-date information on every species, and each one is carefully illustrated. The family accounts include color photographs documenting a variety of behaviors of these interesting mammals.

Edited by Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier. Illustrated by Ilian Velikov, Blanca Marti de Ahumada, Alex Mascarell Llosa, Faansie Peacock, Jesus Rodriguez-Osorio Martin, Luis Sogorb. Published by Lynx Edicions in association with Conservation International and IUCN. This is the final volume in this spectacular series which will illustrate and describe in detail every mammalian species on the planet.

A pre-publication discount price will be announced in May, and publication is scheduled for October.