This landmark book is the first comprehensive account of all 46 land-breeding mammal species known in New Zealand, native and exotic, wild and feral, living and extinct. With contributions from 29 leading authorities in the field, the book describes New Zealand mammal history, biology, and ecology, and brings together much information previously unpublished or scattered throughout diverse literatures. Standardized for easy reference, each species is arranged under conventional headings. The book emphasizes throughout that because the only native land-breeding mammals in New Zealand are bats and seals, the great majority of modern mammal fauna comprises introduced species whose arrivals have had profound effects--both for introduced and native species' changes in numbers, distributions, arrivals, habitat, and diet. Distribution maps, skull diagrams, dentition diagrams, and photographs of each species are included as well. The editor's introduction masterfully summarizes the general history and characteristics of New Zealand fauna and describes some of the problems that mammals present to research managers. The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals will surely be the subject's definitive reference for years to come and will appeal to researchers, students, and interested layperson's alike.