Our Arid Environment -
life in Australia's Desert Regions

More than five million square kilometres, or 70% of Australia is arid. The environment is one of harsh extremes; searingly hot and dry during long summers or swept by drenching deluges and sheet floods. Yet hundreds of species of animals have adapted to survive in this vast arid region; finding and conserving food and water and in mating and raising their young.

Our Arid Environment - animals of Australia's desert gegions, is the first book to examine how the arid-zone animals have adapted to their surroundings. Keith Davey begins this fascinating study with two chapters that survey the region, its characteristics and the constraints with which the desert animals must cope. In the following chapters descriptions are given of the animals, their habitats and the special features which each has developed in order to survive. Cross-references offer useful and interesting comparisons between the many species covered.

Extensive research by the author, together with his synthesis of material from the findings of emenent researchers, result in this book for the academic, student and general interest. Illustrated with many descriptive colour photographs and over sixty supurbly detailed line drawings and informative maps, the book provides a comprehensive bibliography and index.

Valuable research is being undertaken in the arid zone. It is hoped that this book, by imparting such knowledge and thus increasingly of the area and its wildlife, will help in the attempts to preserve the remaining populations of arid-zone animals.