Of all the animal groups, none looms larger in the imagination than the carnivores. Adapted for hunting and killing other animals, they represent the most powerful predators on Earth. This compact guide covers both the mighty and ferocious ? big cats, wolves, foxes and hyaenas ? and a variety of smaller but equally formidable hunters ? otters, polecats, weasels, mongooses and civets. Features include: Key ID points, behaviours and diet of each species; special adaptations for hunting live prey; annotated colour photographs; distribution maps; rare and elusive species. A compact reference for anyone interested in the intriguing behaviours of a group of mammals we both love and fear.