The present book Animal Diversity, Natural History and Conservation Vol. I comprises the vast body of research on the subject and includes twenty four original research and review chapters written by emeinet scientists and researchers form Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, India, Indonesia, Nepal Portugal and USA. The volume – I has been written in a lucid and easy to understand language dealing elaborately and includes a wide range of toics having a direct bearing on animal diversity and conservation. The book provides diversified information regarding diversity of spider fauna, aquatic hemipterans, soil micro-arthropods, polychaetes, prawns and also the fish fauna on one hand besides focusing on molecular markers for the anlysis of genetic biodiversity with special referenfe to indin fish fauna. Chapters on pollinator biodiversity and their conservation, conservation status of flying mammals, gaur adjutant storks, saltwater crocodiles and the conservation issues of elephants in ancient India will attract attention of the readers. Avifaunal status of wildlife reservoir in Nepal, aquatic avifauna of Aravali hills and the faunal diversity in the Rasik Beel Wetland Complex are the other notable contributions. An exhaustive subject index has been appended to the text, making reference hunting easier.

The book will be a landmark and shall hopefully be very useful for those workers and planners who are involved in the studies related to the diversified animals and also throw light on their present status in the context the threats and need for their future conservation.