This reference work investigates the etymological origins, linguistic pronunciation, and historical significance of the common and scientific names assigned to Australian mammals. Ronald Strahan, a prominent zoologist and former director of the Australian Museum, synthesizes decades of taxonomic research to provide a comprehensive guide for naturalists and scholars. The text serves as a definitive record, linking biological classification to the biographical history of the naturalists who first described these species.

The subject matter points to a highly specialized, academic resource intended for researchers, librarians, and serious students of Australian natural history. Its dense, encyclopedic structure provides a rigorous framework for understanding the nomenclature of the continent's unique mammalian biodiversity.