The Encyclopedia of Animals is a lavishly illustrated, authoritative, and comprehensive exploration of the rich and intriguing world of animals. Written by an international team of specialists, spectacularly adorned with a gallery of more than 2,000 color illustrations, and supplemented with distribution maps, detailed and beautifully rendered diagrams, and some of the world’s finest wildlife photographs, this volume will become the standard by which all others are measured. Each page is expertly laid out to enhance either browsing or in-depth study.
Readers will find detailed coverage of all sorts of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates.aGet ready to take a walk on the wild side! National Geographic Children’s Books‘ brand-new reference work provides families and children with everything they need to know about the animal kingdom. You’ll meet more than 1,000 animals as you explore the pages of National Geographic Encyclopedia of Animals. This comprehensive volume introduces the entire animal kingdom: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and all kinds of invertebrates, from sea squirts to worms and spiders. Your tour of the animal kingdom will take you to every corner of the planet-from rugged mountain slopes to ocean depths and from steamy jungles to baking deserts and icy polar regions. First, you’ll find out just what an animal is, where animals live, how they behave, and why some are endangered. Then the parade of animals begins, each group in its own color-coded section. A lively introductory essay pointing out each group’s distinguishing features is followed by page after page of stunning illustrations, engaging text, fun facts, maps, and more about the amazing range of animals within each group. The vibrant illustrations seem to crawl, chatter, screech, growl, and jump off every page. There’s also a glossary to help with all the new terms you’ll be learning, and a comprehensive index makes it easy to find just the animal you need for that report you’re writing or just to satisfy your curiosity. You’ll find: More than 1,000 species vividly illustrated Fascinating facts at your fingertips Range maps for all major groups of animals Cross-sections and cutaways Photo essays that show animals in their habitats The latest conservation data Features on scientific discoveries and breakthroughs Scientific and common names for all animals Size listings for all illustrated animals Contents prepared under the direction of an international authority on animal sciences Comprehensive glossary and index
Includes index
Animal world: Mammals: Monotremes — Marsupials: Possums and kangaroos — Bandicoots and quolls — Anteaters and pangolins — Insect-eating mammals — Flying lemurs and tree shrews — Bats: Microbats — Primates: Lower primates — New world monkeys — Old world monkeys — Apes — Carnivores: Dogs and foxes — Bears — Seals and sea lions — Raccoons and mongooses — Otters and weasels — Badgers and skunks — Great cats — Small cats — Hoofed mammals: Elephants — Dugong and manatees — Hyraxes, tapirs, and aardvark — Horses, asses, and zebras — Rhinoceroses — Cattle — Deer — Giraffes and okapi — Camels — Pigs and hippopotamuses — Baleen whales — Toothed whales — Rodents — Rabbits and elephant shrews — Birds: Ratites and tinamous — Gamebirds — Waterfowl — Albatrosses and grebes — Herons and flamingos — Pelicans — Birds of prey — Penguins — Cranes — Waders and shorebirds — Pigeons and sandgrouse — Cuckoos and turacos — Parrots — Nightjars and owls — Hummingbirds and swifts — Kingfishers — Woodpeckers — Perching birds — Reptiles: Crocodilians and tuatara — Turtles and tortoises — Lizards: Iguanas — Geckos and chameleons — Skinks — Monitors — Anoles and agamids — Snakes: Colubrid snakes — Pythons and boas — Adders and vipers — Cobras — Amphibians: Salamanders and caecilians — Frogs and toads — Fish: Jawless fish — Cartilaginous fish: Sharks — Rays — Bony fish: Primitive fish — Eels — Sardines — Catfish — Salmon — Cod and anglerfish — Spiny-rayed fish — Invertebrates: Sponges and squirts — Worms — Corals and jellyfish — Mollusks — Anthropods: Arachnids — Crabs and crayfish — Insects: Bugs — Beetles — Butterflies and moths — Bees, wasps, and ants — Flies — Sea stars — Glossary — Animal sizes — Index — Credits The Encyclopedia includes an introductory overview of animal evolution, biology, behavior, classification, habitats, and current conservation issues. An extensive encyclopedic survey of the animals follows, with special attention given to endangered and vulnerable species.
All information is completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific and conservation data. Elegant graphics put a broad selection of information at readers‘ fingertips, including classification information, scientific and common names, distribution maps for all animal groups, conservation panels that focus on threatened species, accurate and detailed anatomical drawings, and illustrations of multiple species. Each section is color coded for easy identification of animal groups.
Feature pages explore topics of particular interest and provide insights into animal behavior. With its expansive scope, richly detailed information, and inviting design, this will be the ideal reference for a broad range of uses.
