AnimalUnrivaled in its breadth and visual impact, this unique guide sets out to illustrate, describe, and explain the incredible range of creatures that make up the animal kingdom. Exceptional Coverage. This authoritative volume starts with a clear introduction to the animal world, examining the reasons for the apparently infinite variety of animal forms and major evolutionary developments. Animal anatomy, life cycles and the principles of classification are also explored. This is followed by a superbly illustrated survey of world habitats, showing how they have adapted to each environment, and the threats that face both wildlife and plants today. The main part of the book, an up-to-date and comprehensive animal catalog, looks in detail at each major group and provides fascinating profiles of over 2,000 individual species. Visually Breathtaking. Spectacular photographic portraits bring a vast array of animals vividly to life, with special features on well-known and important animals such as the Galapagos tortoise. Each species profile is supported by maps and symbols showing distribution and habitat, as well as key information on size, population, and conservation status, forming an invaluable reference database. Outstanding Reference. Clear, comprehensive, and thought provoking, the Smithsonian Animal is essential reading for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages and levels of experience. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - BarbaraSilverman - LibraryThingExcellent reference book regarding the world's wildlife. Short notes on the various species with longer notes regarding habitats, and an overall view of the animal species. Read full review
Remarkably Well-Done
User Review - bbrian2 - BordersA beautiful book from start to finish. Intuitive, non-cluttered layout, yet somehow they fit in most all information you would want into the text boxes. These photographs are top notch, descriptions ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
adult Africa amphibians animals aquatic areas arthropods Asia Australia bill birds body breeding season brown burrow camouflage carapace claws color crustaceans dark dorsal dorsal fin eggs Europe eyes feed Females lay fins fish forages forest freshwater frog fruits gecko grassland gray ground habitats head hunting insects invertebrates jaws larvae legs Length live lizards mainly male mammals marsupials mate Migration mollusks mouth nest North numbers Oviparous pairs pectoral fins plankton plants Plumage Sexes alike predators prey range relatively rodents salamander shark skin skink slender snake snout Social unit Group Social unit Individual South America species spiders Status Common Status Locally common Status Lower risk Status Vulnerable stripes surface swim tail teeth termites trees tropical underside unit Group Status unit Individual Status usually Viviparous Weight whales wings winter worldwide yellow young
Bibliographic information
| Title | Animal Definite Visual guide to the World's Wildlife Smithsonian Institution |
| Editors | David Burnie, Don E. Wilson |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | DK, 2001 |
| ISBN | 0789477645, 9780789477644 |
| Length | 624 pages |
| Subjects | › › Nature / Animals / General Nature / Animals / Wildlife |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |