The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide

The animal kingdom encompasses a mind-boggling range of creatures, from immobile sea squirts and long-winged Andean condors to predatory cheetahs and shy, nectar-loving butterflies. This illustrated reference methodically documents all the subgroups in the six taxonomic categories, demonstrating the diversity of life comprehensively and beautifully in pages dominated by full-color photos and line drawings. An overview of the animal kingdom's essential characteristics includes sections on evolution, biology, habitats and endangered species. The largest portion of the book is devoted to mammals, with somewhat shorter chapters on birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes, and the briefest on invertebrates; these groupings are further divided into orders and families, and sidebars highlight the species that fall into these categories. Other marginal text boxes provide intriguing details on subjects like anatomy, parenting behavior and species interaction. The writing isn't overly technical, but it does assume readers possess an intermediate knowledge of biology, though the book contains a glossary of scientific terms for those who don't. A bird's-eye view of the varied creatures that walk the Earth, this is an excellent general reference for animal lovers of all stripes.