THIS BOOK 1S A CELEBRATION of the richness of the animal kingdom, produced at a critical moment in its history. Compiled by an international team of over 70 zoologists, biologists, and naturalists, it forms a complete survey of the animal world, from familiar species that are encountered almost every day, to extreme rarities that only a few scientists have ever seen and fewer still have had the chance to study. It includes not only vertebrates, but also a broad selection of invertebrate life - creatures that form the immense but often overlooked majority of animal species on earth.

This authoritative volume starts with a clear introduction to the animal world, examining the reasons for the apparently infinite variety of animal forms and the major evolutionary developments. Animal anatdmy, life cycles and the principles of classification are also explored. This is followed by a superbly illustrated survey of world habitats, showing how animals have dapted 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.

PREFACE

ABOUT THIS BOOK

INTRODUCTION

WHAT ARE ANIMALS?

EVOLUTION

CLASSIFICATION

ANIMAL GROUPS

ANATOMY

BEHAVIOR

LIFE CYCLES

ANIMALS IN DANGER

CONSERVATION

HAB ITATS

WORLD HABITATS

GRASSLAND

DESERT

TROPICAL FOREST

TEMPERATE FOREST

CONIFEROUS FOREST

MOUNTAINS

POLAR REGIONS

FRESHWATER

OCEANS

COASTS AND CORAL REEFS

URBAN AREAS

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

MAMMALS

MAMMALS

EGG-LAYI NG MAMMALS

MARSUPIALS

INSECTIVORES

BATS

FLYING LEMURS

ELEPHANT-SHREWS

TREE SHREWS

PRIMATES

 PROSIMIANS

 MONKEYS

 APES

ANTEATERS AND RELATIVES

PANGOLINS

RABBITS, HARES, AND PIKAS

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