Animal Factfile is an easy-to-use, thematically arranged animal encyclopedia that is comprehensive, stylish and fun. Readers will be drawn by its informative, clear narrative, illuminating photographs and stunning illustrations. Its compact sizemakes this a very portable encyclopedia, ideal for use at home or at school.

Animals are all around us, so it is easy to think that we know exactly what animals are. But the animal kingdom is amazingly varied. Some animals have fur or feathers, others have shells or scales, while maW have no hard body parts at all. Animals often have eyes, ears and legs, hut there are many creatures that survive perfectly well without them. Many small animals spend most of their lives fastened in one place, and some microscopic ones can even survive being dried out or frozen solid.

Despite their differences, all animals share two key features. Firstly, unlike the simplest living things which are made of only a single cell, animals’ bodies are made of lots of ceils. These cells work together, like a team, carrying out the different tasks necessary to stay alive. Secondly, unlike plants, animals need to eat. Food is their fuel, and many cannot survive for longif it starts to run out.

INTRODUCTION

CLASSIFICATION

SIMPLE ANIMALS

CNIDARIANS

FLATWORMS AND

ROUNDWORMS

SEGMENTED WORMS

MOLLUSCS

CHITONS AND TUSK SHELLS

GASTROPODS

BIVALVES

CEPHALOPODS

ARACHNIDS

SPIDERS

SCORPIONS, TICKS AND MITES

SEA SPIDERS AND HORSESHOE CRABS

CRUSTACEANS

CRABS

CENTIPEDES AND

MILLIPEDES

INSECTS

WINGLESS INSECTS

LICE,THRIPS AND WEBSPINNERS

DRAGONFLIES, MAYFLIES AND STONEFLIES 

GRASSHOPPERS, KATYDIDS AND CRICKETS 

STICK INSECTS, MANTISES AND COCKROACHES

TERMITES AND EARWIGS

TRUE BUGS

LACEWINGS, CADDISFLIES AND FLEAS 

BEETLES

FLIES

BUTTERFLIES

MOTHS

ANTS, BEES AND WASPS

ECHINODERMS

CHORDATES

SIMPLE CHORDATES

JAWLESS FISH

CARTILAGINOUS FISH

SHARKS

SKATES, RAYS AND RABB1TF1SH

BONY FISH

LUNGFISH, BICHIRS AND BONYTONGUES 

HERRING AND THEIR RELATIVES

SALMON AND THEIR RELATIVES

BRISTLEMOUTHS AND HATCHETFISH

EELS

CARP AND TItETR RELATIVES

CHARACINS AND THEIR RELATIVES

CATFISH AND ELECTRIC EELS

TOADF1SH AND ANGLERFISH

CODFISH AND THEIR RELATIVES

LIONFISH, DORIES AND OARFISH

FLYINGFISH, GRUNIONS AND SEAHORSES 

PERCH AND THEIR RELATIVES

TRIGGERFISH

FLATFISH

AMPHIBIANS

FROGS AND TOADS

SALAMANDERS AND CAECILIANS

REPTILES

CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS

LIZARDS AND TUATARAS

SNAKES

TURTLES AND TORTOISES

BIRDS

FLIGHTLESS BIRDS

DIVERS, GREBES AND PETRELS

PELICANS AND THEIR RELATIVES

HERONS AND THEIR RELATIVES

SWANS, GEESE AND DUCKS

BIRDS OF PREY

GAMEB1RDS

CRANES AND THEIR RELATIVES

SHOREBIRDS

SKUAS,GULLS AND TERNS

AUKS

PIGEONS AND DOVES

PARROTS

OWLS

NIGHTJARS AND FROGMOUTHS

CUCKOOS AND THEIR RELATIVES

SWIFTS AND HUMMINGBIRDS

TROGONS AND MOUSEB1RDS

KINGFISHERS AND THEIR RELATIVES

WOODPECKERS AND TOUCANS

PERCHING BIRDS

MAMMALS

EGG-LAYING MAMMALS

MARSUPIALS

ANTEATERS,ARMADILLOS,SLOTHS,

  PANGOLINS AND AARDVARKS

MOLES,HEDGEHOGS AND SHREWS

FLYING LEMURS AND TREE SHREWS

BATS

PRIMATES

RABBITS, HARES AND HKAS

RODENTS

WHALES, DOLPHINS AND PORPOISES

DOGS AND FOXES

BEARS

PANDAS AND RACCOONS

MUSTELIDS

GENETS, CIVETS AND MONGOOSES

HYENAS AND AARDWOLVES

CATS

SEALS, SEALIONS AND MANATEES

ELEPHANTS

HYRAXES

HORSES, RHINOCEROSES AND TAPIRS

PIGS, PECCARIES AND HIPPOPOTAMUSES 

CAMELS AND THEIR RELATIVES

DEER

GIRAFFES AND OKAPIS

PRONGHORNS

ANTELOPES, CATTLE AND THEIR RELATIVES

GLOSSARY

INDEX