Earth has changed dramatically in the last 500 years,and human beings bear prime responsibility for the changes.The progressive spread of human civilization has brought with it far-reaching interfcrence in the natural world: deserts have been irrigated,wetlands drained,savannas and forests cleared,land scalcd with concrete and asphalt,rivers straightened,and soil.

It is estimated that,over the past 500 years,approximately 1,500 animal species have disappeared from Earth,from the tiny dyeing poison frog from Central America to the huge aurochs that roamed European forests until the seventeenth century.Species extinction continues today:the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists almost 30,000 immediately

or potentially endangered animals in its latest Red List.and this number increases every year.With the aid of over 500 spectacular photographs,informative charts,and detailed maps.this book portrays numerous endangered animal species from all over the world,among them the basking shark,the poison-dart frog,the Indian gharial,the southern royal albatross,and the gorilla.

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE

THE ADAPTABILITY OF LIVING ORGANISMS

FACTORS IN THE ERADICATION OF ANIMALS

FISHES

BONY FISHES

CARTILAGINOUS FISHES

AMPHIBIANS

A LIFE IN WATER AND ON LAND

REPTILES

CROCODILES

TURTLES AND TORTOISES

SCALED REPTILES

BIRDS

TURKEYS,GROUSE,PHEASANTS,AND

PARTRIDGES

DUCKS,GEESE,AND SWANS

BUSTARDS AND CRANES

FLAMINGOS

STORKS

SHOEBILLS AND NEW WORLD VULTURES

PELICANS AND CORMORANTS

GANNETS AND BOOBIES

ALBATROSSES

PENGUINS

PARROTS LORIES,AND COCKATOOS

HAWKS,EAGLES,AN D RELATIVES

OWLS

HORNBIL LS

KING FISHE RS AND BE E-EATERS

HOOPOES

WOODPECKE RS

CUCKOOS

PASSERINES

KIWIS AN D CASSOWARIES

MAMMALS

PLATYPUSES AN D ECHIDNAS

KOA LAS WOM BATS,D KA N GA ROOS

TENRECS

FRUIT BATS AND TRUE: BATS

LEM UR

OLD WORLD MONKEYS

GREAT APES

GIB BONS

MARMOSETS AND TAMARINS AND

OTHER NEW WORLD MONKEYS

ANTEATERS

SLOTHS

TRUE PIGS

CAMELS

HIPPO POTAM USES

GIRAFFES AND OKAPIS

DEER

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE

ANTELOPES,CATTLE,GAZELLES,GOATS

SHEEP,AND RELATIVES

HORSES

TAPIRS

RHINOCEROSES

DUGONGS AND MANATEES

ELEPHANTS

RIGHT WHALES,DOLPHINS,AND

OTHER WHALE FAMILIES

SO UIRRELS AND HUTIAS

BEAVERS

HAMSTERS

CHINCHILLAS

BADGERS,OTTERS,WEASELS,AND

RELATIVES

RED PANDA

BEARS

DOGS

SEALS AND WALRUSES

HYENAS

CATS

THREATENED ANIMAL SPECIES FROM

AROUND THE WORLD

GLOSSARY

BIBLIOGRAPHY

PICTURE CREDITS

INDEX