Author(s): Tom Jackson

Nature

For millions of years wild animals have roamed the globe, inhabiting all corners of the land and sea, from icy tundras and tropical rainforests to arid deserts and deep blue oceans. Animals come in an endless variety of shapes, sizes and species, each forming an integral part of our planet's ecosystem. Beginning with a biological and evolutionary overview of the animal kingdom, this book examines a huge range of animal characteristics, including anatomy, survival instincts and reproduction, and takes a closer look at what it means to be an amphibian, reptile or mammal. The earth's biomes, or habitats, are all described, such as freshwater lakes and rivers, jungles, grasslands, polar regions and mountains, showing how animals have adapted to their surrounding conditions. The book also explores the impact that humans have had on the natural world, with an investigation into endangered species and wildlife conservation, looking at animals that are in critical danger of being wiped out and what conservationists are doing to prevent this from happening. The second part of the book is divided into accessible chapters describing animals from North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. Over 1000 illustrations, 800 distribution maps and information boxes detailing habitat, diet, size, life span and conservation status accompany the entries. The book closes with a detailed glossary of technical terms. The astonishing biodiversity of the Earth's animals is captured in this beautiful natural history encyclopedia. Packed full of fascinating facts and detailed illustrations and photographs, and featuring over 840 animals from the aardvark and adder to the zebra and zorilla, it is a fantastic family reference guide for everyone who wants to learn more about the extraordinary animals that inhabit our world.