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University of California Press

The Encyclopedia of Animals

A Complete Visual Guide

by George McKay (Editor), Harry W. Greene (Foreword by), Stuart Lawrence (Other)
Price: $39.95
Publication Date: Nov 2004
Edition: 1st Edition
Title Details:
Rights: Include North America
Pages: 608
ISBN: 9780520244061
Trim Size: 9.25 x 10.5
Illustrations: 475 color photographs, 1,700 color illustrations, 950 maps, 125 tables

About the Book

The Encyclopedia of Animals is a lavishly illustrated, authoritative, and comprehensive exploration of the rich and intriguing world of animals. Written by an international team of specialists, spectacularly adorned with a gallery of more than 2,000 color illustrations, and supplemented with distribution maps, detailed and beautifully rendered diagrams, and some of the world's finest wildlife photographs, this volume will become the standard by which all others are measured. Each page is expertly laid out to enhance either browsing or in-depth study. Readers will find detailed coverage of all sorts of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates.

The Encyclopedia includes an introductory overview of animal evolution, biology, behavior, classification, habitats, and current conservation issues. An extensive encyclopedic survey of the animals follows, with special attention given to endangered and vulnerable species. All information is completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific and conservation data.

Elegant graphics put a broad selection of information at readers' fingertips, including classification information, scientific and common names, distribution maps for all animal groups, conservation panels that focus on threatened species, accurate and detailed anatomical drawings, and illustrations of multiple species. Each section is color coded for easy identification of animal groups. Feature pages explore topics of particular interest and provide insights into animal behavior. With its expansive scope, richly detailed information, and inviting design, this will be the ideal reference for a broad range of uses.

* Completely up-to-date, with the most recent scientific information and conservation data

* A gallery of more than 2,000 illustrations

* Authoritative text contributed by a team of international specialists

* Lavish color photographs from leading wildlife photographers

* Distribution maps for all animal groups

* Detailed explanatory scientific diagrams

* Feature pages exploring topics of particular interest and providing insights into animal behavior

About the Author

George McKay (mammals) is an independent consultant in conservation biology who lives in Sydney, Australia. He has contributed to Fauna of Australia and Zoological Catalogue of Australia. He is the editor of Encyclopedia of Biodiversity and Conservation. Fred Cooke (birds) was Chair of Wildlife Ecology at Simon Fraser University. He is President-Elect of the American Ornithologists Union and lives in Norfolk, England, where he is associated with the British Trust for Ornithology. Stephen Hutchinson (fish) is a Senior Fellow at the Southampton Oceanography Centre. Richard Vogt (reptiles and amphibians) is Curator of Herpetology and Professor at the National Institute for Amazon Research in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Hugh Dingle (invertebrates) is Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Davis, where he was also Director of the Center for Animal Behavior.

Table of Contents

How to use this book

THE ANIMAL WORLD
Animal life
Animals through the ages
Classifying animals
Biology and behavior
Habitats and adaptation
Animals in danger

MAMMALS
Introducing mammals
Monotremes
Marsupials
Anteaters
Insectivores
Tree shrews
Flying lemurs
Bats
Primates
Carnivores
Whales and dolphins
Sea cows
Elephants
Hoofed mammals
Hyraxes
Aardvark
Pangolins
Rodents
Lagomorphs
Elephant shrews

BIRDS
Introducing birds
Ratites and tinamous
Penguins
Divers and grebes
Albatrosses and petrels
Pelicans
Herons
Waterfowl
Birds of prey
Gamebirds
Cranes
Waders
Pigeons
Parrots and cockatoos
Cuckoos and turacos
Owls
Nightjars and frogmouths
Hummingbirds and swifts
Mousebirds and trogons
Kingfishers
Woodpeckers and toucans
Passerines

REPTILES
Introducing reptiles
Tortoises and turtles
Crocodilians
Lizards
Snakes

AMPHIBIANS
Introducing amphibians
Salamanders and newts
Caecilians
Frogs and toads

FISHES
Introducing fishes
Jawless fishes
Sharks and rays
Bony fishes
Fleshy-finned fishes
Lungfishes
Bonytongues
Eels and tarpons
Sardines
Catfishes
Salmon
Dragonfishes
Lanternfishes
Cod and anglerfishes
Spiny-rayed fishes

INVERTEBRATES
Introducing invertebrates
Sponges
Cnidarians
Jellies
Worms
Spiders
Centipedes and millipedes
Crustaceans
Mollusks
Echinoderms
Insects

Glossary
Index
Contributors
Acknowledgments

Reviews

“This book would be an ideal introduction to zoology for school and public libraries.”
Living The Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)
“An easy and informative read, but what will attract the kids are fascinating color photos and illustrations. Education meets fun.”
Sacramento Bee
“Keep the kids busy with a massive book . . . The drawing and accurate photographs with the information is a book to hold the attention and to keep for years of reference.”
Connie Martinson Talks Books
“The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide . . . provides an extensive look at the animal world by category . . . with color illustrations, fact boxes, and drawings. There is much information collected here for instant access.”
Richmond Times-Dispatch
“A grand introduction to the splendour and diversity of nature. The result will delight any interested 11-year-old, but will also inform any parent (or uncle) who sneaks a peek.”
New Scientist
“A stunning full-color... book. . . . It’s filled with up-to-date facts, figures and more information than you thought possible about animals.”
San Diego Union-Tribune
“An amazing scientific reference and ‘user friendly’ resource for zoology students and non-specialist general readers. . . . An absolute ‘must-have’ for private or library zoology reference shelves.”
Bookwatch
“An authoritative, illustrated survey of the animal kingdom.”
Alaska Airlines Magazine
“Anyone who leafs through the pages will delight in the marvelous diversity of our living world.”
American Scientist
“Gorgeous”
Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)
“Kids of all ages will love exploring this 608-page book, with its breathtaking full-color photos and illustrations of creatures big and small. Filled with fascinating facts, older kids will find this a handy reference for school projects or just for learning cool things about animal behavior.”
Hudson Valley Parent
“Lush photos and fascinating facts. . . . Gorgeous.”
Book Page
“The Encyclopedia of Animals, packed with photographs and color illustrations, begins with a handy user’s guide, then plunges right into the wonderful world of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and invertebrates, in that order. Each family comes with a ‘fact file,’ a series of compact profiles of the specific individuals illustrated.”
New York Times
“The photographs and illustrations in it are so flat-out beautiful, and the layout so cleanly informative, that I want the book to fall into the hands of someone young who will be fired with enthusiasm for preserving the rich variety of life.”
“This big and beautiful book is both an authoritative scientific guide as well as a work of art. . . . With sensitive drawings, habitat maps, conservation notes, statistics and stunning photography, this encyclopedia manages to comprehensively catalogue the menagerie of species. . . . A great resource for scientists, children, artists and general animal lovers alike.”
Bellingham Weekly
“Wonderful book.”
Contra Costa Times