The popular tower defence game Plants vs. Zombies is widely known in the world for its funny and interesting characters. Meanwhile, a series of science comics of the same name even uses these characters with different personalities in the game to create new stories using the elements of humour and childhood interest to bring children to a novel1 and inspiring world as well as to impart science knowledge to them imperceptibly2 . Children, the volume of Rare Animals and Plants that you are holding now greatly fulfils your curiosity and thirst for knowledge about the nature. Through lively and interesting stories such as “which animal can walk on air?”, “what lizard can shoot blood from its eyes?” and “which plant has ‘umbrellas’ on its branches?”, you will develop a strong interest in all the knowledge and anecdotes in the nature. This helps you to better understand and get closer to nature. Some of the stories in this book reflect the children’s love for animals and plants, for example Fire Gourd is excited to meet the giant panda and specially prepares a gift for their first meeting. Some express the children’s yearning for the nature, for example Lightning Reed and Torchwood meet the “the king of the snow mountain” on a high mountain. On the other hand, some stories are worrying. The deforestation carried out by the villagers directly caused a significant decrease in the number of Euryodendron excelsum. Although Dendrobium candidum is precious and rare, its source has been depleted due to long-term extraction. Citron and Bonk Choy are trying hard to find the “functionally extinct” white-flag dolphin in the Yangtze River. The Earth, home of human beings and wildlife, is facing unprecedented3 disasters. It is imperative4 that we must protect the animals, plants and their habitats! Understanding, loving and protecting the nature that we live in should start from young. Spreading this concept through comics is one of the most effective methods. It is believed that the words and deeds of various characters in the stories will surely leave a deep imprint in the children’s hearts. And the seeds sown in their childhood will produce a positive impact on their lives. Therefore, for the sake of children’s future, I sincerely hope that this series of science comics will continue to prosper and new products will be published constantly! Li Xiangtao Researcher Beijing Museum of Natural History, China An Expert’s Recommendations
What animal has plants growing on it? 32 Which monkey has white hair on its head? 36 What animal is called the “sun worshipper”? 40 Why does a pygmy hippopotamus secrete “blood sweat”? 44 Do mammals lay eggs too? 48 Why is the white-flag dolphin called “the giant panda in the water”? 52 Why are pink dolphins so rare? 56 Contents How much bamboo does a giant panda eat per day? 8 What animal is known as “the king of the snow mountain”? 12 What animal is called “tiger” but is not a tiger? 16 Which animal can “walk on air”? 20 Why do white-lipped deer live at high altitudes? 24 What lizard can shoot blood from its eyes? 28
Does huia have a pair of lop ears? 92 Why is the Baishanzu fir known as “the living fossil plant”? 96 What plant is “the queen of the tea family”? 100 What tree is known as “the elephant of the trees”? 104 What tree goes straight into the sky? 108 What tree is called “the dragon and phoenix of the plants”? 110 Do sea lions also “roar”? 60 Is there a sea dragon that looks like a leaf? 64 Which fish can “shoot” water? 68 Who is the high jump champion among the fish? 72 Which big shark swims slowly? 76 Why do blue-ringed octopuses glow? 80 Which parrot cannot fly? 84 Why does a peregrine falcon have three eyelids? 88 Contents
What tree has exploding fruit? 114 Why is there so few Euryodendron excelsum? 118 Why is the incense tree called “the head of all fragrances”? 122 Do tea eggs grow on trees? 126 Which plant has “umbrellas” on its branches? 130 Is Malus komarovii the same as Malus spectabilis that bears hawthorns? 134 Is Archangiopteris a flowering plant? 138 Which plant lived in the same era as the dinosaurs? 142 Why should we protect tree peonies? 146 What plant is priceless? 148 What flower looks like a jumping frog? 152 Rare Creatures Encyclopaedia 156 Glossary 166 Contents
Bonk Choy Tile Turnip Homing Thistle Tall-nut Radish Sunflower Magnifying Grass Citron Wall-nut Peashooter The main characters
Suicide Bomber Zombie Kongfu Zombie Imp Pirate Zombie Pirate Captain Zombie Zombie Bull Rider Prospector Zombie Pirate Zombie Qigong Zombie Imp Monk
Wow, they’re so cute! Pictures of giant pandas. I’m going to the Giant Panda House to be a trainee keeper tomorrow. What are you looking at? Why don’t you read some BOOKS about raising them instead? What’s the point of just looking at their pictures? That’s because they’re adorable. I can’t stop looking at them! I’ve bought all the books that you mentioned! I’ll start reading them tomorrow! How much bamboo does a giant panda eat per day? How to Raise Giant Pandas What to Do When Giant Pandas are Sick? Our Good Friend the Giant Panda 8
Hey, whose birthday is it? No one. Then you bought the cake for... The giant pandas! Giant pandas, here I am! This is my present for you! Come and eat quickly! Come and eat! The cake is delicious! Hey! What are you doing? 9
Don’t you know that giant pandas eat bamboo and bamboo shoots? An adult giant panda weighing 100 kilograms eats 10- 18 kilograms of bamboo leaves and stalks every day. They evolved from carnivores to bambooeating animals in order to adapt to the environmental and climatic changes. But their teeth and digestive tracts remain intact. If you simply feed them with anything, they’ll have stomachache! Oh, I see. Don’t simply feed the giant pandas! A dietitian5 will prepare food specially for them every day! Wow, the giant pandas have such a good treatment! Hello, I’m at the Giant Panda House. Quickly come over here. Take a bath before you come. You called me to come so urgently. Is there an emergency? Giant Panda House Swish 10
I heard that giant pandas like to eat BAMBOO SHOOTS. Please sacrifice yourself and let them bite you! Hey, why is your face swollen? I was beaten by my friend. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are mammals that eat mainly bamboo. They eat different kinds of bamboo, or different parts of the same kind of bamboo in different seasons: shoots in spring and summer, leaves in autumn and stalks in winter. Since they get very limited nutrition from the bamboo and cannot store enough energy, it is difficult for them to carry out activities that consume a lot of energy. Thus, they usually stay in a small area. The giant pandas are unique species in China. They are known as the “national treasures” and “living fossils”. They mainly live in the mountainous areas of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. Quick Facts Giant Panda House 11
What animal is known as “the king of the snow mountain”? My life is so miserable! As the school doctor, I have to collect medicine myself! Don’t complain. At least you’re a doctor. But I’m here to accompany you at the headmaster’s order. Actually I’m mentally unstable, so I PESTERED him to send you to accompany me. 12
Plants vs. Zombies: How Much Bamboo Does A Giant Panda Eat Per Day? Story & Comic by ｜ Xiao Jiangnan Layout by ｜ Chan Yin Yee, Tham Meow Yoke Translated by ｜ Teo Huey Boon Edited by ｜ Anthony Chan Yew Choong Published by ｜ G.Apple Studio Sdn. Bhd. 200001014479 (517085-P) Endah Parade Shopping Mall Lot 3-055, 3rd Floor, 1, Jalan 1/149E, Taman Sri Endah, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Distributed by ｜ United Publishing House (M) Sdn. Bhd. 197301001175 (14620-K) (A wholly-owned subsidiary of Sasbadi Holdings Berhad) Endah Parade Shopping Mall Lot 3-055, 3rd Floor, 1, Jalan 1/149E, Taman Sri Endah, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-9054 7272 Fax: 03-9054 7273 Email: [email protected] Website: www.uph.com.my Printed by ｜ Percetakan Advanco Sdn. Bhd. 197901000915 (45169-K) No 19, 21, 23, Jalan Segambut Selatan, 51200 Kuala Lumpur. If there are problems of missing or torn pages, kindly return to the distributor for replacement. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED First Printed Jan 2021 Plants vs Zombies·Science Comic Books Rare Animals and Plants Text Copyright © China Children’s Press and Publication Group First published in China by China Children’s Press and Publication Group This edition is published under licence by China Children’s Press and Publication Group, for sales in Malaysia and Singapore only and may not be bought for export thereafter. © 2021 Electronic Arts Inc. Plants vs. Zombies is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc. Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Xiao, Jiangnan PLANTS vs. ZOMBIES : Questions & Answers : Science Comic : How Much Bamboo Does A Giant Panda Eat Per Day? / Story & Comic by: Xiao Jiangnan ; Translated by: Teo Huey Boon ; Edited by: Anthony Chan Yew Choong. ISBN 978-967-2296-52-2 1. Comic books, strips, etc.--China--Translations into English. 2. Science--Comic books, strips, etc. 3. Plants--Comic books, strips, etc. 4. Zombies--Comic books, strips, etc. I. Teo, Huey Boon. II. Chan, Anthony Yew Choong. III. Title. 741.5