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ZEBRA SARGASSUM FRESHWATER FISH GLASS RIVER CHIPOKAE GOLDFISH SIAMESE
MORAY FISH CATFISH HATCHETFISH FIGHTING FISH
Around 14,000 fish species live
in fresh (non-salty) water in lakes,
streams, rivers, and ponds. Some
fish, known as euryhaline fish, can
adapt to live in salty or fresh water.

TRUMPETFISH ELEPHANT SPOTTED CLIMBING MEXICAN
NOSE FISH PERCH TETRA

POWDER BLUE KOI CARP LONGSNOUT GREEN SUNFISH
SURGEON FISH DISTICHODUS

SPOTTED TIGER STRIPED ANOSTOMUS
GARDEN EEL SHOVELNOSE CATFISH

GARFISH

WHITE SPOTTED CLOWN RED PIRANHA EUROPEAN EEL
PUFFER KNIFEFISH EUROPEAN PERCH
ARCTIC NILE TILAPIA FISH
ATLANTIC CLOWN LOACH CHAR
COD
PADDLEFISH

RED LIONFISH RAINBOW TROUT BURBOT

TYPES OF FISH JAWLESS FISH BONY FISH CARTILAGINOUS FISH CARING FATHERS
This is the oldest type of fish. These are the only fish with These are similar to bony fish, but
There are three main types They have no jaws or scales. have a skeleton made of cartilage. Fish don’t usually take
of fish: jawless, bony, and a skeleton made of bone. care of their young.
cartilaginous. Bony species However, for a few
make up the highest number species, including
(27,000), then cartilaginous (970), the seahorse, the
and finally the jawless species (100). male carries
the fertilized
DEFENCE SWIMMING IN GROUPS BURIED IN SAND HIDING IN ANEMONE BALLOONING UP eggs in a
A group of fish swimming in Flat fish can alter the colour and Clownfish hide in the stinging When threatened porcupinefish pouch until
Most fish do not have a school looks to a predator pattern of their skin so they can tentacles of sea anemones to inflate their bodies to make they hatch.
weapons (such as spines) like one big fish. hide by lying flat in the sand. avoid predators. sharp spines stand up.
on their bodies to defend Eggs kept
themselves, so they do safely in
clever things to make pouch
themselves look bigger
or disappear from view. MALE SEAHORSE

99

Sharks ANATOMY First Skin made Eyes adapted
dorsal fin up of rough, to see in
Sharks have prowled the oceans Sharks have a skeleton made of cartilage, not tooth-like scales dark water
for 400 million years, which means bone. Most species have eight fins, and many
they existed before the dinosaurs. rows of teeth. A strong tail provides them with
In all that time they have hardly movement and direction.
changed at all, perhaps because
they are so perfectly suited to their Second dorsal fin Skeleton made
environment. There are around of cartilage
500 different species of sharks.
Upper lobe Pelvic fin 5–7 gill slits
of tail

Lower lobe
of tail

SHARP TEETH

TYPES OF SHARKS ZEBRA SHARK WOBBEGONG
SHARK
Sharks vary in size enormously. The slow-moving
whale shark is about 8 m (26 ft) long, while the WHALE BROWNBANDED BAMBOOSHARK
dwarf lanternshark is smaller than a human hand. SHARK
Some eat large animals, such as seals, while others
feed on tiny plankton.

NURSE SHARK HORN SHARK

HAMMERHEAD PORTUGUESE SHARK
SHARK
DUSKY SHARK
BLUNTNOSE SIXGILL SHARK
FRILLED SHARK LEMON SHARK ANGEL
SHARK
TIGER SHARK
BLUE SHARK
SHORT FIN THRESHER SAND TIGER
MAKO SHARK SHARK STARRY SHARK
SMOOTHHOUND

SHARK

LEOPARD SHARK GOBLIN SHARK

100

SENSES Nasal LETHAL JAWS MISTAKEN IDENTITY
cavities
As well as having excellent To catch its prey, a great white shark lifts Although there are around 500 shark species,
its snout, drops its upper jaw, sticks out its only 25 have been known to attack humans.
eyesight, hearing, and sense lower jaw, and takes a large bite. Sharks’ This may be because they mistake people for
teeth are sharp, often serrated, so they can fish, seals, sea lions, or turtles.
of smell, sharks have an extra rip through flesh easily.

sense that humans do not have: Snout

electrical sensing. Special

pores in their skin pick up

electrical fields generated SNOUT
by other animals. Two nasal cavities give the

shark an acute sense of smell.

Highly sensitive
eyesight

Ampullae SEA SEA HUMAN
of Lorenzini TURTLE LION SURFER
(electroreceptors)

EYES ELECTRICAL SENSORS Many rows The lower jaw GOTASAHKFTAEERORKUSETAUOCSHFUTABHILTELEYIRTLPHERTEEYY
A shark’s eyes are about The snout contains cells that of teeth, pulls back to
ten times more sensitive to sharks use to “receive” electric which are bring the prey
light than human eyes. signals from nearby creatures. constantly into the mouth
replaced

RELATIVES

Rays, skates, and sawfish are flattened fish that are
related to sharks. They too have a skeleton made of
cartilage. These fish have existed on Earth for at least
150 million years.

PORT JACKSON MEGAMOUTH
SHARK SHARK

BLONDE RAY UNDULATE RAY BIG SKATE

THORNBACK RAY BARNDOOR SKATE

BLUESPOTTED
RIBBONTAIL
STINGRAY

SPOTTED EAGLE RAY

GIANT
MANTA RAY

GREAT WHITE COMMON STINGRAY
SHARK
SOUTHERN
PORBEAGLE SHARK STINGRAY

GREAT WHITE SHARKS SMALLTOOTH SAWFISH
CAN WEIGH MORE
THAN 2 TONNES SPOTTED RATFISH

101

Seashells HINGED SHELLS CHICKEN VENUS AUSTRALIAN
BROOCH CLAM
The shells that wash up on beaches are Many sea animals – such as clams, scallops,
and oysters – are bivalves. Their shells are
divided into two parts called valves that are
joined by a hinge. The animal opens the shell
to feed and closes it to take refuge.

the empty homes of soft-bodied sea

animals called molluscs. Shells come in

amazing shapes and colours. Some have GIANT RAZOR PACIFIC THORNY PEARL
two joined halves, others are in one SHELL OYSTER OYSTER

piece, often a coil or a spiral. No two, SNAIL SHELLS
even of the same type, are ever identical.
The largest group of seashells are those of the sea snails.
WHO NEEDS A SHELL? TSHPEATCNHIEE5RS0E,O0AF0R0MEKOMNLOOLUWRESNCS These are endlessly varied in size, shape, and pattern. There
are species that twist like corkscrews, while others coil or
Molluscs have easily damaged bodies and are too Snail’s
slow moving to hurry away from danger. A rigid large foot look like caps or shiny eggs. The animals that live in these
shell provides a safe place to retreat into or close emerges shells creep slowly about on a large fleshy foot.
up tightly when predators are around. Empty
shells make useful shelters for other animals. COMMON HUMPBACK EYED HONEY
EGG COWRIE COWRIE COWRIE
Two parts open
on a hinge COWRIE

LIMPET FLAME SCALLOP COMMON WHELK TROSCHEL’S SCARLET TEXTILE
Tucked beneath its shell, a MUREX CONE CONE
limpet clinging tightly to a rock It is hard for a predator to Like its land-based
is very difficult to dislodge. open a scallop shell once cousins, this sea snail
pulls itself into its shell
the hinged halves are
firmly shut. to escape danger.

HERMIT CRAB SHORE CRAB
This soft-bellied crab Crabs regularly shed their own shells. Until

makes its home in a new one hardens, a “borrowed” scallop
discarded sea snail shells. shell can provide protection.

INSIDE A SHELL Whorl Opening
of shell
The whorls or coils of a spiral seashell
form around a central inner pole, or
pillar. As the animal inside grows
bigger, further whorls are added.
The smallest and oldest whorls
are at the top of the shell.

Oldest
whorls

Central pole CROSS-SECTION OF
A SPIRAL SHELL
SIZE COMPARISON
LARGEST SHELL: SMALLEST SHELL: TRITON’S MAPLE ROBIN
The biggest molluscs on Earth GIANT CLAM SEA SNAIL TRUMPET LEAF REDBREAST
are the giant clams, which can 1.2 m (4 ft) TRITON
weigh as much as 227 kg 1 mm (0.04 in) SPOTTED TUN TRITON
(500 lb). The smallest shells
belong to some minute sea
snails, several of which would
fit on a thumbnail.

102

BLOOD-STAINED CRADLE PURPLISH CAMP PITAR PACIFIC FILE TUSK SHELLS
SANGUIN DONAX SEMELE VENUS SHELL
These seashells are not often found
on the beach. Most of them live buried
beneath the sand in deep water.

ICELAND SCALLOP QUEEN SCALLOP

ELEPHANT TUSK

COMMON SWAN TWISTED WING GIANT ROYAL CLOAK LION’S PAW EUROPEAN
MUSSEL MUSSEL OYSTER COCKLE SCALLOP SCALLOP TUSK SHELL

VENUS COMB BEAUTIFUL TUSK
MUREX

COMMON PURPLE
SEA SNAIL

EUROPEAN LISTER’S CINNABAR PACIFIC
CHINA LIMPET KEYHOLE
LIMPET LIMPET SUGAR LIMPET CHITONS

PRECIOUS The shells of chitons WEST INDIAN
CLEAR SUNDIAL WENTLETRAP are made of eight CHITON
movable, overlapping
EPISCOPAL BLOODSUCKER SUPERIOR DENNISON’S LITTLE BUTTERFLY PUNCTURED STARRY sections. They are MARBLED CHITON
MITRE MITRE MITRE MITRE FOX MITRE MOON sometimes called
MITRE MITRE coat-of-mail shells.
Chitons live under
rocks and stones
near the shore.

MATCHLESS RAPA SNAIL HOOPED NORTH’S CLATHRATE GLANS DOG PIMPLED LIGHTNING CHAMBERED SHELLS
CONE WHELK LONG DOG WHELK WHELK DOG WHELK WHELK
WHELK A few shells are divided inside into
chambers. In the squid-like Nautilus,
some chambers are gas-filled, which
allows the shell to float. The chambered
shell of the Spirula squid is inside the
animal, not outside. The similar-looking
Paper-nautilus “shell” is the empty egg
case of an animal called an argonaut.

PINK PACIFIC DOG
CONCH CROWN CONCH CONCH

BROAD PACIFIC POWIS’S NAUTILUS
CONCH TIBIA

COMMON SPIRULA

LESSER ANGULAR RED ABALONE DONKEY’S EAR ABALONE PAPER-NAUTILUS
GIRDLED TRITON
TRITON

103

FROGS AND TOADS

There are around 5,860 species of frogs and
toads in total. They live on every continent
except Antarctica.

BOULENGER’S ORIENTAL
ASIAN TREE TOAD FIRE-BELLIED TOAD

RED-EYED MEXICAN ORNATE HORNED TOAD
TREE FROG BURROWING TOAD

EUROPEAN AMAZON SPLENDID STRAWBERRY GREEN AND BLACK LEHMANN’S DYEING POISON YELLOW STRIPED
TREE FROG MILK FROG LEAF FROG POISON-DART FROG POISON-DART FROG POISON-DART FROG FROG POISON FROG

DUCK-BILLED GREY FOAM-NEST WHITE-LIPPED WHITE’S SPRING PEEPER MALAGASY PAINTED GOLDEN POISON YELLOW-HEADED
TREE FROG TREE FROG TREE FROG TREE FROG MANTELLA FROG POISON-DART FROG

SALAMANDERS OITA RED-BACKED FIRE A XOLOTL
AND NEWTS SALAMANDER SALAMANDER SALAMANDER (MEXICAN SALAMANDER)

Salamanders look like
lizards, with long bodies
and tails. However, unlike
lizards, salamanders have
soft, moist skin.

Amphibians LIFECYCLE OF A FROG

Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates that start life in Frogs lay hundreds of eggs because many of them get eaten by
the water, where they breathe using gills. As adults they predators. Those that survive undertake remarkable changes,
develop lungs, which allow them to live on the land too. becoming tadpoles then frogs in a cycle that lasts 11 weeks.
Frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders are all amphibians.
2 TADPOLES
After about

1 FROGSPAWN 21 days, the eggs
Most frogs lay
develop into

their eggs in water. tadpoles, which

The eggs clump live in water.

together as

frogspawn.

3 TADPOLE
WITH LEGS

Around two

weeks later, the

tadpoles begin to

FEATURES grow backlegs,

Most amphibians share then forelegs.
some key features. They
start life as eggs and then 5 FROG
aquatic larvae, and need to The froglets are
live close to water as adults.
fully developed, They FROGLET
104 The tail is
leave the water to finish 4

growing into adult frogs. absorbed and

COLD-BLOODED HAVE MOIST SKIN MANY HATCH LAY EGGS TO the head becomes
AS TADPOLES REPRODUCE
more frog-like.

EUROPEAN RAUCOUS TOAD NATTERJACK TOAD GREEN CLIMBING
GREEN TOAD TOAD

AFRICAN SQUARE- MAJORCAN EUROPEAN COMMON TOAD CHILEAN RED-SPOTTED TOAD AMERICAN TOAD
MARKED TOAD MIDWIFE TOAD

MARSH FROG BANDED BULLFROG WOOD FROG TUNGARA FROG

EDIBLE FROG GOLIATH
FROG
PARADOXICAL FROG PICKEREL FROG CANE TOAD

CROCODILE SMOOTH NEWT MARBLE NEWT CAECILIANS ASIAN
NEWT CAECILIAN
These limbless,
worm-like amphibians
are rarely seen. They
live in soil, burrows,
or underwater and use
their sharp, curved
teeth to catch worms.

HUNTING Tongue used to PARENTAL CARE Eggs MOST TOXIC
catch prey and
A hunting frog usually deliver it to the Female midwife toads lay The world’s most poisonous
sits still until it sees frog’s mouth strings of eggs and pass frogs live in foliage and on the
a bug or worm them to the male during ground, in the hot, damp forests
within range. Then Large webbed mating. The male of Central and South America.
it jumps or leans feet provide carries the eggs
forward, catching power on his back until 1 GOLDEN POISON-DART FROG
its prey on its long, they are ready
sticky tongue. to hatch. One of the most toxic animals on Earth, this
frog only carries about 1 mg of poison, but
HOW FROGS 1 PULL 2 KICK 3 STEER that is enough to kill 10 humans. It lives in
SWIM The frog pulls its back It pushes its forelimbs As the legs finish the kick, Colombia and stores poison in its skin.

Most frogs propel 2 BLACK-LEGGED DART FROG
themselves through water
by pushing back against it A cousin of the golden poison-dart frog,
with their webbed back feet. this frog is also found in Colombia. Its
The smaller forelimbs help poison is used on the tips of hunting darts.
it to change direction.
3 PHANTASMAL POISON FROG

This bright red and white frog lives in
Equador. It is tiny – only 1–4 cm (0.4–1.6 in) –
but deadly. Despite its size, it carries enough
toxin to kill a human.

legs towards its body by down to its sides as it begins the forelimbs reach forwards to

contracting its thigh muscles. to kick backwards. steer through the water.

105

TURTLES

Most turtles spend nearly all their lives in water.
For a few species, this is the sea, but there are
also freshwater turtles, some of which are called
terrapins. With streamlined shells and webbed
feet or flippers, turtles are well made for
swimming and diving.

Webbed feet with
long toenails

BIG-HEADED TURTLE LOGGERHEAD BLANDING TURTLE
SEA TURTLE
EUROPEAN
Wing-like POND TURTLE
flippers
HORSEFIELD
COMMON SPOTTED MISSISSIPPI NORTHERN TORTOISE
SNAPPING TURTLE TURTLE MAP TURTLE RED-BELLIED TURTLE
PANCAKE
TORTOISES TORTOISE

These slow-moving land-dwellers have strong shells,
often with a high dome that is difficult for predators
to bite. They have short, bent legs and strong, stumpy feet.

LAGRAGGULERAPLSOPTOTAWONGING2OU7SPTA0HNTTKEOODGRW1WT(.5O2OE9RIMI5GSLLEDH(4BS, ,)CFTATH)NE RED-FOOTED SPUR-THIGHED
TORTOISE TORTOISE

DESERT TORTOISE

ELONGATED SERRATED HINGE-
TORTOISE BACK TORTOISE

GALAPAGOS TORTOISE LEOPARD TORTOISE

Turtles and INSIDE THE SHELL
tortoises
Turtles and tortoises have an unusual skeleton. Their ribs,
There were turtles and tortoises on Earth even before the spine, and some other bones form part of the shell. In nearly
dinosaurs. They all belong to the same scientific group. all species, the shell has a bony inner layer covered by thin
The main difference between them is that turtles live in plates of keratin, the same material as human fingernails.
water and tortoises on land. All have shells and lay eggs.
Shoulder blade Vertebra
106 Skull Neck Pelvis

TORTOISE SKELETON

COMMON SNAKE YELLOW SLIDER WEST AFRICAN RED-EARED
NECKED TURTLE BLACK TURTLE SLIDER

POND TERRAPIN CHINESE SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE COMMON MUSK TURTLE LITTLE PAINTED TURTLE WOOD TURTLE

The shell can grow
up to 122 cm (48 in)
in length

DIAMONDBACK GOLDEN COIN
TERRAPIN TURTLE

ALDABRA GIANT
TORTOISE

RADIATED TORTOISE

INDIAN STARRED
TORTOISE

LIFECYCLE OF 2 HATCHLINGS HEAD OUT HERMANN’S TORTOISE
A TURTLE The newly hatched
HIDING FROM DANGER
All sea turtles come ashore to lay babies dig their way
their eggs. They visit the same Tortoises move too slowly to run away from their
nesting beaches year after out of the nest and natural predators, which include ravens, foxes, and
year. Depending on the dogs. Fortunately, they carry their own hiding place,
species, the female may crawl to the sea. which often keeps them safe until the danger has passed.
lay 50–200 eggs.
4 RETURN JOURNEY
Between 25 and

1 LAYING EGGS 50 years of age, the adults
The female
make their first egg-laying

lays her soft-shelled trip back to the beach

eggs in a scraped-out where they hatched.

nesting chamber. OCEAN LIFE
The young
3

turtles spend 1 DETECTS A THREAT 2 RETREATS INTO SHELL
A tortoise has a keen sense of Pulling in its legs and long, flexible
many years

entirely at sea, smell that tells it when a likely predator neck, the tortoise disappears right into

eating and growing. is lurking nearby. its shell. It is safe from the predator.

107

Lizards ANATOMY Long,
whip-like tail
With more than 5,500 species, lizards are the largest Lizards are scaly-skinned reptiles. Most of them
group of reptiles on Earth. They are cold-blooded have four legs, movable eyelids, and external ear
animals that live in every continent except Antarctica. openings, but some lack one of these features.
Lizards are useful predators of insect pests.
Big eye sockets Ribs are attached
and mouth to the spine

MONITOR LIZARD Legs splay to
SKELETON side of body

GECKOS TURQUOISE DWARF GECKO

These small lizards have about 500,000 hairs
on each foot that provide them with good
adhesion for climbing smooth surfaces. They
eat spiders and mosquitoes. Some make
a clicking noise that sounds like “gecko”.

LEOPARD
GECKO

RING-TAILED
GECKO

KUHL’S FLYING GECKO

TOKAY MARBLED WONDER GECKO
GECKO

CRESTED MEDITERRANEAN MADAGASCAR
GECKO GECKO DAY GECKO

PALM AFRICAN COMMON WESTERN BANDED GECKO
GECKO FAT-TAILED GECKO HOUSE GECKO MARINE IGUANA

MONITOR LIZARDS DUMERIL’S IGUANAS GREEN SPINY IGUANA
MONITOR LIZARD
These large lizards are strong, Iguanas live in the tropical
powerful, and fast swimmers. rainforests and deserts
They have a forked tongue that can of the Americas, Fiji, and
detect scent in the air and water. The Madagascar. They can use
largest lizard on Earth, the Komodo their long tails like a whip for
dragon, is a monitor lizard. defence. The Marine Iguana
is the only lizard that finds
SPINY-TAILED food in the sea, where
MONITOR LIZARD it eats seaweed.

SAVANNA MONITOR LIZARD ASIAN WATER
MONITOR

GREEN TREE MADAGASCAN COLLARED
MONITOR LIZARD IGUANA

BLACK IGUANA

GREEN IGUANA

KOMODO DRAGON

108

A NEW TAIL 1 TAIL FALLS OFF 2 GROWING BACK 3 NEW FOR OLD SIZE COMPARISON
The lizard detaches Within 10 days or so, After about 60 days,
Some lizards can detach their tails The world’s smallest lizard fits
to escape from or deter a predator. the end of its tail when a new tail starts growing. the new tail is complete. It on a fingernail. The biggest
After the tail has fallen off, the area weighs about 70 kg (154 lb) and
heals like a wound. After about ten attacked or threatened. By about day 25, the new is not exactly the same as can hunt down large animals.
days a new tail begins to grow.
The point of breakage tail is strong enough for the original tail, as it uses BRITISH VIRGIN
FAOTRALIIATLZHAWGEROHDPEIR’SLSEEODDTNAEOTTMAODOCRISVHTIENRDAGCT ISLAND DWARF GECKO
begins to heal. the lizard to flick it. cartilage instead of bone.
18 mm (0.75 in) long

KOMODO DRAGON
3.1 m (10 ft) long

CHAMELEONS JACKSON’S MEDITERRANEAN COLOUR CHANGE PANTHER CHAMELEON
CHAMELEON CHAMELEON
Chameleons mainly live in trees. Chameleons have special skin A calm chameleon is usually a pale
They have long tongues for catching cells containing tiny sacs of green colour. When it wants to show off
insects and protruding eyes that different coloured pigments. to a possible mate, the chameleon may
move independently of one another. The lizard’s moods – such as
The chameleon can swivel each anger and fear – cause changes display all sorts of colours at once.
eye around to look at two different in its body that trigger the release
things at once. of colour from the sacs.

Protruding eyes
that move in

different directions

GIANT SPINY
CHAMELEON

VEILED PARSON’S Two groups of toes on each PANTHER
CHAMELEON CHAMELEON foot help the chameleon CHAMELEON
hang on to the branch

LEGLESS LIZARDS SKINKS FIVE-LINED SKINK
SANDFISH SKINK
These lizards look like snakes, but can be distinguished Skinks have very long,
from them by several features. Unlike snakes, they have rounded bodies and PERCIVAL’S LANCE SKINK
eyelids, external ear openings, and a tail that can break pointed heads. Their
off if the lizard is attacked by a predator. legs are short, or even
absent, and they like to
SLOW WORM burrow into soft, sandy
ground. They eat snails,
EUROPEAN slugs, and insects.
GLASS LIZARD
OTHER LIZARDS KNIGHT ANOLE FIRE SKINK
GREEN ANOLE
There are many types THAI WATER
of lizards. Some are DRAGON
small families,
such as the seven 109
tegu species, while
others are large,
such as the
391 species of
anole lizards.

FRILLED LIZARD

SLENDER GLASS RED TEGU
LIZARD

Snakes INSIDE A SNAKE CASANWVASAOSHLINDILFAOTIWNKAEJEUR’SDROYHUPERNFAERDYROTTMO

There are several thousand different types of snakes. A snake’s inner organs are
Most of them are not venomous or dangerous to designed to fit in a long, narrow
people, and many are beautiful, with bright colours space. These organs are very
and patterns. All snakes swallow their prey whole. stretchy, allowing prey to be
swallowed whole.

Stomach

Liver

WHAT MAKES LIDLESS EYES COLD-BLOODED NO EARS FORKED TONGUE Intestine
A SNAKE?
Heart
Snakes are cold-blooded and Windpipe
need outside heat, like the Sun, Gullet
to keep warm. A snake smells
with its tongue and “hears” by
picking up vibrations.

COLUBRIDS EASTERN
PINE SNAKE
With their diverse colours and
sizes, the colubrids make up
a very large group. Few of
them are venomous. Some
kill by constriction.

DIADEM SNAKE CALIFORNIA LAVENDER STRIPED RED CORNSNAKE
KINGSNAKE KINGSNAKE

VIPERS

Found in nearly all countries,
vipers are venomous. They
have squat bodies and broad
heads. Some have infrared
sensors under their eyes that
help them hunt in the dark.

MALAYAN PIT VIPER GABOON VIPER WESTERN DIAMOND- TAYLOR’S CANTIL VIPER FER-DE-LANCE
BACKED RATTLESNAKE
BOAS

These include the biggest
snakes in the world. Most boas
live in the Americas or Africa.
They kill prey by squeezing
(constricting) it.

ROSY BOA COOK’S TREE RUBBER RAINBOW BOA EAST AFRICAN
BOA BOA SAND BOA
COBRAS AND RED SPITTING
RELATIVES EGYPTIAN ALBINO COBRA KING
COBRA MONOCLED COBRA COBRA
All cobras are venomous.
Some have very fast-acting CENTRAL AMERICAN
poisons strong enough to kill CORAL SNAKE
large animals, or a human.
BURMESE ALBINO BURMESE SPOTTED PYTHON
PYTHONS PYTHON PYTHON

These often very big
constricting snakes come
from Asia and Africa. Some
types are popular as pets.

110

MOST DEADLY THE BIG SQUEEZE 1 GETTING A GRIP 2 HEAD FIRST 3 SWALLOWING DOWN
The snake squeezes Its prey held head first, Mouth open wide, the
Many people die from snake A constrictor, like a python or
bites. These five snakes are among the boa, catches its prey by striking
most venomous. fast and seizing the animal with
its sharp teeth. Then the snake
FER-DE-LANCE wraps its body around the
victim and suffocates it by
The most feared snake in South America, it gradually tightening its coils.
tends to live dangerously close to humans.
its victim to death. the snake is ready to eat. snake gulps down its meal.
PUFF ADDER
A POISONOUS BITE Hinged COLOSSAL CONSTRICTOR
Thick-bodied and slow, this African viper blows fangs
up its body and hisses if it feels threatened. Venomous snakes have hollow A 60-million-year-old fossil of a monster snake
fangs through which poison is Venom was found in Colombia. Named Titanoboa, it was
AUSTRALIAN TAIPAN squirted from glands in their gland 15 m (50 ft) long and weighed 1,130 kg (2,500 lb).
mouth. In some species, the
Anyone bitten by this taipan needs immediate fangs move forwards on a hinge Loose Titanoboa:
medical treatment. when the snake bites its victim. jawbone Length 15 m (50 ft)
Bottom
KING COBRA Average human:
teeth Height 1.8 m (6 ft)
This long snake is found in India and Southeast
Asia. Just one of its bites could kill an elephant.

BLACK MAMBA

The fast-moving mamba is responsible for
many human deaths in its native Africa.

RUTHVEN’S
KINGSNAKE

YELLOW RATSNAKE CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN BROWN ROUGH GREEN SNAKE BANDED FLYING COMMON
KINGSNAKE TREESNAKE SNAKE GARTER SNAKE

COPPERHEAD

HORNED ORSINI’S VIPER PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE PUFF ADDER COMMON ADDER ASP VIPER
DESERT VIPER
PARAGUAYAN
ANACONDA

GREEN
ANACONDA

DUMERIL’S CALABAR GROUND BOA
BOA
MAWFATEYEERNKSOATOLREAARETGVEAENGMAMEIANOLNFATOHBROS A
COMMON BOA

111

WHAT’S THE ARMOURED BODY PARENTING
DIFFERENCE?
A crocodilian’s long body and tail are covered in tough scales. The Eggs are laid in a nest built and
The crocodile’s snout short legs allow limited movement on land. With eyes, ears, and fiercely guarded by the female. After
nostrils on top of its head, a crocodilian can hunt while almost fully the eggs have hatched, the mother
is more pointed than under water. The lungs hold enough oxygen for a 15-minute dive. usually remains with her young for
a time to protect them.
the alligator’s and the

fourth tooth on Short, ALLIGATOR Eyes on top
the crocodile’s broad of the head
lower jaw sticks snout Large lungs
allow long dives
out when the Hard scales

mouth is closed.

Gharials have

narrow, greatly

elongated jaws. Pointed
snout
CROCODILE

Interlocking
teeth

Long, GHARIAL Webbed feet for Powerful JUST HATCHED
narrow steering in water tail The mother carries her newly
hatched young in her mouth to
snout
take them to the water.

Crocodiles SURPRISE AMBUSH

Feeding on fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals, crocodilians are
masters of the surprise attack. Small prey is swallowed whole, but
larger animals must first be drowned before they can be eaten.

and alligators

Crocodilians – crocodiles, alligators, and 1 WAITS 2 LUNGES 3 KILLS
gharials – have been around since the time of With just eyes, ears, Without warning, the With a strong
the dinosaurs. They use stealth to ambush prey
and their ferocious jaws to kill. These reptiles and tip of snout above the crocodile launches itself grip on its prey, the
live partly in water and partly on land.
water, a crocodile waits from the water and seizes crocodile dives down

almost motionless for its victim with powerful beneath the water

unsuspecting prey to jaws that snap shut and waits for the

come near. around the animal. animal to drown.

CROCODILES

Found in tropical regions, these
reptiles occupy both freshwater
and saltwater habitats. The two
largest and most dangerous
species are the saltwater
crocodile and the Nile crocodile.

SALTWATER CROCODILE WANISTCAYHRLLUTTIWVSHHIEANATSGETBCRRUROCFENRFAAOGTLECUOSORT’DESBI,SLAIEKTMEUCLAAOLNFLE

Sharp teeth
to tear prey

112

GHARIALS GHARIAL
AMERICAN ALLIGATOR
The endangered gharial occurs only in the rivers of India. Its long CHINESE ALLIGATOR
jaws are ideal for catching fish. Unlike other crocodilians, the female
does not carry her young but she does give them some care.

ALLIGATORS

Apart from the rare Chinese alligator, alligators are found only
in the USA. Their close relatives, the caimans, live in Central and
South America. All these creatures live in freshwater swamps
and rivers, and feed on fish, birds, and mammals.

CUVIER’S DWARF CAIMAN

YACARE CAIMAN

BROAD-SNOUTED CAIMAN SPECTACLED CAIMAN
DWARF CROCODILE
CUBAN CROCODILE
FRESHWATER CROCODILE
Large scales
armoured with
bony deposits

SIAMESE CROCODILE

Powerful tail propels
crocodile through water

NILE CROCODILE

113

Eggs EGG SHAPES OVAL INSIDE Yolk
Typical shape AN EGG
The young of many animals develop Most commonly, bird eggs Fluid-
inside eggs, which provide protection are oval-shaped. Seabirds for most The developing bird, filled
and food. All birds and most fish and nesting on cliffs lay pear- birds’ eggs. which is known as sac
insects are egg-layers. Others include shaped eggs, which roll in the “embryo”, is
reptiles, frogs and toads, slugs and a circle but not off an edge. cushioned inside
snails, and even a few mammals. A few birds, including some a sac or bag full of
owls, lay round eggs. fluid. The yellow yolk
provides the embryo
with most of its food,
but the albumen, or
“white”, also gives it
protein and water.

PEAR-SHAPED SPHERICAL CONICAL Embryo Albumen
Unlikely to roll Usually laid by These eggs pack (developing bird) CHICKEN EMBRYO INSIDE EGG
birds that build closely in the nest
right off a for equal warmth.
bare ledge. deep nests.

BIRD EGGS RUBY-THROATED RUFOUS PLAIN WOOD GREAT TIT CETTI’S MARSH ROCK
HUMMINGBIRD HUMMINGBIRD PRINIA WARBLER WARBLER WARBLER WREN
Eggs come in lots of different colours and
patterns, which may help to camouflage
them from predators. The colours partly
depend on the diet of the bird. If it eats
plenty of calcium – which it might get
from foods such as insects – it produces
a lighter, whiter egg.

BLUE BLACK MANILA LESSER GREEN AMERICAN QUAIL COMMON MAGNIFICENT GREY KENTISH
SHORTWING BULBUL NIGHTJAR NIGHTHAWK BROADBILL ROBIN STARLING RIFLEBIRD BUTCHERBIRD PLOVER

GREATER GOLDEN MASKED CHICKEN PEREGRINE OSPREY COMMON EGYPTIAN
PLOVER FINFOOT FALCON OYSTERCATCHER VULTURE

COMMON MUTE SWAN BROWN KIWI AUSTRALIAN EMU
GUILLEMOT

114

INCUBATING HATCHING OUT THHSUEOGIRMEEEHGEBGAISRPDTSOSOPHFEAVCTEIECGSHETLUAENATDVIOEENR
AN EGG
The pictures below show a Japanese quail hatching out of
An embryo inside an its egg. First, the emerging chick starts chipping away at
egg cannot develop the shell with its beak. Eventually, the shell cracks apart
without warmth. and the chick kicks itself free of the egg.
Parent birds provide
this by sitting on their 1 STARTING TO HATCH 2 CRACKING OPEN 3 KICKING FREE 4 HATCHED
eggs until the chicks The young chick starts The shell cracks open Using its legs and body, The exhausted chick rests
hatch out. The process
is called incubation. chipping through the shell. and falls into two parts. the chick struggles out. for a while after hatching.
A mother hen such
as this one will sit
for 21 days.

HEN INCUBATING
HER EGGS

DUNNOCK ANDEAN COMMON RICHARD’S CUCKOO COMMON GREEN HAWFINCH REPTILE EGGS
SPARROW KINGFISHER PIPIT SHRIKE CUCKOO
Most reptiles lay eggs. Crocodiles and
tortoises have hard-shelled eggs – like birds’
eggs – while the eggs of turtles, snakes,
and lizards are soft and leathery.

WOOD-HOOPOE

AFRICAN DWARF SPUR-THIGHED GALAPAGOS

CROCODILE TORTOISE GIANT TORTOISE

JUNGLE RINGED JACKDAW GUIRA BARN OWL CHIMANGO
CROW PLOVER CUCKOO
NORTHERN
LAPWING

NILE MONITOR GRASS RAT
LIZARD SNAKE SNAKE

GREY TINAMOU AFRICAN HOUSE SNAKE
SOUTHERN CASSOWARY
OTHER EGGS GOLDFISH

Fish, insects, and slugs are
among other egg-layers.
Most produce very tiny
eggs in large numbers. In
some species, such as the
dogfish, the eggs are held
in a protective case.

RAINBOW TROUT CHINESE OAK SILK
MOTH CATERPILLAR

OWL BUTTERFLY
CATERPILLAR

OSTRICH SLUG

LESSER
SPOTTED
DOGFISH

115

Birds WHAT IS A BIRD? INSIDE A BIRD

Birds occupy almost every kind Any animal that has feathers is a bird. All birds have wings, Birds have strong yet lightweight skeletons,
of habitat around the world – even those species that cannot fly. Most birds also have very and large chest muscles to power their wings.
from hot deserts to the icy polar good eyesight and hearing. Flying burns energy and needs a lot of oxygen.
regions. Of the 10,200 species, Birds have a series of air sacs in their body to
some are larger than people keep up the flow of oxygen through their lungs.
while others are barely bigger
than bees. All birds have Birds have Lungs
feathers and most of excellent
them can fly. EGGS FEATHERS FLIGHT eyesight Special air
Birds reproduce These enable While most birds sacs pump
by laying eggs and flight and also Crop, air through
many build nests. provide warmth. can fly, some where the lungs
only walk. food is
stored

WARM-BLOODED TOOTHLESS BEAK CLAWED FEET Lightweight Gizzard
Like mammals, Having no teeth, Feet and claws bones enable Clawed feet
birds create their birds grind their come in many
own body heat. different shapes. flight
food in a “gizzard”.

FLIGHTLESS BIRDS GAME BIRDS INDIAN
PEACOCK
The largest of all birds, ostriches are too heavy These birds are hunted for
to fly. They escape predators by running on strong CALIFORNIAN
legs. The smallest flightless birds are the chicken- food or sport. Most are QUAIL
sized kiwis. Their tiny wings are invisible beneath
their thick plumage. ground-dwellers, taking

flight only to escape from SPRUCE
GROUSE
danger. They have strong

feet and toes for scraping

the ground to find food,

and they can run fast. GREY COMMON
PHEASANT
PARTRIDGE TURKEY

CUCKOOS AND TURACOS OWLS

Turacos live only in Africa, whereas cuckoos are These night
more widespread. Some cuckoo species trick hunters have
other birds into raising their chicks by laying forward-facing
eggs in their nests. eyes and see well
in poor light.
Long, powerful legs Fringed feathers
allow owls to fly
GREAT SPOTTED GREATER RED-CRESTED without making LITTLE OWL
CUCKOO ROADRUNNER TURACO a sound.

EURASIAN EAGLE OWL

TOUCANS AND BIRDS
WOODPECKERS OF PREY

These tree-living birds have Eagles, hawks,
strong gripping feet, with two and falcons are
all birds of prey.
toes pointing backwards These swift
and two forwards. predators have
three things in
KIWI OSTRICH common: hooked
beaks, long
OSTTGHRAAILCNLHOMEPSO, RCSETAANHCOSHPRINRSIEGNSSTCPFAEAENSDTSER TOCO talons, and
OF UP TO 70 KM/H (43 MPH) TOUCAN superb eyesight.

GREAT

PILEATED SPOTTED RED-HEADED RED
KITE
WOODPECKER WOODPECKER BARBET BALD EAGLE

PENGUINS STORKS, IBISES, PELICANS
AND HERONS
Expert swimmers, The long-beaked pelicans, and their
penguins have wings These wading birds stalk prey in shallow relatives the gannets, are fisheaters.
that have evolved waters. Storks and herons make lightning Pelicans scoop up their catch in a
into flippers. Many strikes for fish and insects, while ibises
species live in the probe in mud and under plants. large throat pouch.
icy waters around
Antarctica. A few NORTHERN
penguins live GANNET
in warmer waters
further north.

EMPEROR PENGUIN GREY EUROPEAN BROWN
ANO CHICK HERON WHITE STORK PELICAN

GREEN HERON SCARLET IBIS

116

BEAK VARIETY SWEEPING CATCHING PICKING UP TEARING CUTTING CHISELLING STABBING AND PROBING MUD MULTI-
IN WATER FLYING INSECTS SURFACE PREY MEAT FRUIT AND SAND PURPOSE
A bird’s beak reflects its WOOD SPEARING PREY
diet. For example, the
spoonbill sweeps its beak
through water like a shovel
to locate food. The sharp
beak of a woodpecker is
perfect for chiselling off
tree bark to reach insects.

BABY BIRDS 1 EGGS 2 HATCHLINGS 3 FIVE-DAY-OLD CHICKS 4 NINE-DAY-OLD CHICKS 5 READY TO FLEDGE
Most birds sit on Blind and naked, the Now called “nestlings”, The nestlings are now At two weeks, the
Family life is usually
a brief but very busy their eggs to keep them hatchlings rely on their the chicks’ eyes open and nearly feathered and their fledglings are ready to leave
period. Most birds lay
their eggs in a nest.
Hatchlings need
constant feeding and
grow very quickly.
Once baby birds have
mastered flying, they
leave the nest for good.

at the right temperature. parents for care and food. small “pin” feathers develop. eyes are wide open. the nest and learn to fly.

PIGEONS AND DOVES PARROTS AND BLUE-CROWNED
COCKATOOS HANGING PARROTS
With their round bodies, small bobbing
heads, and short beaks, pigeons These vibrantly coloured
and doves are easily tropical birds are well
recognized. known for their intelligence.

MOURNING SPECKLED SOUTHERN OLIVE-HEADED RED-FAN
DOVE LORIKEET PARROT
PIGEON CROWNED PIGEON

HUMMINGBIRDS KINGFISHERS PIED
AND SWIFTS KINGFISHER
Brightly coloured kingfishers
The tiny, acrobatic hummingbirds are and their relatives are mostly
among the smallest of all bird species. “sit-and-wait” predators, swooping
Swifts, known for their speed, can be down from perches to snatch prey.

recognized by their very short
legs and small feet.

BRAZILIAN LUCIFER WHITE-THROATED LAUGHING JAMAICAN
KOOK ABURR A TODY
RUBY HUMMINGBIRD SWIFT WHITE-THROATED
BEE-EATER
DUCKS, GEESE,
AND SWANS PLUMED
WHISTLING DUCK
Found across the world, these water
birds have webbed feet and flattened BAIKAL TEAL
beaks. Nearly all species nest on or
beside the water.

KING EIDER DUCK SOPAUWRNRODORSTD, SISNCACALNNUDDCLIONAPUGYGHMHUTAMENRAYN

BLACK SWAN BAR-HEADED GOOSE LONG-TAILED DUCK

CRANES WADERS, PERCHING BIRDS
GULLS,
Graceful cranes and their many relatives AND AUKS Most birds are perching birds – their
live in both dry and wet habitats. unique feet can grip even very slender
Cranes perform impressive Auks, such as puffins, are branches. Many species are songbirds.
courtship displays. sea swimmers, while gulls
hunt on the wing. Waders
PURPLE feed along muddy shores. ATLANTIC COMMON
GALLINULE PUFFIN REDSHANK

BARN EASTERN LESSER BIRD
SWALLOW YELLOW ROBIN OF PARADISE

CORNCRAKE AMERICAN LITTLE GREY-CROWNED HEERMAN’S GULL EURASIAN PIED AVOCET EURASIAN YELLOW DUNNOCK WRENTIT
COOT BUSTARD CRANE OYSTERCATCHER SKYLARK WARBLER
117

Birds WHAT MAKES A BIRD A RAPTOR? SOARING HIGH
of prey
Day-flying raptors in particular have excellent eyesight that The large wings of some hawks and eagles allow
allows them to spot prey from a distance and to calculate them to soar high in the sky by riding warm air
exactly when to strike. Many owls rely more on their keen currents called thermals. Using little energy, they
hearing. Strong feet and talons are a raptor’s main tools can glide for long periods while searching for prey.
of attack, while the hooked beak is used for tearing meat.

Bird scouts
for prey

Also known as “raptors”, birds Bird spirals Bird drops down
of prey have exceptional vision, upwards on its prey
grasping talons, and a sharp, using the
hooked beak. Found on every thermal
continent apart from Antarctica,
these spectacular hunters are CURVED BEAK KEEN EYESIGHT KILLING FEET
divided into day-flying raptors
and night-flying raptors, or owls. Powerful beaks Large, forward- Long, curved
can pierce prey, facing eyes enable talons are
DAY-FLYING RAPTORS raptors to detect designed to
rip off skin,
As well as airborne hunters like hawks, and tear flesh and capture grasp prey such
eagles, and falcons, this group also into chunks. their prey. as rabbits.
includes the largely ground-dwelling
secretary birds. Vultures, such as the AMATONLREEEAASPGTOLWEF’OSEURVRFIUSTILIOMTNEHSIASN
Andean Condor, rarely kill prey and THAT OF A HUMAN
instead feed on dead animals.

BATELEUR LIZARD LONG-LEGGED EURASIAN BUZZARD
BUZZARD BUZZARD

GOLDEN EAGLE WHITE-BELLIED BALD EAGLE AFRICAN NORTHERN HARRIER HARRIS’S HAWK
SEA EAGLE HAWK EAGLE

NORTHERN GOSHAWK OSPREY

Uses a stone
to break
an egg

RUPPELL’S TURKEY VULTURE
VULTURE

EGYPTIAN VULTURE RED-TAILED
HAWK

Large wingspan
makes this the
largest bird of prey

ANDEAN CONDOR PALM NUT VULTURE

OWL PELLETS OWLS

Owls usually swallow their prey whole. They are Most owls are nocturnal, although some hunt
unable to digest fur and bones, so they bring up pellets at dawn and dusk. Only a very few are active in
containing these undigested remains. The tawny owl the daytime. Owls have superb hearing and they
pellet below reveals that the owl had dined on voles. can see well in the dark. Flying silently on softly
feathered wings, owls use stealth rather than
INSIDE A PELLET speed to hunt their prey.

All the bones shown GREAT GREY OWL
here came from
inside a single
owl pellet.

WHOLE PELLET VOLE SKULLS

LOWER JAWBONES CURVED RIBS VERTEBRAE

LEG BONES

HIP BONES FRONT-LIMB SHOULDER
BONES BLADES

URAL OWL BENGAL EAGLE OWL

SNAIL KITE MISSISSIPPI KITE WHITE-TAILED KITE

AMERICAN KESTREL

LANNER AFRICAN BURROWING
FALCON PYGMY FALCON COMMON KESTREL OWLS

GREAT HORNED OWL BARN OWL BUFFY FISH OWL SNOWY OWL

CRESTED CARACARA STRIATED CARACARA

SPECTACLED OWL NORTHERN SHORT-EARED OWL LONG-EARED BLACK-AND-WHITE
HAWK OWL OWL OWL

Diet FERRUGINOUS
includes PYGMY OWL

snakes EASTERN SOUTHERN BOOBOOK OWL COLLARED
SCREECH OWL WHITE-FACED OWL SCOPS OWL
Powerful
legs are TAWNY OWL EURASIAN CUBAN NORTHERN ELF OWL TROPICAL
used to SCOPS OWL PYGMY OWL SAW-WHET OWL SCREECH OWL
stamp
on prey 119

SECRETARY BIRD

Feathers WHAT ARE FLIGHT TYPES OF
FEATHERS FOR? Stiff wing and tail FEATHERS
Birds have spread to every continent feathers aid flight.
on Earth, partly because of their ability Feathers allow flight, keep birds Birds have two main
to fly. Feathers play a vital role in their warm, provide camouflage, and types of feathers: down
flight, and help birds to stay warm, help attract a mate. In many feathers for warmth,
attract mates, and be camouflaged. nesting birds, an area of feathers and contour feathers for
Feathers come in many shapes and moults to allow more heat to pass flight. The feathers grow
sizes, and have different functions. from the mother bird to the eggs. in areas called tracts,
with bare skin in
GAME BIRDS TEMPERATURE ATTRACTION CAMOUFLAGE between. The bare
Bright colours Patterns help areas are hidden
Game birds spend most of their time on CONTROL bird blend into by the feathers.
the ground, preferring to walk rather Downy base of feather can help background.
than fly. Their flight feathers have a very traps air for warmth. attract a mate. PRIMARIES
pronounced curve, or camber, to provide These are flight feathers,
explosive lift and quick bursts of flight.
attached to the front
section of the wing.

TAIL FEATHERS
For balance, braking,
and elevating in flight.

PARROTS AND COCKATOOS TOUCANS AND
WOODPECKERS
Parrots use their brightly coloured feathers
to attract the opposite sex. The vivid colours may Woodpeckers and toucans
also help disguise these birds against the vibrant do not have any soft down
green of the forests where they live. feathers, even when they
are chicks.

PHEASANT SILVER PHEASANT

REGENT COCK ATIEL
PARROT

LADY AMHERST’S WOODCOCK AFRICAN BUDGERIGAR MACAW GREEN WOODPECKER ARACARI
PHEASANT PEACOCK GREY PARROT

REEVE’S BIRDS OF PREY
PHEASANT
There are two families
of birds of prey: falcon-like
birds that are awake in the
daytime, and owls that are
awake at night. Some can
soar for hours to look
for food, others achieve
great speed when they
dive down to catch
their prey.

TURKEY GROUSE GUINEA FOWL

COLOURFUL DISPLAY BARN OWL MERLIN KESTREL

Male peacocks have amazingly colourful
tail feathers that spread up and around
into a fan shape behind them when they
want to attract a mate. The females
choose a mate depending on
how many eye spots are on
his tail – the more the better.

TAIL FEATHERS DOWN TAIL FEATHERS GOLDEN
ON DISPLAY EAGLE
120
BUZZARD HAWK EAGLE OWL

COVERTS FEATHER STRUCTURE OUTER HOW BIRDS FLY Wings
VANE
These cover the flight Contour feathers have stiff shafts in the The edge A bird uses strong breast muscles
feathers of the wings and centre, with vanes on either side. The vanes of the wing to flap its wings and fly. As it
tail, providing protection are made up of thin branches called barbs. that leads flaps them, it increases lift,
and streamlining. These have smaller branches of barbules in flight. which moves the bird
with hooks that hold it all together. forwards and upwards.
CENTRAL
SECONDARIES Central shaft SHAFT Breast
These flight feathers are Barb muscle
attached further down the INNER STAYING UP
wing than the primaries. Barbules VANE Once in the air, the bird’s
with hooks Wider than wings allow it to glide,
DUCKS, GEESE, the outer soar, change direction,
AND SWANS CLOSE-UP vane. and slow down to land.
This complex but strong
These birds spend a lot of time WING FEATHER
in water, so their feathers are structure holds the Vanes lead off the
covered with an oily substance feather together. shaft except near
that keeps them waterproof.
MANDARIN the bird’s body,
DUCK where the shaft
is hollow and bare.

SHOREBIRDS, SEABIRDS,
AND WADING BIRDS

These birds have feathers that help with
waterproofing and warmth. They tend to
have dark feathers on their backs and white
ones on their chests, to provide camouflage.

MALLARD CAROLINA LEMON GOOSE
DUCK WOOD DUCK

FETASHTWFEHEABEANIRTR:SHDITIEWSRHTSIATHIHSNE UTWWHPHIETNIOSMTTE2OLR5SI,NT0G00 CURLEW GULL FLAMINGO STORK

PERCHING BIRDS AFTERFEATHER OTHER BIRDS

The stiff tail feathers of many of The fluffy part of There are many families of birds. Each
these birds help them to balance the bottom of the family has feathers suited to its habits
while perching on small branches feather is called and lifestyle. Doves and pigeons create
and garden fences. the afterfeather. a white powder called feather dust to
It gives birds keep their feathers waterproof, unlike
an added layer kingfishers, which use preening oil for
of warmth. waterproofing their feathers. Ostriches
don’t fly, so don’t have any contour
feathers, only soft down feathers.

BIRD OF
PARADISE

MAGPIE

BLACKBIRD EURASIAN BLUEBIRD BLUE JAY ROOK PIGEON DOVE KINGFISHER OSTRICH
JAY

121

Animal journeys WHY ANIMALS MIGRATE FOR FOOD

Every year, some animals move huge distances from Animals take long and sometimes Many animals
one area to another. This is known as “migration” and dangerous migratory journeys when migrate from one
may involve groups numbering millions. Such journeys instinct tells them to move. Usually, they place to another
are undertaken to ensure a species’ survival. are seeking food, a mate, better weather, during the year in
and safe places to rear their young. search of food, as

WALRUSES ALWAYS supplies in one
MIGRATE IN SEPARATE place run out.

MALE AND
FEMALE GROUPS

ARCTIC OCEAN

NORTH AMERICA

EUROPE

KEY AFRICA
White-bearded
wildebeest (inset) PACIFIC
They move in a circular OCEAN
pattern round East Africa.
SOUTH AMERICA
Arctic terns
These birds fly between the ATLANTIC
North Pole and the South OCEAN
Pole during migration.

Atlantic salmon
These fish return from the
ocean to the rivers where
they were born, to lay eggs.

Humpback whales
These whales travel
from the North Pacific
to Central America.

European eel
These swim from European
rivers to the Sargasso Sea,
near the Bahamas, to lay eggs.

Monarch butterfly
The only butterflies to make
a long two-way migration
each year.

Barn swallow
Found in almost all northern
climates, these fly south in
winter. European swallows
fly to South Africa.

Locusts
Migrate in massive swarms
(40–80 million locusts) when
populations build too high.

MAJOR MIGRATIONS SOUTHERN OCEAN

This map shows some examples of migratory
routes used by animals. There are various types
of migrations. Journeys may take north–south or
east–west paths between summer and winter
regions, follow circular routes, or go up and down
mountains. Sometimes, just part of an animal
population moves, leaving the rest behind.

122

FOR TO AVOID EXTREME TO AVOID BIRD MIGRATION Height
depends on
REPRODUCTION WEATHER OVERCROWDING Bird migration takes place in spring wind patterns
Animals may In harsh wintry When a population and late autumn. The movement is and landforms
conditions, animals triggered by changes in hours of
migrate to find a may move to areas gets too big, daylight and temperature. Many The Sun and
mate, lay eggs, where there is animals may make migrating birds fly in V-shaped stars help to
give birth, and more food and formations. The journey can set the course
warmer weather. a mass move. last weeks or even months.
raise their Locusts are
young. one example. GETTING READY NORMAL BODY FAT READY TO MIGRATE NAVIGATION
Birds navigate
Birds release a partly by using the
hormone to help them Earth’s magnetic field,
store fat in the weeks the Sun, and the stars in
before they migrate. ways not yet fully explained.

TRACKING MIGRATION

Scientists can track migrating animals by
attaching ultra-light radio transmitters to
them in various ways, such as on their legs.
The little radios send signals to satellites
in space, building up maps of the animals’
movements. Birds are also given leg rings
with unique numbers that are used to
track movement.

ASIA

INCA TERN Migration
ring

PACIFIC RECORD MIGRATIONS
OCEAN
When animals migrate, they can travel
KENYA INDIAN OCEAN astonishing distances, often without
stopping for food or drink. Here are
LAKE AUSTRALIA some world-record holders.
NATRON
ARCTIC TERN
TANZANIA
Longest round trip:
LAKE 71,000 km (44,000 miles)
EYASI This tiny bird migrates
further than any other animal
SERENGETI MIGRATION in the world, zigzagging between
Wildebeest travel along Greenland and Antarctica.
a circular migratory route
from the Serengeti Plains in BAR-TAILED GODWIT
Tanzania to Kenya and
Longest nonstop flight: 11,500 km (7,145 miles)
back each year. One of these shorebirds covered this distance
in eight days without a break for food.

LEATHERBACK TURTLE

Longest recorded aquatic
journey: 20,558 km
(12,774 miles) These
travel across the Pacific
Ocean to the beach
where they were born.

WHITE-BEARDED
WILDEBEEST

Largest land migration:
1.3 million wildebeest
Vast herds can travel
1,610 km (1,000 miles)
in a year.

BAR-HEADED
GOOSE

Highest journey: 7,290 m (23,9170 ft)
Flying at extreme altitude, these
birds fly with only ten per cent
of the oxygen found at sea level.
They have been tracked flying for
17 hours without stopping.

DESERT LOCUST

Largest air migration:
69 billion locusts in
one swarm In 2004, the
swarm crossed Morocco
and devastated crops in
parts of northwest Africa.

123

Rodents MOUSE-LIKE RODENTS

There are few places in the world Mice and rats, gerbils, hamsters,
where rodents cannot live. Mostly lemmings, and voles are among the
small, these animals fit themselves most numerous animals in the world.
into many different habitats, and Various species of these rodents are
often flourish in huge numbers. found in nearly every country. Some
Rodents are gnawing animals that make popular pets, but others are
must constantly wear down their serious pests in homes and
ever-growing front teeth. agricultural areas.

MONGOLIAN JIRD

SHAW’S JIRD BLACK RAT

WHAT MAKES A RODENT? YELLOW-NECKED MOUSE PALLID GERBIL STRIPED
WOOD MOUSE GRASS MOUSE
A compact body, long whiskers, and a long tail are common rodent ARABIAN SPINY MOUSE
features, although there are many variations in this big group. Rodents’ HOUSE MOUSE
teeth make them different from other animals. They have four sharp HARVEST MOUSE
front teeth, or incisors, and just a few molars at the back of the mouth. EURASIAN RED
SQUIRREL-LIKE SQUIRREL
Long Spine Ribcage RODENTS
tail aids
balance Sharp incisors Squirrels and their
continue to grow relatives have cylindrical
bodies, thick fur, and
throughout life most have bushy tails
and big eyes. They are
Long, narrow Forefeet have found throughout the
hindfeet have four toes and world in habitats from
five toes a small thumb rainforest to semi-arid
desert to big cities. Some
SQUIRREL SKELETON live in trees, others on
the ground.
SUITABLE BODIES

Many rodents have special body adaptions to suit their various
lifestyles. These include extra-flexible joints in the feet for
climbing trees, protruding teeth for digging and tunnelling,
and webbed toes for swimming.

CLIMBERS BURROWERS SWIMMERS

Swivelling joints in their Mole-rats dig with Beavers have webbed
ankles make squirrels their sticking-out front feet and a flat tail that
one of the few mammals teeth, and push the soil is used as a rudder.
behind them with their Thick underfur keeps
that can climb head them warm in water.
first down a tree. wide, flat hindfeet.

HOW SQUIRRELS Parachute-like skin GREY SQUIRREL GAMBIAN SUN
“FLY” SQUIRREL
Front legs used
The rodent group includes the for steering CAVY-LIKE RODENTS DOMESTIC GUINEA PIG LONG-HAIRED GUINEA PIG
flying squirrels. As they move BROWN AGOUTI GUINEA PIGS
between trees, these animals Tail acts The best known of these rodents is the
travel through the air in what as brake guinea pig, or cavy. It has a big head, sturdy
appears to be real flight. In body, short tail, and slender legs,
fact, they are gliders. A flying A FLYING SQUIRREL which are common features
squirrel has thin, loose skin CAN GLIDE FOR UP among this varied group.
between its legs that spreads Cavy relatives include
out like a parachute to keep it TO 50 M (165 FT) porcupines, the capybara –
aloft. To steer in midair, the the biggest rodent in the
squirrel moves its front legs. world – and the almost
When preparing to land, it hairless, nearly blind mole-rat,
raises its fluffy tail as a brake. which lives underground.

124 AGOUTI

STRIPED DWARF COMMON HAMSTERS
HAMSTER
MALAGASY GOLDEN HAMSTER SYRIAN HAMSTER
GIANT RAT ROBOROVSKY’S
DESERT HAMSTER ORKNEY VOLE
BROWN RAT
SOUTH AFRICAN NORWEGIAN MUSKRAT BANK VOLE
GROUND SQUIRREL LEMMING
FOREST
NORTHERN AFRICAN DORMOUSE
FLYING SQUIRREL DORMOUSE
HAZEL COMMON VOLE
DORMOUSE

HARRIS’S ANTELOPE HOPI
SQUIRREL CHIPMUNK

EASTERN
CHIPMUNKS

RED BUSH YELLOW-BELLIED BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG
SQUIRREL MARMOT
BEAVERS
MOLE-RAT CAPYBARA
There are two species of beavers: North American
CHINCHILLA and Eurasian. Both are river-dwellers. They create
waterways for their own
purposes by building
dams out of
branches, mud,
and stones.

MARA CRESTED EURASIAN BEAVER
PORCUPINE

125

Monkeys MONKEYS

and apes New World monkeys live in South and Central American
rainforests. They have fairly broad noses with nostrils
Like humans, monkeys and apes that open sideways. Many have gripping tails. Old World
are primates. They use their hands monkeys live in Asia and Africa. They have narrower
as we do, placing their thumbs against noses than New World monkeys and downward-pointing
their fingers to grasp things. Monkeys nostrils. Most are tree-dwellers, although baboons
and apes have good vision and large live mainly on the ground.
brains for their size. A tail helps to
identify which animals are which: WEEPER NORTHERN
most monkeys have tails, apes do not. CAPUCHIN NIGHT MONKEY

COMMON GOLDEN LION COTTON-TOP COMMON
SQUIRREL TAMARIN TAMARIN MARMOSET
MONKEY
PYGMY
MARMOSET

MOVING AROUND

Some apes, such as gorillas, spend a lot of time on the ground,
while others are skilled climbers and leapers. Monkeys scamper
and run on all fours, using their tails for balance or as a fifth limb.

RED HOWLER MONKEY GREY WOOLLY PIG-TAILED MACAQUE BARBARY
MONKEY MACAQUE

ON TWO FEET ON FOUR FEET KNUCKLE-WALK SWINGING APES

Apes are able to Monkeys move Gorillas and Some apes Found in Africa and Southeast Asia,
walk on their on all fours, chimpanzees use their long apes have a more upright body posture
hindlimbs for put their weight arms to swing than monkeys and do not have a tail.
short periods and their limbs on the knuckles from branch Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans,
of time. are of roughly of their forelimbs. and humans are all “great apes”,
equal length. to branch. while gibbons are “lesser apes”.

TOOL USE

Apes are intelligent and
can make and use tools.
Chimpanzees have been
observed using rocks to
crack nuts, and making
“sponges” from leaves
and moss to collect water.
They also push sticks into
termite mounds and trees
to “fish” for insects.

GROUP BEHAVIOUR

Most apes and monkeys live in groups, which helps keep them safe
from predators. They communicate with each other by using body
language and sounds. Chimpanzees even work together to hunt and
then share the food among the group.

CARE OF YOUNG SOCIAL LIFE BORNEAN ORANGUTAN
Monkeys and apes have one to two Grooming is important not only for
infants at a time, and may devote cleaning fur, but also for bonding

years to rearing their offspring. between group members.

126

GUEREZA OTHER PRIMATES

Many other species belong to the order
of primates. Lemurs are found only on the
island of Madagascar in Africa. Other relatives
of apes and monkeys include galagos, bandros,
and bushbabies, which are all nocturnal.

VERVET MONKEY MONA MONKEY

BROWN SENEGAL
GREATER BUSHBABY
GALAGO

HAMADRYAS GUINEA
BABOON BABOON

BANDRO

VERREAUX’S
SIFAK A

CRAB-EATING MACAQUE RHESUS MACAQUE TOQUE MACAQUE MANDRILL

LAR
GIBBON

BLACK GREATER
LEMUR BAMBOO
LEMUR

PILEATED WHITE-CHEEKED
GIBBON CRESTED GIBBON

SIAMANG

RING-TAILED MONGOOSE
LEMUR LEMUR

BONOBO RED-BELLIED
LEMUR
COMMON
CHIMPANZEE

BLACK AND
WHITE RUFFED

LEMUR

WESTERN RED-COLLARED
GORILLA LEMUR

127

Wild cats CONSERVATION KEY
Critically endangered
Sleek, stealthy, patient, and intelligent, wild cats are natural The threats to wild cats vary Endangered
killers. Most of them hunt on their own, using their claws according to where they live, Vulnerable
and teeth to catch, stab, and cut up their prey. They are but the main ones are poaching Near threatened
athletic, with supple, muscular bodies that are well adapted to and the loss of their habitat. Least concern
running, climbing, leaping, and even swimming. They live in Most of the big cats are now
various habitats across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. vulnerable or endangered.

AMUR BENGAL INDOCHINESE
LEOPARD TIGER CLOUDED
LEOPARD
SNOW AMUR DIARD’S CLOUDED
LEOPARD TIGER LEOPARD

ASIATIC AFRICAN JAGUAR
LION LION

SMALL WILD CATS

More than three-quarters of the
world’s wild cats are classified as
“small”. The 30 different species
have adapted to their environments –
their colours help them blend in.
Domestic cats were derived from
the North African wildcat.

SERVAL GEOFFROY’S CAT IBERIAN LYNX EUROPEAN WILDCAT EURASIAN
LYNX

FISHING CAT COLOCOLO CARACAL

BIG CATS

Lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards are
classed as cats. They all live alone,
except for lions, which live in a big group
known as a pride. The largest cats in
the world are the Bengal and Amur
tigers, which can weigh the same as
100 domestic cats.

LIONESS
CLOUDED LEOPARD

LION

128

BUILT FOR SPEED CALOCPSHREEEIYENTIAONHNJUCITSASTN Wind direction – As the lionesses attack,
60 SECONDS the lionesses the panicked prey run
The cheetah is the fastest land mammal on Earth – towards their predators
it can run at 113 km/h (70 mph). Strong muscles, large attack downwind so
lungs, and a large heart mean it can take in lots of their prey cannot
oxygen very fast and so accelerate very quickly. smell them
It has to rest after about 20–60 seconds.

1 STARTING LEAP 2 STRAIGHTENING OUT 3 FLEXED TO LAND Grazing Each lioness
A cheetah can run fast over The cheetah’s unusually The powerful back legs propel impala has a different
role. These
short distances only. It stalks its long and flexible spine the cheetah forward so well that the LION HUNTS three will
eventually kill
Lionesses do most of the hunting. the prey
Once killed the prey is feasted upon by
all that can get near enough. Youngsters The lionesses fan
usually give way to older members and out to surround
all are subordinate to the males. their prey

prey until it is very close, then means it can cover 7–8 m back feet overtake the forefeet,

suddenly rushes out of cover. (23–26 ft) in one single stride. ready to spring again.

LEOPARD CAT JUNGLE CAT BOB CAT MARGAY

SAND CAT

INDIAN DESERT CAT

PUMA OCELOT CHEETAH CANADIAN LYNX

A tiger’s stripes are
unique – no two tigers will
ever have the same pattern

BENGAL TIGER AMUR TIGER

SNOW LEOPARD AMUR LEOPARD BLACK LEOPARD JAGUAR

129

Whales and TEETH AND FILTERS
dolphins
Some whales have teeth for catching prey such as fish or
squid. Filter-feeding whales have comb-like plates called
baleen hanging from their upper jaw. As they swim, baleen
whales gulp water and the plates trap tiny prey.

Single blowhole Pair of blowholes Baleen plates
instead of teeth

Although they live in water, whales, dolphins, and TOOTHED WHALE Row of BALEEN WHALE
porpoises are all mammals. At intervals, they rise to the conical teeth
surface to breathe in fresh air and exhale stale air through
blowholes, similar to nostrils, on the top of their head.

WHALES

There are several distinct groups of whales.
Some are baleen whales, or filter feeders. These
include the blue whale, the biggest mammal in
the world. Others have teeth and sometimes
beaks as well. Depending on type, whales can
be found from coastal waters to the deep ocean.

HUMPBACK WHALE SPERM WHALE

SEI WHALE

BRYDE’S WHALE PYGMY RIGHT WHALE GRAY WHALE

MINKE WHALE
Small, stubby
dorsal fin

FIN WHALE

DOLPHINS HECTOR’S DOLPHIN HOURGLASS DOLPHIN WHITE-BEAKED TUCUXI
DOLPHIN ORCA
Apart from a few river species, dolphins
are ocean-dwellers. They come in many
patterns. Common dolphin features
include a beak and a bulging forehead.

STRIPED DOLPHIN MELON-HEADED WHALE RISSO’S DOLPHIN

ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN PYGMY KILLER WHALE FALSE KILLER WHALE

130

FROM LAND TO SEA MTEHAESBUL(1RU0EE0UWFPTHT) AOLOL3EN0CG.5AMN Body comes
out of the water
Fifty million years ago (MYA) the ancestors of whales were not
swimming in seas but living on land and walking on four legs.
These animals gradually started spending more time feeding
in water. Slowly, their bodies changed and whales eventually
left dry land forever.

Whale-like ear bones Flippers replace legs Tail propels the
body upwards
Whale re-enters
the water with
a splash

1 PAKICETUS (50 MYA) 2 DORUDON (38 MYA) 3 MODERN WHALE BREACHING
About the size of a large dog, Able to swim well, this early whale Perfectly adapted for ocean life, the
Whales often leap high out of the water
this animal sometimes swam had front flippers, tiny hindlimbs, and whale has a streamlined body, powerful and plunge back with a large splash. This
is called breaching, and scientists are not
after fish. Its fossilized ear bones a flexible tail. The nostrils had shifted flippers, and a flat tail to aid propulsion. sure why whales do it. Possibly it is a form
of signalling or helps to dislodge parasites.
match those of modern whales. to the top of the head as blowholes. The hindlegs have vanished.

BAIRD’S BEAKED WHALE CUVIER’S BEAKED WHALE GERVAIS’ BEAKED WHALE
PYGMY SPERM WHALE
NORTHERN BLAINVILLE’S BEAKED WHALE
BOTTLENOSED WHALE

SHEPHERD’S BEAKED WHALE

GRAY’S BEAKED WHALE

BLUE WHALE HUBBS’ BEAKED WHALE

STRAP-TOOTHED WHALE

GINKGO-TOOTHED BEAKED WHALE

BOWHEAD WHALE SOUTHERN INDUS RIVER DOLPHIN NARWHAL
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN RIGHT WHALE
Outgrowths of hard skin
ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHIN develop on head

BELUGA

PORPOISES

Most of this group are smaller and rounder-
bodied than their rwelatives. Porpoises are
usually found in shallow seas near the coast.

LONG-FINNED PILOT ATLANTIC SPOTTED FRANCISCANA
WHALE DOLPHIN
DALL’S PORPOISE SPECTACLED PORPOISE

PEALE’S DOLPHIN COMMON DOLPHIN AMAZON RIVER HARBOUR PORPOISE VAQUITA
DOLPHIN
Large, broad
flippers

COMMERSON’S DOLPHIN FRASER’S DOLPHIN DUSKY DOLPHIN FINLESS PORPOISE BURMEISTER’S PORPOISE

131

Animal WHAT DOES THE SKELETON DO?
skeletons
A skeleton provides an animal’s body with strength, shape, and
Without a skeleton, most animals would be a protection. Muscles are attached to the bones, and joints between
shapeless blob. Vertebrates, such as mammals bones enable movement. Bones also store vital minerals and
and birds, have a strong internal skeleton. Many produce red blood cells.
invertebrates, such as insects, have a protective
external skeleton, called an exoskeleton. SUPPORT PROTECTION MOVEMENT

The skeletal Bones such as the Bones act as levers
framework gives ribcage and skull and are points of
shape and strength protect vital organs attachment for
to an animal’s body. the muscles.
from injury.

INNER SKELETONS FLATFISH FISH SALAMANDER

All vertebrates have an inner skeleton
that supports the body and protects
the organs. The skeleton is usually
made of bone, although some
animals – such as sharks – have
a skeleton made of flexible cartilage.

FROG TURTLE TORTOISE

SNAKE CHAMELEON
GECKO
Long backbone has
hundreds of curved CAIMAN

ribs attached to it

Flexible backbone LIZARD
extends into a long tail

PENGUIN STARLING CROW DUCK PIGEON

BUZZARD KESTREL OWL EAGLE

132

OUTER RHINOCEROS BEETLE ECHINODERM
SKELETONS SKELETON
SEA URCHIN
Several groups of Echinoderms include marine JELLYFISH
invertebrates have an invertebrates like sea urchins and
armour-like external starfish. They have an exoskeleton
skeleton. The rigid casing made of plates, covered by a thin
protects inner organs from layer of skin. When these animals
damage and possibly grow, their skeleton grows
from predators. When with them.
insects or creatures such
as crabs grow, they shed HYDROSTATIC
their exoskeleton and make SKELETON
a new one.
The shape of many soft-bodied
LOBSTER invertebrates is supported by a
water-based “skeleton” consisting
DRAGONFLY of a fluid-filled cavity surrounded
by a muscular wall.
MEALWORM
TARANTULA CRAB MILLIPEDE LARVA

BAT SQUIRREL
HARE

BADGER

TSHHKAEEEANLLVEAETINLEOEDSNPTMHIOSAAFTNMAHTMLE’SLALS GORILLA CHIMPANZEE HUMAN

CAT MONKEY

WOLF

AFRICAN ELEPHANT HORSE TIGER

133

Dogs BODY DESIGN EVOLUTION

People and dogs have been Dogs can be big or small, tall or short, shaggy or There are around 500 million
together for at least 12,000 hairless. The variations are many, but the basic dogs worldwide. All of them are
years. All dogs are descendants body design of a dog is the same for all. related to each other through
of grey wolves that left the wild their ancestor, the grey wolf.
for the camps of prehistoric
hunters. Since those distant Upper Shoulder WOLVES
times, hundreds of different thigh Breastbone Tribespeople
dog breeds have been created all over the
in all sizes and types. Belly Foreleg ancient world
Wrist began to tame
Hock wolves as
Toes useful hunting
companions.

DOGS
People began
to breed dogs
for specific
purposes and in
doing so changed
and standardized
their form.

CLOSE TO WOLVES

After centuries of change, most dogs are no
longer at all like their wolf ancestors. Just a few
are still close to the original wolf form. Some are
popular pets and others are semi-wild.

IBIZAN HOUND PHARAOH HOUND PORTUGUESE MEXICAN
PODENGO HAIRLESS

CANAAN PERUVIAN INCA NEW GUINEA CAROLINA BASENJI PERUVIAN
ORCHID SINGING DOG HAIRLESS
SPITZ DOGS
GREENLAND LAIKA
The most famous spitz DOG
dogs are breeds such
as the husky, which was
once used for sled-pulling
on polar expeditions. Spitz
dogs have immensely
thick, double coats
and furry feet.

SIBERIAN HUSKY SAMOYED CHOW CHOW

TERRIERS SCOTTISH WEST HIGHLAND FOX JACK RUSSELL YORKSHIRE CAIRN TERRIER NORFOLK
TERRIER WHITE TERRIER TERRIER TERRIER TERRIER TERRIER
Bold and lively, terriers BULL
come in many different TERRIER RUSSIAN BLACK
sizes and types. They TERRIER
are strong-willed and COCKER
must be trained properly SPANIEL
to prevent bad habits,
such as chasing other HUNGARIAN
pets. The favourite VIZSLA
game of many terriers
is digging holes.

BOSTON TERRIER MANCHESTER WHEATEN BEDLINGTON
TERRIER TERRIER TERRIER

GUNDOGS SPANISH LAGOTTO BRITTANY
WATER DOG ROMAGNOLO
These dogs were

developed to work with

hunters. Some are used

for locating prey. Other

gundogs drive game birds

out of cover and pick up

those that are shot.

GOLDEN IRISH CHESAPEAKE
RETRIEVER SETTER BAY RETRIEVER

134

KEEN NOSES HUMAN 5 A DOG’S-EYE VIEW BEHAVIOUR
CAT 200
The nose of a dog is DOG 300 Dogs have a wider field of vision than When pet dogs do things
packed with hundreds humans, so can see more without
of millions of smell 0 100 200 300 400 moving their heads. They see detail such as stopping to
sensors. These pick clearly, have good 3-D vision, and
up detailed messages SMELL SENSORS (IN MILLIONS) can see movement at long range. mark a tree, they are
about the world.
behaving as a wolf

would in the wild. Dogs

Range seen Range seen and wolves also use the
by left eye by right eye
same body language. HOWLING MARKING TERRITORY
Dogs leave
Range seen Dogs don’t howl often.
by both eyes They howl if they are shut scent markings
in alone, possibly because to communicate with
EARS
they want company. other dogs.
There are a
large variety of ERECT CANDLE FLAME ROSE DIGGING
dog ear shapes. Dogs dig to bury
Most dogs have NOSE LICKING YAWNING things and to reach
good hearing, animals that live
and pointy-eared A lick of the nose Yawning is a calming
dogs hear better is usually a sign that signal. Dogs yawn to underground.
than droopy- deflect threats and
eared breeds. a dog is calming ST BERNARD
itself down. avoid conflict.
BUTTON DROP PENDANT RANGE OF VISION DOBERMANN

WORKING PEMBROKE AFGHAN HOUND
DOGS WELSH CORGI

Herding sheep
and cattle, guarding
property, and rescuing
lost people are some
of the jobs done by
working dogs. Many
of these breeds make
very good pets.

MASTIFF HUNGARIAN PULI ROUGH COLLIE

SCENT HOUNDS BASSET HOUND

With the best noses of
all dog breeds, scent
hounds have been used
for centuries to track
prey. They have strong
hunting instincts
and some work
well in a pack.

DACHSHUND BEAGLE RHODESIAN BILLY
RIDGEBACK

SIGHT IRISH SALUKI GREYHOUND
HOUNDS WOLFHOUND

Slender and
long-legged, these
hounds are swift
hunters that follow
prey by sight. They
are mainly kept
today for racing
and as pets.

COMPANION
DOGS

Many breeds, most of CHIHUAHUA BICHON
FRISE
them small, have been RUSSIAN
TOY POODLE
specially produced FRENCH DALMATIAN
BULLDOG
to make good

companions. They

are designed to have

appealing looks and

affectionate natures. THAI HIMALAYAN
RIDGEBACK KING CHARLES SPANIEL SHEEPDOG
LHASA APSO PUG

CROSSBREEDS LUCAS
TERRIER
Some dogs are the result
of a planned cross between BICHON
two recognized breeds. YORKIE
Dogs with unknown
parentage are called GOLDENDOODLE LABRADOODLE BULL COCKERPOO LURCHER
mixed breeds. BOXER

135

Cats SHORT-HAIRED
CATS
Tens of millions of pet cats are kept worldwide. Some of these
are pedigrees – breeds “designed” with a special look, such as The first cats to be kept as
a striking coat pattern or long hair. Most people love cats just pets, probably about 4,000
for their appealing personalities and independent ways. years ago, were short-haired.
This type is the favourite with
cat owners today. Colours and
markings show up clearly on short
hair and the coat is easy to groom.

AGILE BODY

Cats are built for speed and agility. A bendy spine and
loose-fitting skin allow them to twist and stretch in all
directions. Powerful leg muscles enable them to run
fast, leap high, and climb.

CHARTREUX KHAO MANEE

EYES The tail
provides
A reflective layer in balance
the eye helps a cat when the
see well at night. This cat jumps
layer gleams green and climbs
when light strikes it.

MUNCHKIN

WHISKERS Strong hindlegs
The touch-sensitive give cats a
whiskers help a cat to powerful spring
judge the width of gaps.

Loose-fitting SIAMESE
skin allows
easy movement LONG-HAIRED CATS

TONGUE The sharp claws These cats are shaggy, silky, or
retract (pull back) fluffy, depending on type. Some
Tiny barbs on a cat’s into a pocket in longhairs, such as the Persian,
tongue give it a rough the foot when have an immensely thick
texture. This is useful for not needed underlayer to their coat that needs
grooming and for licking daily brushing and combing.

meat from bones.

TAIL LANGUAGE AAHSMEITRGOOTNTAFHTOIEOLLRULHCOPEAWRRTIGKHHHIETOTRTLAEDNSSS TRUE OR FALSE? BLACK CATS
BRING BAD LUCK
A cat uses its tail to give out Cats are mysterious animals. False. This is folklore
messages about its feelings. It is not surprising that that is repeated in many
Learning to read this “language” people wonder what to regions. Some people
helps us to understand cats. believe about them. These say black cats are lucky.
are some popular sayings.
CATS CAN BE RIGHT- TURKISH VAN
CATS HAVE NINE LIVES PAWED OR LEFT-PAWED SIBERIAN
False. Cats are good at True. Female cats are NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT
landing on their feet after a more likely to use the
fall or getting out of trouble right paw, while male
but they have only one life. cats tend to use the left.

PLEASED/EXCITED WATCHFUL READY TO ATTACK ANXIOUS CATS SPEND MOST OF CATS USE THEIR
Pointing straight up Twitching slightly Held bristling Upright and WHISKERS FOR BALANCE
from side to side. over the back. fluffed out. THEIR TIME SLEEPING False. Cats’ whiskers are
and quivering. True. Even an active cat “feelers” for finding the
sleeps on average for way, not for balancing.
about two-thirds of its day.

KITTENS 1 FOUR DAYS 2 TWO WEEKS 3 FOUR WEEKS 4 EIGHT WEEKS 5 TEN WEEKS
Although its eyes are The eyes have Already toddling Very active, the The kitten is nearly
Born blind and
helpless, kittens turn glued shut, the kitten can opened, but the kitten about, the kitten uses kitten is learning how independent and ready
into cats in a very
short time. At about sense its surroundings. cannot see very well. its tail for balance. to be a grown-up cat. to leave its mother.
10 weeks old they no
longer rely on their
mother. They can
wash themselves,
climb, jump, and
hunt pretend prey.

136

BOMBAY EXOTIC TONKINESE ABYSSINIAN EGYPTIAN MAU BURMESE
SHORTHAIR

OCICAT SAVANNAH DEVON REX SNOWSHOE BRITISH SHORTHAIR MANX
ORIENTAL
RUSSIAN SCOTTISH AUSTRALIAN HAIRLESS CATS
BLUE FOLD MIST
A few breeds of cats are almost
BENGAL completely hairless. One of the
best known is the Sphynx,
which has just a fine fuzz
covering its body.

JAPANESE BOBTAIL

SPHYNX

KORAT ASIAN SINGAPURA SELKIRK REX

KINKALOW KURILIAN PIXIEBOB LONGHAIR BIRMAN
BOBTAIL

TURKISH
ANGORA

AMERICAN LAPERM
CURL LONGHAIR

SOMALI PERSIAN

SCOTTISH FOLD CYMRIC MUNCHKIN
LONGHAIR TIFFANIE LONGHAIR

RAGDOLL CHANTILLY MAINE COON BALINESE-JAVANESE
TIFFANY

137

Horses NAMING PARTS

People are thought to have first tamed wild horses for riding and The various parts of a horse’s body have
pulling loads around 6,000 years ago. Until modern times, the horse special names, which riders and other
was the fastest form of transport available and an essential part of people who work with horses always
farming life. Today, horses are mostly used for leisure riding and use. These parts are often referred to
other sports. There are hundreds of different breeds of all sizes. as the “points” of a horse.

Forelock

Crest (topline
of neck)

EVOLUTION EVOMLOVLDEAEDSRDTNUIHCROEINRAGSGETESHE
OF THE HORSE

Forerunners of the

horse first appeared

55 million years ago

(MYA). These animals,

about the size of a small

dog, looked very different

from modern horses. HYRACOTHERIUM MIOHIPPUS MERYCHIPPUS PLIOHIPPUS EQUUS
(55–45 MYA) (32–25 MYA) (17–11 MYA) (12–6 MYA) (5 MYA–PRESENT)
The pictures here show 1 2 3 4 5

some of the stages of This little forest- Some prehistoric The size of a pony, Pliohippus looked Modern horses appeared

the horse’s evolution. dwelling animal horses were growing Merychippus lived more like the horses first in North America

had padded toes taller by this period. on grassy plains. we know today. and then spread widely. Withers
(highest point
instead of hoofs. of shoulders)

HEAVY HORSES Flank

Also called draught or working
horses, these large, strongly
built animals are bred for
hauling heavy loads. They
were once widely used for
farm work but most of them
are now kept for showing and
other competitions.

SHIRE CLYDESDALE POITEVIN ARDENNAIS

PERCHERON NORMAN COB SUFFOLK PUNCH JUTLAND

LIGHT HORSES

These horses are
smaller and less
powerful than draught
horses. They are widely
used for leisure riding
and in sports such as
racing, showjumping,
and carriage driving.

THOROUGHBRED ANDALUCIAN ARABIAN

Hock (joint Fetlock
similar to joint

DANISH KNABSTRUP KARABAKH APPALOOSA human
WARMBLOOD ankle)

138 Hoof

HOW HORSES SEE LEG MARKINGS HORSE HEIGHT

As prey animals, horses need to Horses often have one or more white markings on Traditionally, horses are measured in
their legs. The markings are given different names units called “hands”. One hand is 10.2 cm
spot danger. Eyes on the sides of depending on how far up the leg they extend. (4 in) – about the width of a person’s hand.
If a horse is, say, 16 hands 2 in in height,
their heads give them almost all- the measurement is given as 16.2 hh
(hands high).
round vision. Blind spot

Best Best
vision vision

Muzzle Range Range
seen by seen
left eye by right
only eye only

SOCK HALF STOCKING STOCKING MINIATURE HUMAN SHIRE
10 hh 183 cm 17.2 hh
(72 in) (178 cm/70 in)
(102 cm/40 in)

HEAD MARKINGS COAT
COLOURS
White markings on a horse’s head are very common and
occur with many coat colours. They are named according Horses have many
to their pattern. coat colours and
patterns. Manes
and tails are often BLACK LIGHT GREY PIEBALD
a different colour
from the body.

BROWN PALOMINO DUN

SNIP STAR STRIPE BLAZE CHESTNUT DAPPLE GREY SKEWBALD

Barrel (area PONIES
of body shaped
by ribs) A pony is a small
horse standing no taller
than 147 cm (58 in) – ERISKAY PONY SUMBA CHINCOTEAGUE
14.2 hh – at the highest
part of its back. There
are many breeds native
to different countries
and regions.

Pastern
(part of foot
above hoof)

Stifle (knee-like SKYRIAN SHETLAND GOTLAND SORRAIA HAFLINGER
joint between hip PONY
bone and leg)

CONNEMARA BASHKIR PONY OF THE AMERICAS EXMOOR WELSH MOUNTAIN PONY
DONKEY
RELATIVES

Domestic horses have several
relatives. These are various
types of asses and zebras.
Only one breed of wild horse
still exists – Przewalski’s
horse from Central Asia.

AFRICAN WILD ASS ZEBRA PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE ONAGER

139

DUCKS AND GEESE CHICKENS

These birds are kept for meat and Farmers around the world
eggs, and sometimes their soft downy raise about 50 billion chickens
feathers are used for quilted bedding a year. Some birds are reared
and clothing. Large and noisy, geese for their meat and others as
are wary of anything suspicious and egg-layers.
make very good “watchdogs”.

BRAHMA

KHAKI CAMPBELL MUSCOVY PEKIN
DUCK DUCK BANTAM

WHITE PEKIN DUCK INDIAN RUNNER DUCK EMBDEN GOOSE TOULOUSE GOOSE BUFF ORPINGTON CUCKOO MARANS LIGHT SUSSEX GOLDEN-LACED
W YANDOT TE

Farm animals

Many animals that were once wild are now reared on
farms to provide us with food or materials. Some farms
specialize in one type of animal – for example, cows,
pigs, or chickens – while others rear a variety of livestock.

CATTLE BROWN DEXTER

There are many types of cattle,
some kept for milking, others for
providing beef. After thousands
of years of careful breeding,
domestic cattle look very little
like their wild ancestors.

FRIESIAN

GREYFACE
DARTMOOR

HIGHLAND HEREFORD SHEEP
HOLSTEIN
Usually given more freedom to roam
than most farm animals, sheep are kept,
sometimes in huge numbers, for meat
and wool. Some breeds are shorn of their
thick coats, known as fleeces, every year.

COTSWOLD LINCOLN LONGWOOL

LONGHORN JERSEY WENSLEYDALE TEXEL CROSS HEBRIDEAN JACOB

140

THE FIRST 8500 BCE 8000 BCE 4500 BCE 3000 BCE 400 BCE
FARM ANIMALS Goats and Cattle – Asia, Llama – Camels – Rabbits –
sheep – Asia North Africa South America Asia
Farming developed over France
thousands of years, as people 8500 bce 8000 BCE
gradually learned which animals Chickens – South 400 ce
could be useful to them. They and Southeast
also found out how to handle the Asia 7000 BCE 5000 BCE 4000 BCE
larger, more dangerous ones such Pigs – Middle Donkey – North Africa
as horses and camels. The dates East Alpaca and
when most animals were first guinea Horse – Europe
farmed are not known exactly. pigs – South and Asia
America

GOATS PIGS

Worldwide, goats are popular for their milk, meat, Most domestic pigs are used
and hair. Easier to keep and feed than cattle, they for producing pork, ham, and
are particularly important to many small farmers bacon, while a few are kept for
in Asia and Africa. showing. The largest numbers
of pigs are farmed in China.

BRITISH SADDLEBACK

GOLDEN BAGOT
GUERNSEY

GLOUCESTER LARGE BLACK
OLD SPOT

ANGORA BRITISH ALPINE PYGMY PIETRAIN LARGE WHITE

DONKEY OTHER FARM ANIMALS 100ATFOHLOOOCNWORELNEYLREEBSCCETETINAMPROOANLYLEVETNISRIITP

Donkeys or camels are often the main milk providers in
countries where there are few cattle. Instead of rearing
large animals for meat, some farms breed small
ones such as guinea pigs and rabbits. Turkey is
a popular alternative to chicken meat, and quails
are raised for meat and eggs. Alpacas and
llamas are bred for their fine wool.

QUAIL GUINEA PIG RABBIT TURKEY BEEKEEPING

HERDWICK Many people keep bees for
fun, but beekeeping is also
run as a farming business.
Some beekeepers look after
hundreds of hives and sell
their honey and beeswax
to big customers such
as supermarkets.

MANX LOAGHTAN CAMEL ALPACA LLAMA

141

Forest TYPES OF FORESTS MAMMALS

About 30 per cent of the world’s land area is Some forests contain many different Many forest mammals feed on leaves,
forest. These large areas of trees form dense species of trees, while others contain large fruit, nuts, and seeds. Others, including
canopies, which restrict the amount of light groups of the same type. In some parts of many bats, prey on insects. Small
that reaches the ground. The types of trees the world, trees need special adaptations mammals are targeted by bigger
in the forest vary with the climate, but all to survive cold, hot, dry, or wet seasons. hunters such as foxes, and some
are home to a range of plants and animals. forests support packs of wolves.
TEMPERATE DRY
These forests have POLECAT
hot, dry summers
and mild, wet AMERICAN MINK
winters. Trees
WHERE ON can be evergreen OTTER
EARTH? or deciduous.
EURASIAN
Forests grow wherever TEMPERATE BADGER
the climate is warm and DECIDUOUS
rainy enough to support EUROPE A deciduous tree has
large numbers of trees. large, thin leaves that
This allows forest of make food in summer.
different types to grow In winter, when the
on every continent, except weather is cold and
Antarctica – from the hot, there is little sun,
tropical rainforests near the deciduous trees shed
equator to the cooler, snowy their leaves.
forests in the Arctic region.
NORTH ASIA
AMERICA

AFRICA BOREAL

EQUATOR EVERGREEN
In cold regions, the
SOUTH OCEANIA summer is too short BEECH
AMERICA for deciduous trees MARTEN
to grow well. Here,
most of the trees are HEDGEHOG
conifers, with tough,
needle-shaped
leaves that are
resistant to the cold.

BIODIVERSITY RACCOON STRIPED SKUNK

Every natural forest has a variety of trees and other plants, and provides homes Oak tree BIRDS
for many animals. In regions with cold winters and warm summers, many trees
lose their leaves in winter. Animals survive by lying low or moving somewhere In forests with cold winters, many of
warmer, but the new spring growth feeds masses of insects that support birds the birds are summer visitors from
and other animals. warmer regions. They nest, raise
their young, then leave. Other birds
Silver birch tree stay in the forest all year round.

Red kite

COAL TIT

Chaffinch

BARN OWL ROBIN

Red deer PLANT LIFE
and fawn
Many different types of
Sapling trees grow in forests.
(young They shelter a variety of
tree) smaller plants that can
grow in shady conditions.
Grey squirrel Badger In deciduous forests, MOSS
Greater spotted sett with some small plants flower
badger in spring before they are
woodpecker cubs shaded by the new leaves
Dogwood growing on the trees.
European badger
Campion Fly agaric
fungus Foxgloves
Rabbits Roosting
Den with tawny owl
Leaf litter fox cubs Wood
Mistlethrush anemones
Blackbird
Nettles Red fox ENGLISH OAK MONTPELLIER
MAPLE
142

BANK VOLE EURASIAN WILD BOAR
DORMOUSE

NOCTULE BAT

SIKA DEER RED FOX
KOALA

EURASIAN LYNX

ROE DEER

RED PANDA COYOTE GREY WOLF BROWN BEAR

MAGPIE INVERTEBRATES TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
EURASIAN BUTTERFLY
BULLFINCH Most forest animals are
insects, spiders, snails,
worms, and other invertebrates.
They flourish in summer, but
most of them hide away or
die off in winter.

MANDARIN DUCK BLACKBIRD COMMON GREEN
CROSSBILL WOODPECKER

LADYBIRD WOOD ANT

KINGFISHER NORTHERN MALLARD EURASIAN WOOD DUCK HORNET STAG BEETLE COMMON
GOSHAWK SPARROWHAWK WASP

STINGING HART’S LADY WAKE ROBIN WOOD BRITISH WOOD SORREL FUNGI AND LICHEN
FERN ANEMONE BLUEBELL LICHENS
DANDELION NETTLE TONGUE FERN
Dead leaves and
other plant remains
are recycled by
mushrooms and other
fungi. They break down
the tough plant tissue
and turn it into food for
other plants. Lichens are
relatives of fungi that can
make their own food.

BEECH EUCALYPTUS COMMON ASPEN BEACH PINE SCOTCH PINE CEDAR MUSHROOMS ORANGE LICHEN

143

EMERGENT LAYER BLUE MORPHO SCARLET

The forest has many layers, BUTTERFLY MACAW
which give animals different Central and Mexico to South
places to live. Soaring above South America
the rest of the forest, a few America
extra-tall trees form the
highest layer. These HARPY
giants make good
perches for birds. EAGLE
Mexico to

South
America

EMERGENT LAYER SUNLIGHT HANGING DENDROBIUM ORCHID
CANOPY PARROT Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
UNDERSTOREY
CANOPY SHINING-GREEN WHITE-THROATED AFRICAN
FOREST FLOOR HUMMINGBIRD TOUCAN
RIVER Most of the forest trees South America GREY PARROT
have broad crowns that South America West and
form a continuous layer
of branches called the Central Africa
canopy. This is where
many of the animals
live and feed, high
above the forest floor.

SUNLIGHT BLUE POISON- RED-EYED GREEN TREE PYTHON MISTLETOE
DART FROG TREE FROG New Guinea; Australia CACTUS
Central America
South America Central America

UNDERSTOREY FRANQUET’S KUHL’S
FLYING GECKO
Beneath the canopy is a layer FRUIT BAT Southeast Asia
of smaller trees and shrubs West and
that can grow in the shade of the Central Africa
tall trees. It is alive with insects,
lizards, and tree-living snakes.

PARSON’S
CHAMELEON
Madagascar

MAGNIFICENT EMERALD TREE BOA CHIMPANZEE
BIRD OF PARADISE South America West to Central Africa
SUNLIGHT Papua New Guinea

FOREST FLOOR WESTERN GORILLA
Central Africa
The dim light at ground level
means that few plants can grow, TIGER CENTIPEDE GOLDEN SCARAB
except in clearings. Fallen fruit Southeast Asia South America
and seeds provide food for small
animals, which are hunted by
predators such as jaguars.

EMPEROR
SCORPION

Africa

SUNLIGHT RAFFLESIA KING COBRA MANDRILL
Southeast Asia South and Southeast Asia Central Africa

RIVER MATAMATA TURTLE PIRANHA CAPYBARA
South America South America South America
Thick vegetation grows along the sunlit
banks of rivers. In the rainy season, NILE CROCODILE
some rivers swell so high that they Africa
overflow and flood vast areas of the
surrounding forest.

SUNLIGHT MADAGASCAN
TOMATO FROGS

Madagascar

144

VAMPIRE BAT KAPOK TREE Rainforest
Mexico to South America Mexico; Central and South
Tropical rainforests grow in regions that are
BRAZIL NUT TREE America; West Africa always warm and wet, so trees and other plants
South America can grow, flower, and produce seeds and fruit
BLACK all year round. The trees provide homes and food
SPIDER for an amazing variety of animals, with more
MONKEY different species than anywhere else on Earth.
South
America

MALAYAN FLYING FOX
Southeast Asia

KINKAJOU MALACHITE TAWNY RAJAH WHERE IN THE WORLD? NORTH EUROPE ASIA
Mexico to North to South South Asia AMERICA AFRICA
South America Tropical rainforests grow near the NEW
America equator. The climate here is hot and GUINEA
wet all year round, and has no cold
winters or dry summers. The biggest EQUATOR OCEANIA
areas of rainforest are in Central and
GUEREZA South America, Central Africa, Southeast SOUTH
West and Asia, and New Guinea. There are smaller AMERICA
Central Africa patches in Madagascar, India, and
PILEATED GIBBON ANT PLANT northern Australia.
SOUTH AMERICAN Southeast Asia Southeast Asia;
COATI THE AMAZON TROPICAL
POSTMAN BUTTERFLY Australia RAINFOREST IS THE
South America Central and
PITCHER PLANT LARGEST IN THE WORLD
South America Southeast Asia;
DEADLY LIFE IN TYPES OF RAINFORESTS
Australia THE RAINFOREST
The nature of rainforests depends on where
The forests provide homes for they grow. The tallest trees grow in the warm
many dangerous animals and lowlands, while smaller trees and different
plants. This list includes types of plants grow higher up in the
some of the most mountains where the climate is cooler.
deadly.
LOWLAND
JUNGLE NYMPH BROMELIAD PLANT COCOA TREE POISON-DART FROG RAINFOREST
Southeast Asia Mexico to South America Central and The warm, wet
South America These tiny, but vividly STRAWBERRY lowland rainforest
coloured frogs from POISON-DART FROG has the most plant
tropical America release and animal life, and
toxins through their skin. the richest variety
of species.
GABOON VIPER
CLOUD FOREST
This heavy-bodied Mountain forests are
venomous snake lurks often hidden in the
in ambush on the clouds. The trees
African forest floor. are always wet and
covered with mosses.
GIANT ANTEATER JAGUAR CURARE GABOON
Central and Central and VIPER FLOODED
South America Extracted from various RAINFOREST
South America South American plants, Every year, forests
curare was used to poison near rivers become
the tips of blow darts flooded. The trees
for hunting. are surrounded by
water inhabited by
BRAZILIAN fish and turtles.
WANDERING SPIDER

This big, long-legged hunter is the world’s most
deadly spider.

BULLET ANT

Native to Central and South America, this giant
ant has such a painful sting that people say it
feels like being hit by a bullet from a gun.

LOSING THE
RAINFORESTS

At least half the world’s

rainforests have been

SCARLET IBIS cut down for timber or to
South America;
make way for farms. An
Caribbean
area the size of a football AGRICULTURE CATTLE RANCHES LOGGING MINING

ANACONDA pitch is cut down every Trees are felled so Meat for burgers Many rainforest Minerals such as
South America crops can be grown is produced on trees are cut copper are mined
second. If people carry on the land. Some ranches – fields of
and Trinidad grass created on down for valuable from huge pits
on doing this, the forests crops are used land that was timber called dug in the forest.
once rainforest. These can cause
will disappear. to make fuel for hardwood, which
is sold worldwide. river pollution.
our cars.

145

Savanna UNDER THREAT BROWSERS AND GRAZERS

Tropical regions of the world that are The wild animals and plants of the The plant life of the savannas provides food for a
too dry for dense rainforest support savanna are threatened by poaching, wide variety of animals. Some are browsers, which
open grasslands with scattered trees habitat loss and fragmentation, gather the leaves of trees and bushes. Others are
are known as savannas. In the farming, and climate change. grazers, which mainly
tropical wet season, they are lush and eat grass and
green, but for half the year they are HUNTING often live in
hot, dry, and scorched by wildfires. big herds.
Illegal hunting of savanna animals such as
elephants, rhinos, and gazelles is endangering GRANT’S IMPALA
some species. These animals will become GAZELLE
extinct if it continues.
WHERE IN NORTH EUROPE
THE WORLD? AMERICA OVERGRAZING

Tropical grasslands form EQUATOR AFRICA ASIA Many farmers keep goats and cattle on the
in warm regions near the OCEANIA savanna. If there are too many animals, they
equator that have long SOUTH eat all the wild plants, and the grassland will
dry seasons. They include AMERICA turn into a barren desert.
the African savannas,
and similar grasslands FARMING
in South America, India,
and northern Australia. More of the savanna is being turned into
farmland. Almost half of the wild tropical
grassland in South America is now planted
with crops such as maize.

WATER LOSS

Farm crops need regular watering to survive
the tropical dry season. The water is taken
from natural sources, so there is not enough
left for wild animals and plants.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Global climate change may result in more
grasslands turning to desert. But it may also
cause some rainforest regions to dry out and
become savanna grasslands.

EMU HIPPOPOTAMUS

AROUND HUNTERS AND
THE WORLD SCAVENGERS

Many tropical Powerful hunters such as lions
grasslands are dry prey on the big plant-eating animals.
with just a few trees. Others, including the giant anteater,
Others are more hunt insects. Scavengers eat the
thickly wooded, or remains of dead animals.
become flooded by
seasonal rains. Some SHORTGRASS SAVANNA WOODED FLOODED SAVANNA MONTANE BLACK
have plants adapted VULTURE
for life on high The Serengeti in SAVANNA Much of the Llanos SAVANNA
mountains. east Africa is a This savanna in in South America Above the tree line
sea of grass dotted Australia is more it is cooler than in
like open woodland. floods in the shortgrass savanna.
with trees. rainy season.

LIFE IN THE SAVANNA TOH1INEN0LAYCTFMHRREIE(C4CDAEIRNNIYV)SESOASEFVAARASRANOOINNNUA,ND

The plants and animals of typical savannas are adapted to survive Acacias are
months without rain. Many of the plants are able to avoid losing tough trees
too much moisture, and the animals learn where to find supplies able to cope
of vital drinking water. with drought

Lions prey on the many Elephants are the Giraffes are
grazers that roam the biggest animals tall enough
grassy plains in the savanna to reach
leaves in
Wildebeest migrate the treetops SERVAL LION
to find food
and water

REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS,
AND INSECTS

The savanna grasslands swarm with insects such
as flies, beetles, and termites. There are also many
species of frogs, lizards, and snakes.

The aardvark hides Living in packs, The cheetah Gazelles are These zebras have AFRICAN ROCK PYTHON
in a burrow during hyenas hunt relies on its often fast enough found a pool formed NILE MONITOR
the day to avoid the to outrun cheetahs – after a rare rainstorm
and scavenge. amazing speed but not always
very hot sun to catch its prey

146

EASTERN GREY
KANGAROO

MARSH DEER GNU AFRICAN SAVANNA
ELEPHANT

AFRICAN WHITE RHINOCEROS GIRAFFE CAPYBARA
BUFFALO
PLANTS
AFRICAN WHITE-
BACKED VULTURE Grasses and other small plants survive
the dry season by allowing the parts above
ground to die back. When rain comes, they
sprout from roots or seeds. Acacia trees
are tough enough to avoid drying up, while
baobab trees store water in their trunks.

GIANT MANED WOLF AFRICAN
ANTEATER WILD DOG

SCPLLLOGIEAVTRDNETOSEBIUND,YPWSLHFAHEYCMRIAECGNALHELALEAESDSRE ACACIA

JAGUAR SPOTTED
HYENA

TERMITE TSETSE FLY DUNG AFRICAN
BEETLE BULLFROG
CANE TOAD

TASMANIAN BLUE GUM

SAVANNA COMMON EGG-
MONITOR EATING SNAKE

LEOPARD TORTOISE

AGAMA LIZARD BAOBAB

147

Deserts MAMMALS MEERKAT CARACAL

Deserts are the driest habitats on Earth, Most desert mammals CHINESE
with less than 25 cm (10 in) of rainfall are small animals that hide HAMSTER
a year. They may be hot, cold, or coastal, in burrows during the day
depending on their geographic position, to avoid the heat. Larger
but all are dry. Desert animals and mammals such as camels
plants must be able to survive with little are adapted to withstand
or no water and endure significant daily the heat and retain water.
ranges in temperature.
ARABIAN AFRICAN
SPINY MOUSE WILD ASS

WHERE FENNEC
IN THE FOX
WORLD?
NORTH EUROPE
The biggest deserts AMERICA
are in the hot, dry parts ASIA BACTRIAN SHORT-BEAKED RED
of north Africa, Arabia, EQUATOR CAMEL ECHIDNA KANGAROO
and Australia. Other
deserts have formed SOUTH AFRICA OCEANIA
in Asia and the AMERICA
Americas, in places REPTILES
that are far from ANTARCTICA DESERT
oceans, or cut off by The scaly, waterproof bodies TORTOISE
mountain ranges. of lizards and other reptiles
stop them drying out under DABB LIZARD
TYPES OF DESERTS SAND DUNES the desert sun. Many snakes GREY-BANDED SIDEWINDER
have a venomous bite, so that KINGSNAKE
All deserts share one feature – they are The desert wind can blow dry they can kill prey quickly without
very dry. But they form in many ways, sand into heaps called dunes. When using too much energy.
and each desert is different. Many are the wind loses strength, it drops the
sandy, others are rocky, and a few are sand suspended in it. The shape
snowy. Some are not as dry as others, the resulting dunes form depends
and have a lot of plant life. on wind direction and sand texture.

Wind GILA FRINGE-
MONSTER TOED LIZARD

SINALOAN RED SPITTING DIADEM THORNY
MILK SNAKE COBRA SNAKE DEVIL

HOT DESERT CRESCENT DUNES PLANTS MESCAL
In deserts such as the Sahara, heat makes any These dunes have less sand at their edges, CACTUS
moisture dry up. These deserts are hot by day Most desert plants have very deep
and cold by night. They can be sandy or stony. meaning those parts of the dune move or wide-spreading roots to gather
faster, giving a distinctive crescent shape. water – some have both. Cactus plants,
euphorbias, and others have spongy
Wind stems that store water.
Other plants survive as
seeds, which sprout
after rare rainfall.

COLD DESERT TRANSVERSE DUNES PRICKLY
Cold deserts are far from oceans. They are Constant winds form long ridges of sand PEAR
much cooler than hot deserts, with short that look like waves on the sea. The crests
summers and heavy snowfall in the winter.
lie across the direction of the wind.

Wind

COASTAL DESERT STAR DUNES DESERT ROSE HEDGEHOG EUPHORBIA CARDON
Where deserts occur by the sea they may be Where the wind blows from different CACTUS CACTUS
covered in fog but still go for years without directions, it heaps up sand in irregular
shapes. These dunes can grow very big.
rainfall, remaining very dry.

148