Andrew T. Smith is the Parents Association Professor of Life Sciences at Arizona State University. Yan Xie is associate research professor in the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Robert S. Hoffmann, now retired, was director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. Darrin Lunde is collections manager in the Department of Mammalogy at the American Museum of Natural History. John MacKinnon is a zoologist...

A comprehensive natural history of one of Britain's favorite animals. The badger has for many years occupied a unique place in the British consciousness. Despite the fact that most people have never seen one, the badger has become one of Britain's best-loved animals. The number of organizations that use the badger as a logo, the number of websites featuring information about badgers, and the number of voluntary badger protection societies that exist...

Best known today for The Weather Makers, his #1 international bestseller, Tim Flannery is one of the world's most influential scientists, a foremost expert on climate change credited with discovering more species than Charles Darwin. But Flannery didn't come to his knowledge overnight. With its selection of exhilarating essays and articles written over the past 25 years, An Explorer's Notebook charts the evolution of a young scientist doing fieldwork...

The hedgehog is regularly voted Britain's favourite mammal, and yet we know surprisingly little about the life of this spiny mammal. Pat Morris provides an all-encompassing new study of the hedgehog and its habitat, shedding new light on conservation efforts crucial to the survival of this charming creature of our countryside. In recent years the hedgehog has ousted the badger, dolphin and red squirrel from heading the list of the most popular...

When Simon Cooper bought an abandoned water mill that straddles a small chalk stream in southern England, little did he know that he would come to share the mill with a family of wild otters. Yet move in they did, allowing him to begin to observe them, soon immersing himself in their daily routines and movements. He developed an extraordinary close relationship with the family, which in turn gave him a unique insight into the life of these fascinating...

A large pink and black lizard crawls slowly from its burrow. The hungry reptile is leaving its underground home to search for a meal of eggs. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its young audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Activities, such as describing the gila monster to a friend and discussing...

With their large, round ears, patchwork coat, and bone-crunching jaws, African wild dogs are some of the most distinctive animals roaming the African plains. And their pups are among the cutest of all canines! African wild dogs live in large packs, led by a male and female. The female gives birth to her pups in an underground den, and she and other members of the pack work together to care for and protect the furry babies until they are big enough...

Raccoons are common sights in many residential areas. The rings around their eyes and their sneaky behavior have led to the nickname "masked bandit." They've adapted well to living around people, and these animals can cause a lot of mischief as they rifle through our trash for food! This book introduces readers to interesting facts about raccoons, from their behavior to their diet. Readers are invited to think critically about the impact that raccoons...

As night falls, a tiny, furry creature with enormous eyes emerges from a hole beneath a scrubby desert bush. Always alert to a sudden attack by one of its many predators, the little kangaroo rat searches for food. Packed with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its young audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking....

A porcupine warns an enemy that gets too close by raising the quills on its back and clicking its teeth. If this doesn't work, the porcupine swings its spiky tail through the air. Sharp quills stab deep into an attacker's skin. Ouch! Fun text and eye-catching photos introduce this animal in all its gory glory.