Animal Life: Secrets of the Animal World Revealed (PDF) [-PUNISHER-]

Title: Animal Life: Secrets of the Animal World Revealed
Author(s): DK Publishing
Publisher: DK Publishing
Year: 2011
Language: English
Pages: 514
ISBN: 0756688868, 9780756688868

If you think that watching all the nature programs on television qualifies you as an expert on the subject, think again! Do you really know what makes animals tick? Here are the answers, portrayed in stunning, awe-inspiring action sequences and explained in fascinating, in-depth prose. Thematically arranged by behavior trait, Animal Life explores and explains every aspect of animal behavior, including courtship rituals and sex lives, family relationships and defense mechanisms, hunting techniques and feeding habits. Side panels explore some of the field research on animal behavior and explain important conservation issues. The introductory chapters on the Animal Kingdom and on animal anatomy help explain how different animals have evolved and adapted to their environments, adaptations that may be relevant to particular behaviors. Destined to be the ultimate authority on animal behavior, this book also looks at key behavioral concepts such as how animals learn to behave and the role of instinct in the learning process.

Table of contents :
6 Contents......Page 8
8 Foreword by Charlotte Uhlenbroek......Page 11
10 ANIMAL KINGDOM......Page 12
12 What is an animal?......Page 15
14 Evolution......Page 16
16 Animal history......Page 18
20 Classification......Page 22
24 Animal groups......Page 26
26 Invertebrates......Page 28
30 Arthropod groups......Page 32
32 Arthropods......Page 34
36 Vertebrate groups......Page 38
38 Fish groups......Page 40
40 Fishes......Page 42
44 Amphibian groups......Page 46
46 Amphibians......Page 48
50 Reptile groups......Page 52
52 Reptiles......Page 54
56 Bird groups......Page 58
58 Birds......Page 60
68 Mammal groups......Page 70
70 Mammals......Page 72
78 ANIMAL ANATOMY......Page 80
80 Skeletons and muscles......Page 83
82 Water skeletons......Page 84
83 Horny skeletons......Page 85
84 Chalky skeletons......Page 86
86 Bony skeletons......Page 88
88 Movement......Page 91
90 Walking and running......Page 92
92 Climbing, leaping, and jumping......Page 94
94 Burrowing, slithering, and sliding......Page 96
96 Flying and gliding......Page 98
98 Swimming......Page 100
100 Body coverings......Page 103
102 Skin......Page 104
104 Scales......Page 106
106 Feathers......Page 108
107 Fur, hair, and bristles......Page 109
108 Body systems......Page 111
110 Breathing......Page 112
112 Circulation......Page 114
113 Digestion......Page 115
114 Fluids and temperature control......Page 116
116 Brains, nerves, and hormones......Page 118
118 Senses......Page 121
120 Touch and vibration......Page 122
122 Taste and smell......Page 124
124 Vision......Page 126
126 Hearing......Page 128
128 Echolocation......Page 130
130 Electricity and magnetism......Page 132
132 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR......Page 134
134 LIVING SPACE......Page 137
138 Home ranges and territories......Page 140
148 Migration......Page 150
162 Animal architects......Page 164
176 HUNTING AND FEEDING......Page 179
182 Feeding on plants......Page 184
194 Omnivores......Page 196
202 Predation......Page 204
250 Scavenging......Page 252
260 Feeding partnerships......Page 262
272 DEFENSE......Page 275
276 Weapons and threats......Page 278
296 Camouflage and deception......Page 298
312 Group defense......Page 314
322 SEX AND REPRODUCTION......Page 325
328 Reproducing without a mate......Page 330
332 Finding a mate......Page 334
340 Sexual rivalry......Page 342
352 Courtship......Page 354
366 Mating......Page 368
376 BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT......Page 379
380 Life stories......Page 382
396 Raising young......Page 398
408 Play and learning......Page 410
418 SOCIETY......Page 421
440 COMMUNICATION......Page 443
444 Pheromones and smell......Page 446
448 Visual signals......Page 450
456 Sound......Page 458
462 Touch, vibration, electricity......Page 464
468 INTELLIGENCE......Page 471
488 Glossary......Page 490
494 Index......Page 496
510 Acknowledgments......Page 512