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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