What most think of as the animal kingdom—from elephants to amphibians—in fact accounts for only a tiny portion of the tens of millions of species which scientists speculate inhabit planet Earth.Animal Earth is an unbiased tour of this still largely undiscovered world, illuminating the bizarre appearances and hidden lives of the creatures who share our planet.What is perhaps more surprising is that this bewildering range of animal species are all offshoots from a relatively small number of lineages, sharing a common body plan and evolutionary history. Animal Earth not only provides an even-handed summary of each, but reflects the latest research on the evolutionary relationships between species. How they all fit on the “tree of life” is a topic that has been debated for decades, not least because new species are being discovered all the time; some lesser-known lineages, such as Chaetognatha (arrow worms) and Xenoturbellida (strange worms) continue to defy classification.Humans are in a uniquely privileged position, given our technological achievements, to protect animal diversity. As Piper makes clear, each species is an integral component of the ecosystem we live in, and we protect animal diversity not only for its own sake, but to maintain the natural systems that keep us all alive.
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Recensione:
The book's main draw is its striking images, capturing the iridescent eyes of mantis shrimps . . . a brilliantly multicolored Persian carpet flatworm, sea slugs . . . that look more like sculptures than living organisms, and sinister wasp close-ups that will both haunt readers and draw them back for more. Well-researched and densely written. --BBC Wildlife
From the truly bizarre to the dazzlingly beautiful, the natural world retains the ability to amaze, something that Ross
Piper ... has set out to capture in his book Animal Earth. --The Times
Zoologist Ross Piper presents a parade of charismatic yet overlooked fauna in this sumptuous volume.--Nature Magazine
A coffee-table treat. --The Guardian
This book is stunning. Animal Earth combines gorgeous photography and up-to-minute scientific accounts of all the world's animals, including information on their ecology, behaviour and genes. --Focus Magazine
beautiful macro images ... fascinating. --Wild Travel
This book is stunning ... combines gorgeous photography and up-to-the-minute scientific accounts of all the world's animals ... you will be amazed at their beauty and their exquisite adaptations. --BBC Focus
Mind-boggling --BBC Wildlife
Animal Earth promises to open your eyes to a variety of truly bizarre species from deepest oceans and the most
adverse climates. --This is Colossal
This book is stunning ... combines gorgeous photography and up-to-the-minute scientific accounts of all the world's animals ... you will be amazed at their beauty and their exquisite adaptations. --BBC Focus
Mind-boggling --BBC Wildlife
Product Description:
Book by Piper Ross
Le informazioni nella sezione "Su questo libro" possono far riferimento a edizioni diverse di questo titolo.
- EditoreThames & Hudson
- Data di pubblicazione2013
- ISBN 10 0500516960
- ISBN 13 9780500516966
- RilegaturaCopertina rigida
- Numero edizione1
- Numero di pagine320
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Valutazione libreria