A stunning visual celebration of the animal kingdom combining amazing giant-sized images with the latest scientific and zoological research on the natural history and conservation status of hundreds of animals

From nature lovers to conservationists, wildlife watchers to budding zoologists, this visual celebration of animals is an ideal reference that will entertain, inform, and enthrall readers of all ages. Organized according to the scientific classification of animals (orders, families, genus, species), each chapter focuses on a different family of animals, starting with an introductory essay on the evolution, diversity, behavior, habitats, and conservation. Subsequent pages showcase a broad selection of the most interesting, exotic, unusual, endangered, and beautiful animals within that group. From sponges to spiny ant eaters, brine shrimps to bonobos, readers embarking on this incredible journey through the dizzying diversity, complexity, and majesty of the animal kingdom will witness some of the most astonishing wonders of the natural world in spectacular detail.