From the exquisite fragility of a butterfl y to the might and majesty of a humpback whale, explore the extraordinary diversity of life in this lavishly illustrated celebration of the animal kingdom. Packed with awe-inspiring images taken by some of the world’s top wildlife photographers, here are hundreds of fascinating species in their natural environments. Discover more at www.dk.com An Incredible Photographic Portrait of the Animal World 118-119_birds_sandpiper.indd 119 5/5/09 14:29:50US_118-119_birds_sandpiper.indd 119 15/5/09 11:45:52 120-121_birds_gull.indd 120 5/5/09 14:30:38 120 Bi rds  The benign appearance of this Heermann’s gull (Larus heermanni) disguises its true character. This bird is a thief and a bully, snatching fish from the bill of a brown pelican, for example, or harassing other species and forcing them to let go of their food. Like most gulls, their wingtips are black. The black pigment strengthens the feather, providing protection from the wear and tear of a gull’s life. Heermann’s gulls live on the west coast of North America and Mexico. US_120-121_birds_gull.indd 120 15/5/09 12:17:15 120-121_birds_gull.indd 121 5/5/09 14:30:57US_120-121_birds_gull.indd 121 15/5/09 12:17:16 122-123_birds_auklet.indd 122 5/5/09 14:34:52 122 bi rds  It is obvious why this bird is called a rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata), with a horn on its bill that can be up to 1 in (25 mm) long. The horn grows as part of the bird’s breeding “plumage,” and is molted later in the year. However, its precise function is a mystery. The shape of the bill itself equips the auklet for a diet of both plankton and fish, versatility that is denied to some other auks, which specialize in either one or the other. Rhinoceros auklets are found around the northern Pacific. US_122-123_birds_auklet.indd 122 15/5/09 12:17:04 122-123_birds_auklet.indd 123 5/5/09 14:35:23US_122-123_birds_auklet.indd 123 15/5/09 12:17:05 124-125_birds_puffin.indd 124 5/5/09 15:41:49 124 bi rds  In its breeding plumage the tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) has long, swept back ear-tufts. In winter, however, it looks quite different. The ear-tufts and large greenish “cere” at the base of the upper mandible are gone and the white face is dark. The tufted puffin has an oversized bill, which can be used to determine the age of the bird. There are grooves on the bill that, over the years, become more obvious and more numerous. One well-defined groove means the bird is two to three years old. Two obvious grooves means the bird is three or four years old, and additional grooves signal that the bird is five or more years old. US_124-125_birds_puffin.indd 124 15/5/09 12:16:52 124-125_birds_puffin.indd 125 5/5/09 15:42:11US_124-125_birds_puffin.indd 125 15/5/09 12:16:53 126-127_birds_pigeon.indd 126 5/5/09 14:37:18 126 bi rds  With its long neck hackles and iridescent green feathers, the Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) is one of the world’s best looking pigeons. Its real curiosity may be less obvious, however—it has been suggested that this species is the closest living relative of the now extinct dodo. The Nicobar pigeon lives on small islands off southeast Asia, Indonesia, and New Guinea but is unfortunately in decline. Its good looks may be contributing to its downfall—many are trapped in the wild and sold as pets. US_126-127_birds_pigeon.indd 126 15/5/09 12:16:44 126-127_birds_pigeon.indd 127 5/5/09 14:37:38US_126-127_birds_pigeon.indd 127 15/5/09 12:16:44 [...]... among the < /b> most intriguing of the < /b> vertebrates These were the < /b> first creatures to live on land, having evolved from fish that had developed the < /b> ability to breathe air However, they have not entirely broken their link with the < /b> water: their thin skins lose moisture easily, forcing them to live in < /b> damp environments Most species must also breed in < /b> pools or moist places because their eggs and young resemble... of hummingbird in < /b> the < /b> world, all found in < /b> the < /b> Americas and the < /b> Caribbean Weighing only 3⁄20 oz (around 3.9–4.6 g), this tiny bird is the < /b> purplecrowned woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) It is plundering the < /b> nectar store of a heliconia in < /b> Costa Rica Hummingbirds have amazing aerial abilities—they hover by flowers, can fly backward, sideways, and even upside down The < /b> end of the < /b> tongue is split into two... against other fruit-eating birds As well as fruit, the < /b> toucan also eats insects, lizards, and tree frogs, and will even take the < /b> eggs and fledglings of smaller birds, using its bill to frighten the < /b> parent birds away from their nest birds 142  Sunbirds of the < /b> Nectariniidae family are the < /b> Old World equivalent of the < /b> hummingbirds of the < /b> Americas, but they are not closely related This beautiful sunbird is... slimy the < /b> slime retains the < /b> moisture that enables them to breathe Disturbingly alien, yet often strangely beautiful, reptiles and amphibians are among the < /b> most intriguing of all animals Reptiles can also thrive in < /b> dry, hostile habitats because they do not need to eat much Being “coldblooded” means that, rather than turning food into heat, they rely on the < /b> sun’s warmth to raise their body temperature This... have the < /b> horny plates typical of turtles, but is a ridged, bony structure with a covering of thick, oily skin The < /b> leatherback cruises the < /b> warmer oceans of the < /b> world, but penetrates deep into cooler waters in < /b> summer It feeds mainly on jellyfish, and many leatherbacks die after eating floating plastic bags by mistake The < /b> females lay their eggs on tropical beaches, but fewer than one in < /b> a thousand hatchlings... America’s most colorful birds However, it isn’t always easy to spot, often remaining obscured by vegetation and denying hopeful observers a view The < /b> female is a greenish color and looks very different to the < /b> male It is not surprising that a bird as beautiful as this is sought after by the < /b> pet industry, and trade in < /b> painted buntings is one of the < /b> main threats facing the < /b> species Birds 146  The < /b> crow family... focus) per eye, one pointing to the < /b> side and one pointing forward When the < /b> bird spots movement to the < /b> side it moves its head so that the < /b> potential prey is focused in < /b> its forwardpointing foveae, where its position can be pinpointed There is a lightning-quick dive, and then, usually, the < /b> kingfisher is back on its perch with a fish in < /b> its bill birds 136  The < /b> gorgeously colored lilac- breasted roller (Coracias... creatures like the < /b> king cobra or the < /b> Nile crocodile But most reptiles and amphibians pose no threat at all A few are hugely popular, such as the < /b> snakes that some people keep as pets, or the < /b> frogs that spawn in < /b> garden ponds Indeed, raising tadpoles and watching them turn into frogs is, for many, a fascinating insight into the < /b> wonders of the < /b> natural world This is because the < /b> amphibians—which include frogs,... carry their eggs on their backs so they can dunk them in < /b> water every so often to keep them moist The < /b> thin skin of amphibians is also less of a handicap than it might seem, because it has the < /b> ability to absorb oxygen from water or, if it is kept moist, from the < /b> air This enables the < /b> largest family of salamanders to do without lungs altogether It also explains why many amphibians are slimy the < /b> slime retains... feeding at flowers in < /b> Rwanda Most male sunbirds have iridescent feathers, and, like hummingbirds, a bill and tongue that can collect nectar, though they normally perch rather than hover when feeding Many sunbirds also eat spiders and other small invertebrates, which are picked off flowers and foliage, or taken in < /b> mid-air 145 birds o The < /b> vivid red, green, and blue of this male painted bunting (Passerina . oversized bill, which can be used to determine the age of the bird. There are grooves on the bill that, over the years, become more obvious and more numerous. One well-defined groove means the bird. bird is a thief and a bully, snatching fish from the bill of a brown pelican, for example, or harassing other species and forcing them to let go of their food. Like most gulls, their wingtips. 12:16:25 132-133_birds_woodnymph.indd 132 5/5/09 14:41:22 132 bi rds  There are more than 300 species of hummingbird in the world, all found in the Americas and the Caribbean. Weighing only 3 ⁄20 oz