A variety of animals common to North America pose for portraits against a white background while narrating distinctive aspects of their natural histories: animals such as the American bullfrog, American toad, blue jay, Ohio crawfish, goldfish, southern flying squirrel, big brown bat, fox snake, eastern screech-owl, gray treefrog, bush katydid, Virginia opossum, Chinese praying mantis, jumping spider, red flat bark beetle, black swallowtail, eastern spiny softshell turtle, red-eyed vireo, eastern box turtle, spotted salamander, monarch. Includes curious critters silhouettes quiz and answer key.

A variety of animals common to Florida pose for portraits against white backgrounds accompanied by brief natural history information.

Bright photographs show animals from Michigan.

Did you know fawns have no scent, an evolutionary defense against predators? And that the eastern grey squirrel is a formidable swimmer, which makes them quite suited for the Sunshine State? And that, unlike other avians, Florida scrub jay families stay together for years, with older siblings helping to feed younger siblings? Florida Animals for Everyday Naturalists contains everything you want to know about Florida’s furry, feathered, scaled, and shelled friends. With lively personal essays and stunning photographs, Larry Allan introduces you to the array of wildlife you might encounter in your backyard, at the park, or on a jaunt at one of the state’s many wildlife refuges. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific animal, like the bobcat, the river otter, and the caracara, and paired with vivid photos to help you identify these creatures in the wild. Allan’s fascination with Florida fauna is contagious, and his reverence of nature is unmistakable. While sharing his whimsical, enlightening, and instructive anecdotes, he gently argues for wildlife preservation in Florida and for responsible human-animal interactions. Perfect for young naturalists, inquisitive trekkers through the Sunshine State, or armchair adventurers, this book will help you appreciate the abundance of life right outside your door.

Age range 5+ Did you know that platypus have retractable webbing on their hind feetto enable an easy transition from swimming to digging? That kangaroos can'tsweat and that the cassowary has no tongue? In Fauna - Australia's MostCurious Creatures, readers are constantly introduced to facts that delight,amaze and induce sheer wonder at the clever design and adaptability of ourmuch-loved native fauna. The information on each individual species is presented in small 'bites'to hold the interest of younger readers, while the information taken in totalgives a comprehensive summary of each species, including breeding and feedinghabits, physical characteristics, habitat and other unique and quirky features. Fauna also has a strong conservation message with an 'extinction roll call'and a rating for the vulnerability of endangered species. The stylised illustrations in Faunaare lively, colourful and informative, highlighting facts that lend themselvesmore to pictures than words e.g. the actual size of crocodile teeth, or themechanics of the echidna's beak. There is also humour in the illustrations - isthat kangaroo with dark glasses actually from a different kind of mob? Readers young and old will be delighted and informed by Fauna.

A fascinating and beautiful guide to Ohio's extraordinary wetland wildlife The Buckeye State's many ponds and vernal pools are populated by a dizzying variety of wildlife. Animals of Ohio's Ponds and Vernal Pools takes a close-up look at unique wetlands--from fascinating fish and amphibians to intriguing insects and birds--besides examining pond and vernal pool ecology, Ohio's geologic history influencing wetland formation, and hydrology and energy cycles. In prose that enlightens and entertains, author David S. FitzSimmons uncovers both the rare and common life-forms found in and around Ohio's ponds and vernal pools. First he discusses the Buckeye State's variety of small lakes, covering everything from managed farm ponds to glacially formed basins. He then turns to vernal pools, temporary waters that fill in the late winter or spring and dry up in the summer. His moving prose describing specialized amphibian breeding habitats includes vivid accounts of rainy spring nights when hundreds of mole salamanders slip into the filling waters while equal numbers of wood frogs "clack" loudly in the dark. Accompanying these scientifically accurate and poetic descriptions are Gary Meszaros's extraordinary photographs, including close-ups of multicolored dragonflies, underwater shots of fish, beautiful images of birds, and idyllic vistas of Ohio's serene ponds and secluded pools. Animals of Ohio's Ponds and Vernal Pools is a wonderful resource about the wetlands and wildlife that will inspire readers to learn about and protect their own natural environments.