"Fish are some of the weirdest animals on Earth. Some can walk as well as swim. Others have body parts that have helped them adapt to the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean. And then there are the many amazing kinds of sharks. This book contains the most bizarre adaptations fish can have, and includes up-close, full-color photographs for readers to ogle. This framework provides a way fun way to introduce why and how adaptations happen, as well as other science curriculum topics such as ecosystems and predator-prey relationships."

An ardent advocate for species protection and conservation of tropical rainforests, Ghazally Ismail tells us of his encounters with the primates in his first memoir entitled Monkey Moment: Encounters in Rainforest Escapadaes. That was in 2021 after hunkering down at home during Covid 19 pandemic. What a true raconteur he proves to be in sharing his amazing experiences in Borneo, the world’s third largest island. As a sequel to his previous book, he now brings us to another tropical ecosystem that is undergoing an equally gripping future. He writes about the fascinating mangrove plant and animal species currently under siege. Their continued survival are seriously at risk with the rapid disappearance of the mangroves unprecedented in modern history. Written in simple nontechnical language, he effectively explains the evolution and adaptation of mangrove species in order to thrive in their harsh inhospitable environment. Here too, he again produces beautiful drawings of plants and animals to accompany his well-researched text. Like the rainforests, tropical mangroves are been systematically cleared and drained at alarming rates for land reclamation, housing development and aquaculture. In the process, we are exposing ourselves to the two global calamities lurking at the doorsteps of humanity today, namely global warming and loss of biodiversity. Only the conservation of our rainforests and mangroves could we avert these pending catastrophes. In his book, Ghazally again shares his provocative thoughts on issues he has been grappling with throughout his academic life - the protection of biodiversity and their habitats. He gave intriguing revelations about the biological and behavioral features of mangrove species that are increasingly driven to the cusp of extinction. He effectively reminds us that the rainforests and mangroves are two known nature reserves in the entire universe we must learn to treat with utter respect with stringent and uncompromised guardianship. He speaks with an authority born of decades of university research, teaching and active involvement in organising expeditions into numerous biodiversity-rich tropical ecosystems in Borneo. What distinguishes Ghazally from many of his environmentalist peers is his training in medical immunology and microbiology. Plants and animals are not his forte. He readily admits he does not have all the answers to the vexing ecological questions of our times. But his vast knowledge on tropical plants and wildlife are drawn from his networking and close associations with dozens of world-renowned researchers gravitating to Borneo in the past 40 years during his time there. He has essentially learned from field experts first-hand. This has put him on the vanguard of the conservation movement of the tropical ecosystems. He expressed passion and responsibility towards species and the environment without sanctimony, making this book a winning memoir for anyone interested in tropical ecology. A lively, readable hands-on account of fascinating field experiences that will appeal to a wide audience. “Environmentalism does not just happen,” he said,”It is forged through our impassioned sadness looking at the ever-increasing threats to our living world. I hope to inspire a generation that could pause, turn back and rediscover collective sanity in our relationship with planet Earth.”

Describes animals with unique habits, features, or survival skills.

Why do men's testicles hang outside the body? Why does our appendix sometimes explode and kill us? And who does the Designer like better, anyway - us, or squid? These and other questions are addressed in The Not-So-Intelligent Designer. Dr. Abby Hafer argues that the human body has many faulty design features that would never have been the choice of an intelligent creator. She also points out other animals that got better body parts, which makes the Designer look a bit strange; discusses the history and politics of Intelligent Design and creationism; reveals animals that shouldn't exist according to Intelligent Design; and disposes of the idea of irreducible complexity. Her points are illustrated with pictures (by Alexander Winkler), wit, and erudition.

A fish that walks on land, a frog that makes its own sunscreen, and an insect that can become invisible? These are just a few examples of how Earth's creatures have evolved some outrageous features and tricks to ensure survival.

"The appendix seems useless. Most people's baby toes are so small, they seem unimportant. There are so many odd parts of the human body, each page of this volume is able to reveal fascinating adaptations of the body readers didn't even know they wanted to know. Including up-to-date scientific findings explained in understandable and age-appropriate language, the main content satisfies readers' curiosity as well as parts of the science curriculum. Full-color photographs, diagrams, and supplementary sidebars help readers understand human body systems, evolution, and even why people have chins."

I wrote this book in dedication to my mother Gabriela Remedia Lobos, who had been steadfast in her principle of dedication to her husband and her children. Particularly in those turbulent years during the Second World War, from 1941 to 1945, when her husband was detained by the Japanese because of his involvement in the underground in the State of North Borneo in 1943, she was confronted with an uphill task of defending her faithfulness to the man that she had married.