A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year: A “fascinating” photo-filled book on these amazing arachnids! (Booklist) Yellow blood? Skeletons on the outside? These attributes don’t belong to comic book characters or alien life forms, but to Earth’s biggest and hairiest spiders: tarantulas. In this book you are invited to follow Sam Marshall, spider scientist extraordinaire (he’s never been bitten), as he explores the dense rain forest of French Guiana, knocking on the doors of tarantula burrows, trying to get a closer look at these incredible creatures. You’ll also visit the largest comparative spider laboratory in America—where close to five hundred live tarantulas sit in towers of stacked shoeboxes and plastic containers, waiting for their turn to dazzle and astound the scientists who study them. “Superb color photos abound in this spectacular series addition…This is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work…A treat, even for arachnophobes.”—School Library Journal (starred review) A Sibert Honor Book An ALA Notable Book A John Burroughs Nature Book for Young Readers A Kirkus Reviews Editors Choice

Katy Did of KBUG Radio interviews Harry about a recent adventure and, in the process, finds out a lot about tarantulas.

Tyrone Hayes works to discover the effects pesticides have on frogs and, in turn, us.

An introduction to the field of genetics through the story of Randy Lewis and his work with golden orb weaver spiders and his subsequent creation of artificial spider silk that can be used to save and improve lives. Full color.

This handbook for the captive husbandry and breeding of tarantulas is now available in English translation, with updated taxonomy by the author. It includes two sections. The first is an introductory section discussing tarantula anatomy and life history, the relationships of tarantulas to other arthropods, and general information on vivarium setup and special requirements of tarantulas in captivity. Problems arising in captive care such as disease and parasites are discussed, as is the problem of tarantula bites on humans. The second section consists of individual accounts on some 40 of the more commonly kept species from around the world. These are illustrated in the book's 123 colour photographs. Peculiarities of each of these species are discussed, with special attention to their requirements in captivity.

Publisher Description

2011 Sibert Medal Winner On remote Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand live the last ninety-one kakapo parrots on earth. These trusting, flightless, and beautiful birds—the largest and most unusual parrots on earth—have suffered devastating population loss. Now, on an island refuge with the last of the species, New Zealand’s National Kakapo Recovery Team is working to restore the kakapo population. With the help of fourteen humans who share a single hut and a passion for saving these odd ground-dwelling birds, the kakapo are making a comeback in New Zealand. Follow intrepid animal lovers Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop on a ten-day excursion to witness the exciting events in the life of the kakapo.