Guide to Every Family – serie

A lavishly illustrated guide to the world's turtles that covers every family and genusTurtles of the World reveals the extraordinary diversity of these amazing reptiles. Characterized by the bony shell that acts as a shield to protect the softer body within, turtles are survivors from the time of the dinosaurs and are even more ancient in evolutionary terms than snakes and crocodilians. Of more than 350 species known today, some are highly endangered. In this beautiful guide, turtle families, subfamilies, and genera are illustrated with hundreds of color photographs. Each genus profile includes a population distribution map, a table of information, and commentary that includes notable characteristics and discussion of related species.More than 250 beautiful color photosEach profile features a distribution map, table of information, and commentaryBroad coverage includes every family and genus

A lavishly illustrated overview of the world’s lizardsLizards are one of nature’s great success stories: survivors from the time of the dinosaurs, they have taken advantage of almost every habitat on earth, from tropical rainforest to Arctic tundra and even our homes. From chameleons and skinks to geckos and iguanas, there are close to 7,000 species of lizards around the world. This expert guide explores their extraordinary diversity and adaptations.Lizards of the World features an in-depth introduction covering the evolution, anatomy, and lifestyle of lizards, followed by profiles of species from every family, accompanied by stunning color photographs. This invaluable guide highlights the enormous range of habitats, appearance, and activity among lizards. Many thrive in extreme conditions, and have adapted to keep cool, warm, or hydrated. Some can protect themselves by changing color to blend in with their surroundings, while others have fringed toes enabling them to run across sand, or can parachute out of a predator’s reach. Covering diet and reproduction as well as defense strategies and conservation, Lizards of the World showcases the unique natural history and beauty of these remarkable creatures.More than 200 detailed photographic images80+ lizard families and subfamiliesExploration of lizard biology, behavior, habits, and distributionBroad coverage and in-depth treatment by a world-renowned herpetologist

A beautifully illustrated introduction to the incredible variety of bees from around the worldWhen many people think of bees, they are likely to picture the western domesticated honey bee, insects that live in large, socially complex societies inside a hive with a single queen and thousands of workers. But this familiar bee is just one of more than 20,000 species of bees—and almost none of the others is anything like it. In Bees of the World, Laurence Packer, one of the world’s foremost experts on wild bees, celebrates the amazing diversity of bees—from size and appearance to nests and social organization.Providing clear, accurate accounts of the seven bee families, Bees of the World presents all the key information on generic characteristics, habits, and habitat, illustrated with incredible and often rare photographs that show bees in their natural habitats—foraging, nesting, raising their young, and more. The book reveals the secrets of these extraordinary insects as well as their importance in the global ecosystem and the ways humans can help protect them.Provides a richly illustrated exploration of bees from around the worldExamines more than 100 genera of bees, giving a taste of the remarkable breadth of bee appearance and biologyExplores bee anatomy, behavior, classification, evolution, life cycle, and habitats

A marvelously illustrated natural history of the world’s mollusksMollusks are invertebrate animals with a remarkable natural history and a rich fossil record, and their shells are prized for their breathtaking variety and exquisite beauty. Shells of the World provides a wide-ranging look at the incredible diversity of marine mollusks. An informative introduction outlines the lineages covered, followed by a directory section, split into classes, that profiles a broad selection of different taxa to give a sense of their sheer numbers and variety.Features hundreds of beautiful color photos, depicting both the live animals and their shellsDiscusses mollusk evolution, anatomy, life cycles, behavior, and ecologyDescribes unique characteristics, distribution, habitat, and sizeProvides valuable insights into the conservation of the world’s marine mollusksIdeal for malacologists and shell collectors everywhere

A lavishly illustrated guide to the diversity of the world’s butterfliesConspicuous for their beauty, butterflies are one of the most popular and well-studied insects. This book explores the astonishing variety of butterfly species around the world and examines their central role in maintaining a range of delicate ecosystems. Their sensitivity to changes in the environment across their life stages makes them effective indicators for monitoring the health of habitats and populations. The use of a variety of strategies has ensured their survival, such as the ability to shift host plants at different life stages and the colorful wing patterns they use for mimicry, camouflage, and predator deterrence. In this expert guide, the introductory section covers topics ranging from anatomy and evolution to life stages and conservation. A directory of profiles follows, highlighting the remarkable appearance, characteristics, and ecology of notable species. Blending the latest science with breathtaking illustrations, Butterflies of the World is the premier guide to these exquisite creatures.More than 200 stunning color photosEach profile features current taxonomy, a commentary, distribution map, and table of informationIncludes examples from every butterfly family and subfamily

A stunningly illustrated natural history of spidersSpiders are among the most versatile creatures on the planet, inhabiting six of the seven continents and thriving in environments ranging from deserts and rain forests to Arctic tundra and cities. Spiders of the World is a captivating look at these wondrously adaptable and endlessly intriguing arachnids, written by six of the world's leading experts on spiders. This stunningly illustrated natural history features a wealth of spectacular color photos and covers a breathtaking array of spider species from around the globe, describing their behaviors, characteristics, and remarkable evolutionary adaptations. An incisive and engaging introduction provides an invaluable overview of the world's spiders, and is followed by in-depth profiles spanning more than 100 spider families and presented taxonomically. Each profile is organized phylogenetically and includes beautiful photography to illustrate various species within the family. There are also distribution maps, tables of essential facts, and commentaries highlighting diverse aspects of spider biology, making Spiders of the World an indispensable volume for anyone who wants to learn more about these marvelous creatures.Provides a richly illustrated look at spiders of all shapes and sizes from around the worldFeatures hundreds of color photos and diagramsSpans more than 100 spider families and covers an array of different speciesExplores spider behavior, attributes, biology, and evolutionIncludes distribution maps, tables of essential facts, informative commentaries, and moreEngages and educates readers about the unique natural history of spiders

A marvelously illustrated guide to the world’s mothsWith more than 160,000 named species, moths are a familiar sight to most of us, flickering around lights, pollinating wildflowers about meadows and gardens, and as unwelcome visitors to our woolens. They come in a variety of colors, from earthy greens and browns to gorgeous patterns of infinite variety, and range in size from enormous atlas moths to tiny leafmining moths. Moths of the World is an essential guide to this astonishing group of insects, highlighting their remarkable diversity, miraculous metamorphoses, marvelous caterpillars, and much more.Features hundreds of breathtaking color photos of moths from around the worldCovers anatomy, evolution, life cycle, behavior, ecology, and conservationProfiles species from every major family, showcasing their endless variety of sizes, colors, shapes, and fascinating life historiesDiscusses habitats, distribution, and hostplant associationsWritten by a world-renowned expertA Guide to Every Family is a richly illustrated series covering some of the world’s most fascinating organisms, using a family-by-family approach wherever possible. Each book explores key topics such as anatomy, evolution, habitats, and lifestyle, and includes profiles of selected species to reveal the remarkable breadth of characteristics, appearance, and behavior across genera and families. Stunning color photographs, distribution maps, tables of information, and compelling species accounts combine to make this series irresistible for anyone interested in natural history at the global scale.

A lavishly illustrated guide to the seaweed families of the worldSeaweeds are astoundingly diverse. They're found along the shallows of beaches and have been recorded living at depths of more than 800 feet; they can be microscopic or grow into giants many meters long. They’re incredibly efficient at using the materials found in the ocean and are increasingly used in the human world, in applications from food to fuel. They’re beautiful, too, with their undulating shapes anchored to the sea floor or drifting on the surface. Seaweeds aren’t plants: they’re algae, part of a huge and largely unfamiliar group of aquatic organisms. Seaweeds of the World makes sense of their complicated world, differentiating between the three main groups—red, green, and brown—and delving into their complex reproductive systems. The result is an unprecedented, accessible, and in-depth look at a previously hidden ocean world.Features close to 250 beautiful color photos as well as diagrams and distribution mapsCovers every major family and genus

A richly illustrated guide to wasps around the worldWasps have been around since before the dinosaurs and are one of the world’s largest insect groups. More than 150,000 species have been identified, and while the black-and-yellow insect with a cinched waist may be the most familiar, most wasps are tiny parasitoids that use other insects for food. Wasps of the World provides a breathtaking look at the diverse characteristics, habitats, and lifestyles of these extraordinary insects.Features more than 250 stunning color photos of numerous speciesProfiles more than 100 families, with absorbing commentary detailing the range, habits, and notable features of members of each familyEvery profile includes a distribution map and a table of essential facts about size, diet, reproduction, and habitatsDiscusses the evolution and biology of wasps, exploring the vital role they play in supporting healthy ecosystemsShows how scientific research is expanding our knowledge about wasps and their behavior

A gorgeously illustrated guide to the incredible diversity of snakes around the worldSnakes are found on every continent except Antarctica and have evolved to occupy a vast range of habitats, from mountains to oceans and deserts to rain forests. Snakes of the World explores their extraordinary diversity, with an in-depth introduction covering anatomy, behavior, habitats, reproduction, conservation, and other essential topics. This expert guide also includes profiles of some of the approximately 4,000 species of snakes, featuring examples from every family and subfamily.Each family profile highlights the remarkable appearance, characteristics, and lifestyle of notable snake species. Covering how snakes use venom or constriction to subdue their prey, how a snake’s appearance can aid camouflage or boast of its killing capacity, and how habitat destruction is jeopardizing the future of many species, Snakes of the World is an invaluable guide to these fascinating reptiles.Features more than 200 stunning color photographsPresents species profiles with a commentary, distribution map, and table of informationIncludes examples from every snake family and subfamily

A richly illustrated guide to the astonishing variety of beetles around the worldBeetles make up about a quarter of known animal species and are arguably the most diverse group of organisms on Earth: almost 400,000 species have been formally described so far, and it is likely that this number merely scratches the surface. In Beetles of the World, Maxwell Barclay and Patrice Bouchard—two of the world’s foremost beetle experts—celebrate these remarkable creatures in all their variety, from their size and appearance to their ecological importance.Providing concise accounts of all the major families and subfamilies of Coleoptera, Beetles of the World explores beetle anatomy, life cycle, fossil history, feeding habits, role in the food web, habitats, relationship with humans, and classification—as well as the essential part that beetles play in the global ecosystem, and the ways humans can help protect them.Features 300 stunning color photographsPresents family profiles with a distribution map, table of information, and commentaryIncludes a comprehensive introduction that provides insight into the astonishing diversity of beetles and their histories

A richly illustrated guide to the world’s frogs that includes species from every familyWith more than 7,600 known species, frogs exhibit an extraordinary range of forms and behaviors, from those that produce toxins so deadly that they could kill a human many times over to those that can survive being frozen in ice. Frogs of the World is an essential guide to this astonishingly diverse group of animals. An in-depth introduction covers everything from the origins and evolution of frogs to their life cycles and defense strategies. Beautiful illustrations accompany profiles of species from each family, shedding invaluable light on the enormous range of appearance, habitats, and behavior of these marvelous creatures.Features hundreds of stunning color photographsCovers taxonomy, anatomy, locomotion, reproduction, diet, and moreDiscusses the conservation of the world’s frogsAn invaluable resource for herpetologists, naturalists, and anyone interested in amphibians

A richly illustrated guide to the incredible diversity of dragonflies and damselflies around the worldAirily dancing over rivers and ponds, the thousands of colorful dragonfly and damselfly species that cohabit our planet may seem of little importance. Few life-forms, however, convey the condition of the most limiting resource on land and life’s most bountiful environment as well as they can: while the adults are exceptional aerial hunters, their nymphs are all confined to freshwater. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the World showcases their beauty and diversity while shedding light on how they evolved into the vital symbols of planetary health we celebrate today.Features stunning color photos of hundreds of speciesCharacterizes all families and major subgroupsExplores how their unique features and behavior led to today’s varietyShows how we contribute to their popularization and protection

A magnificently illustrated guide to the bryophyte species found across the worldBryophytes are a highly diverse group of plants found in nearly all parts of the world and across a range of habitats. The term “bryophyte” describes plants of three closely related lineages: the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Ancient in their makeup, bryophytes disperse by spores rather than seeds and grow no more than a few centimeters high, carpeting forest floors or clinging to rocks and tree trunks. Instead of conducting fluids internally (like vascular plants), they absorb water and nutrients externally across the whole body of the plant. Such strategies have enabled bryophytes to survive, and indeed thrive, through the millennia. Mosses, Liverworts, and Hornworts of the World makes sense of their miniature world, differentiating between the three lineages and delving into their evolution, anatomy, and life cycles. The result is an unprecedented in-depth look at these exquisitely beautiful and often overlooked organisms.Features hundreds of stunning color photos of mosses, liverworts, and hornwortsProfiles individual genera across the three groups, including fact boxes and distribution mapsWritten by a world-renowned expert