An Anthology of Intriguing Animals

226 Pages·2018·79.16 MB·English

by  Ben Hoare

A N A N T H O LO GY
O F I N T R I G U I NG
Written by Ben Hoare
Illustrated by Daniel Long,
Angela Rizza, and Daniela Terrazzini
US_001_Half_title.indd 1 01/05/2018 15:11
Contents
Baleen whale... ..................................4 Reindeer ............................................58
Orca... ....................................................6 Stingray .............................................60
Elephant ................................................8 African wild dog ..........................62
Crocodile .........................................10 Giant panda ..................................64
Shark ..................................................12 Wolf .....................................................66
Giraffe ...............................................14 Gorilla ................................................68
Rhinoceros .......................................16 Milk snake ........................................70
Hippopotamus ..............................18 Seal .....................................................72
Jellyfish ...............................................20 Sheep .................................................74
Cobra.................................................22 Otter ...................................................76
Tiger .....................................................24 Marine iguana ..............................78
Dolphin ..............................................26 Orangutan ......................................80
Lion ......................................................28 Wolverine ..........................................82
Walrus ................................................30 Flamingo ...........................................84
Peafowl ..............................................32 Octopus ............................................86
Camel ................................................34 Red panda ......................................88
Moose ................................................36 Beaver ................................................90
Swordfish ..........................................38 Sea turtle. .........................................92
Polar bear .........................................40 Pheasant ...........................................94
Ostrich ...............................................42 Penguin ..............................................96
Puma ...................................................44 Porcupine ..........................................98
Zebra ..................................................46 Mandrill .........................................100
Kangaroo .........................................48 Pangolin .........................................102
Snow leopard ................................50 Lemur ..............................................104
Boa ......................................................52 Vulture ............................................106
Cheetah ............................................54 Raccoon ........................................108
Anteater ............................................56 Bat ....................................................110
2
US_002_003_Contents.indd 2 30/04/2018 12:33
Skunk ..............................................112 Starfish ...........................................166
Salmon. ..........................................114 Axolotl ............................................168
Parrot ...............................................116 Slow loris ......................................170
Quokka .........................................118 Toad ................................................172
Squirrel monkey ........................120 Moth ...............................................174
Viscacha .......................................122 Mole ................................................176
Parrotfish........................................124 Hummingbird..............................178
Koala...............................................126 Scorpion .......................................180
Owl. .................................................128 Mantis shrimp ............................182
Sloth ................................................130 Butterfly .........................................184
Fox ....................................................132 Kingfisher ......................................186
Hare ................................................134 Sea slug ........................................188
Kiwi ..................................................136 Clownfish .....................................190
Platypus .........................................138 Dragonfly .....................................192
Chameleon .................................140 Frog .................................................194
Gila monster ..............................142 Grasshopper ..............................196
Meerkat .........................................144 Praying mantis ...........................198
Piranha ...........................................146 Crab ...............................................200
Toucan. ...........................................148 Beetle ..............................................202
Tortoise ...........................................150 Ant ....................................................204
Caecilian ......................................152 Bug. ..................................................206
Flying fish .....................................154 Wasp ...............................................208
Gecko ............................................156 Spider .............................................210
Seadragon ..................................158 Tree of life ....................................212
Puffin ...............................................160 Glossary .......................................214
Viperfish. ........................................162 Visual guide ................................216
Hedgehog ...................................164 Acknowledgments ...................224
3
US_002_003_Contents.indd 3 30/04/2018 12:33
Baleen
wh le
a
Some humpbacks will blow a bubble ring
around a shoal of fish, herding them together
so the whale can eat them in one mouthful.
US_004_005_Whale.indd 4 30/04/2018 12:33
Humpback
whale, worldwide
O
ut in the big blue ocean, whales spend their lives swimming
around underwater. However, as mammals, they have to come
to the surface to breathe. To help with this, their nostrils have moved
onto the top of their head. The jet of spray they make when they
breathe out of their blowhole can be as high as a house.
Baleen whales, such as humpback whales, don’t have teeth. Instead,
they have long bristles called baleen, which filter small fish and shrimp
from the water like a kitchen strainer. Their huge babies drink milk,
though. A newborn calf drinks enough milk every day to fill a bathtub!
5
US_004_005_Whale.indd 5 30/04/2018 12:33
Orc
a
Orca, worldwide
Don’t try this yourself, but orcas can swim
half asleep! One side of their brain takes a nap
while the other side stays awake.
6
US_006_007_Orca.indd 6 30/04/2018 12:33
O
rcas are often called killer whales,
but they aren’t really whales. They are
giant black-and-white dolphins. How confusing! These
speedy hunters live in families called pods. Many pods only
catch fish, but other pods catch seals, whales, and
other dolphins. Some push waves over floating
blocks of ice to wash seals into the sea.
Orcas are very chatty animals that talk
with whistles and clicks. The orcas in each part of the ocean sound
different. In an aquarium, some orcas learned to copy humans, saying
“hello” and “good-bye.” However, many people think orcas should not
be in zoos and belong in the ocean.
7
US_006_007_Orca.indd 7 30/04/2018 12:33
Eleph nt
a
An elephant can look in a mirror and recognize itself.
Not many animals can do that!
8
US_008_009_Elephant.indd 8 30/04/2018 12:33