Dieren in de natuur

There are over four and a half thousand different kinds of mammals alive today. How many can you name? Many will not be entirely clear about what it is that makes a mammal rather than a reptile or bird, apart from egg laying. But then what about egg-laying mammals such as the platypus and echidna? The Life of Mammals describes and illustrates the remarkable diversity of mammals from the giant blue whale to the miniscule pigmy shrew. The cachet of David Attenborough's name and distinctive voice comes through clearly from the text and there's a stunning selection of photographs, by the best wildlife photographers in the world. The Life of Mammals is worth getting even if you just like wildlife pictures, for there are many here that you will not have seen before--the Brazilian tapir, the hairy rhino of Sumatra, the Pyrenean desman and more. Attenborough certainly has the knack of making good stories for the general reader out of what, in other hands, can be rather dry science. He manages to weave in a great deal about the evolutionary story behind the success of the mammals over the last 65 million years since the dinosaurs bit the dust. Also, because of all the careful research behind the TV programmes, he is pretty well up to speed on many of the scientific developments in our understanding of our biologically nearest if not necessarily dearest relatives. This is especially true when the story gets around to our closest primate cousins--the apes. All the recent discoveries about tool use and culture are included. The Life of Mammals will make a perfect gift for anyone from the age of about 10 upwards and hopefully a whole new generation will know what a kinkajou, cacomistle or a uakiri are. The only quibble is there's no further-reading list to fuel new enthusiasms lit up by this excellent book. Synopsis David Attenborough recounts the story of 4000 species that have outlived the dinosaurs and conquered the farthest places on Earth: the mouse-sized Pioneers who lived alongside the dinosaurs; the Insect Eaters; the tool-using Root Raiders and Seed Stealers; and the Leaf Eaters. Meer info

From the Palaeolithic age to the present, mammals have been a source of fascination and inspiration for artists. Mammals are portrayed in cave paintings many thousands of years old, in austere Renaissance woodcuts, in copper engravings from the eighteenth century and exquisitely coloured lithographs from the nineteenth century. Reproduced here is a selection of coloured prints taken mostly from priceless, rare books not widely available. This beautiful volume shows the variety with which artists portrayed mammals in the days before photography. It will surprise and delight lovers of wildlife and animal art alike. Meer info

Beginnings of Life is biology with a difference. Combining a lively text with a wealth of superb photographs and illustrations. Chris Catoon and James Gray present the whole miraculous story of how generation follows generation in the animal world: how the tiny eggs clustered beneath a nettle leaf turn into shimmering butterflies; how a young chimpanzee learns his manners; why the peacock spreads his fan; and why giraffes and wildebeest mus run with the herd within hours of being born. Contents; -Why do animals reproduce -Why have two sexes? -Finding a mate -Courtship -Sex roles in nature -Doing without sex -From castaways to carrycots -Family life -Instinct and learning Meer info

The grizzly bear, or grizzly, is a symbol of the land the way it used to be. These enormous creatures once roamed over North America from Mexico to the Arctic Ocean and from the Pacific to the Great Plains, yet today they are found in only about two percent of their original domain, where, along with the wolf, they arouse heated and passionate debate. Grizzly Bears is an engaging introduction to these controversial creatures, which have long featured in human life, from early cave paintings to the naming of constellations. The book describes their lifestyle, from the mysteries of hibernation to the threats to their survival. Filled with the author's personal anecdotes and first-hand experiences, and illustrated with superb colour photographs, it brings you face-to-face with these awe-inspiring creatures. Meer info

How to identify and decipher those mysterious winter trails. Contents: -Introduction -Opossum family: Didelphidae -Shrew family: Soricidae -Rabbit order: Lagomorpha -Rodent order: Rodentia -Carnivore order: Carnivora -Even-toed ungulates: Artiodactyla -Some other track makers Meer info

This is a book that will provide sustianed reading - and viewing - pleasure or serve as an authoritative reference source. Each chapter begins by listing the important data about the animal (size, weight, coloration, general characteristics) in a concise box. A map shows the animal's range. And the cahpters themselves fully develop their subjects. Contents: -Whitetail Deer -Mule Deer -Elk -Moose -Caribou -Pronghorn Antelope -Wild sheep -Mountain goat -Grizzly bears -Black bear -Mountain lion Meer info

Pandas are becoming increasingly rare in the wild, and struggle to survive in isolated areas or reserves. Now recognised as an endangered species, there are only about a thousand giant pandas left in western China, and their existence continues to be threatened by man's destuction of their favoured habitats and by poaching. Their prospects for survival are bleak. Wildlife photographer and zoologist Heather angel has travelled into the heart of China in search of giand and red pandas. This account of her four journeys, together with rare photographs of pandas in Wolong, China's largest panda reserve, details their lifestyle and behaviour and discusses the conservation issues which must be addressed if these endearing creatures are to survive. Meer info

The majestic mountains and sweeping valleys of western North America have long inspired writers, painters, and photographers. But the pristine wetlands - marshes, deltas, and tideland - historically have been considered wastelands standing in the way of progress. As such they were drained, filled, and dammed to make room for development. Tracks in the Sky is the long-awaited testament to the beauty and importance of the wetlands of the West. Photographer Tupper Ansel Blake and naturalist-writer Peter Steinhart present in provocative text and glorious full-color photography the spectacular panorama of the Pacific flyway. They examine the entire life system, but it is the almost overwhelming presence of the brilliantly plumed waterfowl that dominate this breathtaking book. Tuper Blake has traveled from the Arctic tundra to the briny marshes of Central America following these great migratory flocks. He has caught them in all their graceful, elusive grandeur. Meer info

Great color photos by Daniel J. Cox and text by famed deer researcher John Ozoga. Content: -Spring -Summer -Autumn -Winter -Selected references Meer info