An engaging and beautifully illustrated introduction to some of the world’s most interesting and charismatic marine creatures

Dive deep into the fascinating world of cephalopods—octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, and the mysterious nautilus—to discover the astonishing diversity of this unique group of intelligent invertebrates and their many roles in the marine ecosystem. Organized by marine habitat, this book features an extraordinary range of these clever and colorful creatures from around the world and explores their life cycles, behavior, adaptations, ecology, links to humans, and much more. With stunning photographs and illustrations as well as profiles of selected species, The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives is a comprehensive, authoritative, and inviting introduction to the natural history of these charismatic creatures.

A beautifully illustrated introduction to the lives of butterflies around the world

There are more than fifteen thousand butterfly species in the world, fluttering through a wide variety of habitats. Bright and beautiful, butterflies also have fascinating life histories and play an important role in our planet’s ecosystems. The Lives of Butterflies showcases the extraordinary range of colors and patterns of the world’s butterflies while exploring their life histories, behavior, habitats and resources, populations, seasonality, defense and natural enemies, and threats and conservation.

With remarkable photography, graphic illustration, and profiles of thirty-five selected species, this comprehensive and inviting book discusses dozens of key topics, including eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalids; flight, feeding, courtship, and mating; migration and hibernation; concealment, mimicry, and predators; habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, and pesticides; and farming and gardening to support and attract butterflies.

With its stunning illustrations and clear, up-to-date, and authoritative text, The Lives of Butterflies will appeal to a wide range of butterfly and nature lovers.

A comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to the world of viruses

As parasites that are often hundreds of times smaller than bacteria, viruses exist in and on everything, everywhere. Rapidly evolving, they are highly opportunistic and relentlessly efficient. While some viruses are obviously agents of disease, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world only too well, others can be beneficial, helping to protect their hosts from other microbes, or allowing hosts to function in otherwise impossible ways. In Viruses, virus expert and author Marilyn Roossinck presents a comprehensive and richly illustrated introduction to viruses that reveals their true nature.

Using lively text, clear graphics, and beautiful imagery, Viruses examines all the aspects of viruses that are essential for understanding them—their diversity, behaviors, life cycles, and much more. Written in a nontechnical and easy-to-follow style, the book covers what viruses are and where they come from; how they transmit and evolve; the battle between viruses and hosts, including immunity and vaccination; viruses that are good for us; the critical role viruses play in the balance of earth’s ecosystems; what makes a virus—including COVID-19 and influenza—become pandemic in plants or animals; and the cutting-edge research that is discovering thousands of new viruses. Each chapter concludes with stunningly illustrated profiles that highlight key viruses.

In a world where understanding viruses is more important than ever, Viruses offers a rich and inviting introduction to organisms that, for all the harm they can do, are also essential for the health of animals, plants, and the world we share.

A richly illustrated introduction to the incredible world of beetles

With some 400,000 species, beetles are among the largest and most successful groups of organisms on earth, making up one-fifth of all plant and animal species. No other animals exhibit such a dazzling range of size, form, and color. Mostly small, sturdy, and compact, beetles are incredibly well-equipped to find food, reproduce, and avoid predators. Additionally, their collective roles as herbivores, hunters, and recyclers are critical to the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems. In this lavishly illustrated book, beetle expert and author Arthur Evans presents an inviting and comprehensive introduction to the fascinating lives of the world’s beetles.

Universal in scope, The Lives of Beetles is packed with the latest scientific findings, presented in an accessible way. Individual chapters cover beetles’ structure and function; evolution, diversity, classification, and distribution; communication, reproduction, and development; feeding habits; uses in medicine, science, and technology; and study and conservation. Each chapter concludes with nine stunningly illustrated profiles that highlight the lives of some of the world’s most beautiful and interesting species. The book also features an up-to-date family classification, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading.

We need beetles for the ecological services they provide, the technological innovations they inspire, and the scientific insights they reveal, so it is essential that we all get to know beetles better and strive to conserve their habitats. The Lives of Beetles is the perfect place to begin this journey of discovery and understanding.

A richly illustrated introduction to the marvelous world of snakes

Descended from prehistoric lizards, snakes have been slithering across the earth for more than a hundred million years. There are some 4,100 species known to exist, and many are venomous, but many more are not. Snakes experience the world in unique ways, smelling the air with their tongues and relying on signs of movement for orientation. They are ectothermic, needing external heat for energy, and must shed their skin to grow. This guide offers a unique look at the lives of snakes, exploring their life cycles, diets, defenses, locomotive strategies, and more. Written by an internationally recognized herpetologist and informed by the latest science, The Lives of Snakes blends captivating photos with engaging, fact-filled profiles of selected species to provide an invaluable introduction to these splendid reptiles.

• Combines beautiful illustrations, clear graphics, and lively text to inform and entertain
• Features dozens of representative species profiles
• Covers topics ranging from evolution and diversity to habitats and reproduction
• Examines how snakes coexist with humans
• Discusses threats to the world’s snake populations and their conservation
• A must for snake lovers everywhere