This catalogue of the animal world depicts species in detail-- mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish-- illustrating each in color, a stunning guide to the staggering diversity of vertebrate animals. Organized by the taxonomic categories of order, family, genus, and species, the text gives an overview of the characteristics shared by animals within each family. When a family's members are similar, the most typical and most interesting are depicted, with more species included for every dramatic visual variation. Each illustrated animal is described in detail, and every entry includes information on size, breeding patterns, feeding habits, intriguing adaptations and behaviors, common and scientific names, conservation status, geographic range, and habitat.

Written by leading scientists in each field, and incorporating innovative graphics-- cladograms-- in to illustrate the evolution and diversity of each class in the animal kingdom, this remarkable book is an essential reference for every home.