Series: A Guide to Every Family

Seaweeds 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 metres 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...

Beetles 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 -...

A richly illustrated guide to the world's frogs that includes species from every family. With more than 7,600 known species, frogs exhibit an extraordinary range of forms and behaviours, 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...

A marvellously illustrated natural history of the world's mollusks. Mollusks 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...

A lavishly illustrated guide to the diversity of the world's butterflies Conspicuous 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...

A richly illustrated guide to the incredible diversity of dragonflies and damselflies around the world. Airily dancing over rivers and ponds, the thousands of colourful 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...

A magnificently illustrated guide to the bryophyte species found across the world. Bryophytes 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...

A marvellously illustrated guide to the world's moths. With more than 160,000 named species, moths are a familiar sight to most of us. They flicker around lights, pollinate wildflowers in meadows and gardens, and can sometimes be unwelcome visitors to our woollens. Moths come in a variety of colours, from earthy greens and browns to gorgeous patterns of infinite variety....

A richly illustrated guide to wasps around the world. Wasps 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...

Turtles of the World reveals the extraordinary diversity of these amazing reptiles. Characterised 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....

A gorgeously illustrated guide to the incredible diversity of snakes around the world. Snakes 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, behaviour, habitats, reproduction, conservation, and other...

A marvellously illustrated look at bats from around the world. The only mammals capable of flight, bats are found on every major continent on the planet. They perform crucial roles in the ecosystems they inhabit, from consuming insect pests over agricultural crops and forests to pollinating night-flowering plants, dispersing seeds in tropical biomes, and recycling nutrients and creating natural fertiliser....

A stunningly illustrated natural history of spiders, Spiders of the World explores the fascinating world of arachnids. These versatile creatures inhabit six of the seven continents and thrive in environments ranging from deserts and rain forests to Arctic tundra and cities. Spiders of the World offers a captivating look at these wondrously adaptable and endlessly intriguing creatures, presented by six...