Magill’s Encyclopedia of Science Animal Life PDF. Ideal for high school, undergraduate, and general readers, this 4-volume set offers accessible, easy-to-understand scientific information on a subject that is of significant popular and academic interest. Entries ranging from 1,000-3,000 words, focus on nonhumans from the Animal Kingdom, from insects to reptiles to mammals. Early humans are addressed in an evolutionary context, and modern humans are included only for interspecies comparison or for their efforts to coexist with other species. Species overviews, at 1,000-2,000 words, discuss notable anatomy and physiology, habitat, behavior and reproduction and include a sidebar listing classification, geographical location, life span, and special anatomy. All entries begin with ready-reference information about the type of animal science and fields of study and feature a list of principal terms, with brief definitions. Numerous subheads guide the reader through the main text of the entry. Every essay ends with an annotated bibliography. Issue oriented discussions (animal rights, habitat destruction, poaching) and biographical entries (John James Audubon, Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall) appear as 500-word sidebars within main entries. In addition, longer entries provide one or more brief sidebars highlighting interesting subjects relating to the text.
Table of Contents
A
Aardvarks, 1
Adaptations and their mechanisms, 3
Adaptive radiation, 8
Aging, 13
Allosaurus, 16
Altruism, 19
American pronghorns, 24
Amphibians, 27
Anatomy, 34
Animal kingdom, 38
Antelope, 44
Antennae, 48
Ants, 51
Apatosaurus, 54
Apes to hominids, 57
Arachnids, 63
Archaeopteryx, 68
Armadillos, anteaters, and sloths, 71
Arthropods, 75
Asexual reproduction, 79
B
Baboons, 82
Bats, 85
Beaks and bills, 88
Bears, 92
Beavers, 96
Bees, 99
Beetles, 103
Biodiversity, 107
Biogeography, 114
Biology, 117
Bioluminescence, 119
Birds, 122
Birth, 130
Bone and cartilage, 134
Brachiosaurus, 138
Brain, 141
Breeding programs, 147
Butterflies and moths, 152
C
Camels, 156
Camouflage, 159
Cannibalism, 163
Carnivores, 165
Cats, 170
Cattle, buffalo, and bison, 175
Cell types, 179
Centipedes and millipedes, 185
Chameleons, 188
Chaparral, 191
Cheetahs, 194
Chickens, turkeys, pheasant, and quail, 197
Chimpanzees, 201
Chordates, lower, 205
Circulatory systems of invertebrates, 210
Circulatory systems of vertebrates, 216
Clams and oysters, 220
Claws, nails, and hooves, 223
Cleavage, gastrulation, and neurulation, 227
Clines, hybrid zones, and introgression, 232
Cloning of extinct or endangered species, 236
Cockroaches, 240
Coevolution, 243
Cold-blooded animals, 249
Communication, 252
Communities, 259
Competition, 265
Convergent and divergent evolution, 271
Copulation, 277
Coral, 280
Courtship, 283
Crabs and lobsters, 288
Cranes, 292
Crocodiles, 295
Crustaceans, 300
D
Death and dying, 304
Deep-sea animals, 308
Deer, 311
Defense mechanisms, 314
Demographics, 320
Deserts, 326
Determination and differentiation, 331
Development: Evolutionary perspective, 337
Digestion, 342
Digestive tract, 348
Dinosaurs, 354
Diseases, 360
Displays, 366
Dogs, wolves, and coyotes, 370
Dolphins, porpoises, and other toothed whales, 375
Domestication, 380
Donkeys and mules, 385
Ducks, 388
E
Eagles, 394
Ears, 399
Echinoderms, 405
Ecological niches, 409
Ecology, 415
Ecosystems, 422
Eels, 428
Elephant seals, 431
Elephants, 434
Elk, 437
Embryology, 440
Emotions, 444
Endangered species, 448
Endocrine systems of invertebrates, 456
Endocrine systems of vertebrates, 461
Endoskeletons, 466
Estivation, 473
Estrus, 476
Ethology, 480
Evolution: Animal life, 486
Evolution: Historical perspective, 491
Exoskeletons, 499
Extinction, 505
Extinctions and evolutionary explosions, 512
Eyes, 520