Cirrus@Austlit

'Discover the incredible features and characteristics of some of the natural world's most fascinating extinct and critically endangered animals in the latest gorgeously illustrated hardcover encyclopaedia from award-winning author and illustrator Sami Bayly.

'Pore over beautifully detailed illustrations of some of the most fascinating extinct and critically endangered animals in the natural world. Discover how these species fit into the history of the animal kingdom and why they have become extinct or are under threat.

'Featuring facts and astonishing illustrations about sixty amazing animals, including the Western black rhino, thylacine, dodo, South Island giant moa and Tapanuli orangutan, as well as megafauna such as the giant wombat-like diprotodon and the crocodile-like Quinkana. Plus creatures with mysterious origins like Delcourt's giant gecko.

'Children and adults alike will wonder at the contribution these animals have made to the natural world while being reminded of the importance of wildlife conservation.'  (Publication summary)

'Discover the secrets behind some of the natural world's most unusual creatures of camouflage and mimicry. Find out about the chameleon who changes colour to communicate with its friends, the burrowing owl who copies the sound of a fiercer animal to protect itself from threats, and the harlequin filefish that has come to smell like coral to blend in with its surroundings.

'You'll be amazed by how these clever creatures use disguise and imitation to find food, send out warning signals and, most of all, avoid predators!' (Publication summary)

'Why is a Deepsea Flounder as flat as a pancake? Why does the Prickly Footballfish have a fishing rod-like light on its head?

'Dive deep through the ocean zones to discover some of the most unusual creatures from the sea, and find out why they have come to look and behave the way they do.

'The first book in a new picture book series about unusual animal evolution stories, from award-winning and best-selling author and illustrator, Sami Bayly.' (Publication summary)

'Discover 60 of the most peculiar pairs in nature and learn how plant and animal species rely on each other for their survival. Another fresh take on the animal kingdom from bestselling author and illustrator, Sami Bayly.

'Come along for another fresh take on the animal kingdom from bestselling author and illustrator, Sami Bayly.

'Discover 60 of the most peculiar pairs in nature and learn how plant and animal species rely on each other for their survival.

'Whether it be a rare tick living in the fur of a pygmy possum, a stick insect feasting and hiding out amongst the Melaleuca or a handfish laying its eggs on a sea squirt, incredible natural relationships deserve to be explored and celebrated. Investigating all types of relationships, from symbiotic to parasitic, this is an eye-opening guide to the natural world.

'Many species steer clear of those who are different, but the animals and plants in this book have evolved to form relationships with some of the most unlikely partners, and they couldn't live without them.

'This gorgeous hardcover book is illustrated in exquisite detail by award-winning author and illustrator, Sami Bayly. The perfect companion to The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Dangerous animals get a bad rap, but this beautifully illustrated encyclopaedia helps us appreciate the incredible features of some of our more hair-raising animal species.

'With more than sixty of the most deadly and dangerous animals from across the world to explore, every page of this beautifully illustrated volume is more eye-opening than the last. You will learn interesting facts about these fascinating species, (many of which you won't have even known were deadly) such as how they have adapted to survive and whether we should be threatened by these animals or appreciate them for their incredible features. Children and adults alike will pore over the breathtaking scientific illustrations of unusual animals from the geography cone snail to the wolverine, the Irukandji jellyfish to the slow loris, debating their relative dangerous features, learning about science and nature along the way. ' (Publication summary)

'Marvel as you enter the fascinating hidden world of ugly animals in this encyclopaedia of the animal kingdom's most unusual and beauty-challenged species. It's time for ugly animals to shine!

'With more than sixty ugly animals to explore, this compendium of the unusual celebrates the beauty in 'ugliness'. Children and adults alike will pore over the breathtaking scientific illustrations of unusual animals, debating their relative ugliness and merits, learning about science and nature along the way.

'Featuring illustrations and facts about the thorniest species the animal kingdom has to offer, from the naked mole rat to the goblin shark, aye-aye, sphinx cat, blobfish and many more 'ugly' beauties.

'This gorgeous hardcover book is illustrated in exquisite detail by exciting new Australian talent, Sami Bayly.'

(Publication summary)