Book excerpt: Ancient Egypt's temples and tombs encompass images of exotic animals, birds, and plants that are no longer found in the country today, while the fossils of dinosaurs and ancient whales reveal an extraordinary legacy from prehistoric times. Today, Egypt's vibrant habitats host amazing cat, canine, and bird species, exotic residents like crocodiles and bats, numerous reptiles, butterflies, and insects, and domesticated animals like the camel. Including striking full-color illustrations, photographs, diagrams and maps, and information from leading scientific experts, this book is a great introduction to Egypt's unique natural history.