Book excerpt: Meet an amazing menagerie of creatures on this breathtaking safari through the animal kingdom. The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia spans Earth from pole to pole, covering 2,000 animals from the tiniest protozoan to the mightiest mammal. Each entry describes the animal's characteristics, behavior, and distribution, and gives their Latin names. The meticulously researched information is highlighted by clear, authoritative writing and more than 1,000 photographs and illustrations. Throughout the book, special feature panels focus on various aspects of animal behavior such as camouflage, migration, and hibernation. With comprehensive back-matter including a glossary, alternative name index, and general index, this one-stop reference tool is perfect for research or for browsing by animal-lovers of all ages.