Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals

Getting to Know Animals What are spiders like?

The body of a spider is divided into two parts, called the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Spiders have 4 pairs of legs, 6 to 8 eyes and fangs at the front. Silk produced by glands comes out through spinnerets on their abdomen. Their most important sense is touch but in some species it is sight or hearing (those that hear have an organ that makes a chirping sound).

abdomen telson

walking leg

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Crustaceans and spiders

mouthparts

claw Lobster

Most crustaceans live in saltwater or on the shore. Some, such as the woodlouse, have adapted to life on land.

Their characteristic shape makes common crustacean species easy to recognise. The situation is entirely different with spiders. You can observe them almost everywhere around the world – they can be spotted in the garden, in the countryside and even in the house. Some weave a complicated web while other spiders crouch in a hole and wait. A third kind actively hunts and so on. There are thousands of species which vary in size, behaviour and habits. They are without exception predators, usually hunting insects but large spiders may also kill small vertebrates and there are even spiders that eat other spiders.

The diving bell spider is the only spider that is specialised for an aquatic lifestyle. It anchors its diving bell web to aquatic plants and fills it with air brought from the surface. The larvae and water fleas it catches in the water are usually eaten in the bell. It also shows off its building skills by making different types of bell: separate homes for its eggs, moulting and overwintering. This spider is able to carry air by trapping it on special hairs and its web is the most advanced of all.

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antenna

eye

Spider attacks WEB-BUILDING SPIDERS produce their own silk to make a trap and then hide and wait. Their sight is not very sharp, but it doesn’t need to be because they can sense the slightest vibration, which tells them it’s mealtime. The spider then nimbly rushes to the insect caught in the web and injects venom into the prey. It has a pair of fangs with claws and venom glands. If the spider is not hungry, it wraps up the prey and eats it later but, if it is, it immediately begins to make “meat broth”, that is injecting digestive fluid, which turns the animal’s insides to liquid.

NET- CASTING SPIDERS hunt at night.

They stretch their net to about ten times its usual size between their legs hanging down from a branch, and then keep a sharp look out and throw it on the quarry. All the spider has to do is pull up the trapped insect.

BOLAS SPIDERS make a single sticky ball on the end of a thread to stop their prey – that is if they aim well.

JUMPING SPIDERS use a single thread as a safety line just in case they do not manage to get the better of their victim.

The long-tailed, ten-legged hermit crab uses an empty shell as a home to protect its body.

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C R U S TA C E A N S A N D S P I D E R S Cross spider

The web of one Asian spider is so strong that it is used by fishermen to make fish nets.

What are crusta ceans like?

Cross spiders are so called because of the characteristic pattern on their back. They weave a superb web high above the ground and then lie in wait for their prey.

Giant cross spider

Their body has two parts, a head and thorax fused together and an abdomen, 4 or 5 pai rs of walking legs, simple or compound eyes, and 2 pai rs of antennae. They vary in size and are covered in a hard shell, which they shed from time to time as they grow. Many are equipped with claws on their legs, such as lobsters and crabs. Their antennae or fee lers have sense organs and the y breathe with gills (the gill s of those living on land are ada pted to stay wet). The inn er arc of their claws is specialised for touch and catching pre y.

Scorpions and millipedes

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Tarantulas wait to ambush their prey, which can include small vertebrates such as lizards, frogs and birds, at twilight or at night. They spend the day in a crevice or a burrow in the ground, whose walls some clever females line with silk. The hair and size of large species make them seem dangerous, but the venom of many of its smaller relatives is stronger.

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In warm climates scorpions are dangerous hunters, clasping their chosen victim with their pincers and paralyzing it with a single venomous sting. The stinger is at the end of their tail, which they hold curled at the ready over their back.

They rest under stones and in rotting trees, and mainly prey on Spider’s silk is stronger spiders and insects. than steel thread of the same thickness.

Millipedes have long Many crustaceans are able to cylindrical bodies and change colour. As the tide feed on plant remains. goes in or out, they become They live on tree bark and the lighter or darker. ground, and are active at night. cephalothorax

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jaw

spinneret abdomen

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Getting to Know Animals The common dragonet lives in shallow coastal waters. Its elongated front dorsal fin has hard spines. This fish is a small scorpionfish.

back dorsal fin

caudal fin

front dorsal fin

Grouper

anal fin

pectoral fin

Fish

Common dragonet gill cover

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­The body of vertebrates is supported by a backbone consisting of vertebrae. Vertebrates include five large groups of animals: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Fish are the most varied group, which has as many species as the other four groups together.

They were the first vertebrates and, after millions of years, the ancient groups that conquered the land evolved from them. Fish are perfectly adapted to a watery environment. Most are protected by scales and they are able to float thanks to their swimming bladder. Their body temperature is variable, which means this depends on the environment around them.

They obtain the oxygen they need from the water by forcing it through their gills.

eye

dorsal fin

A master of disguise, its flattened body blends perfectly with the muddy seabed. This ray grows to between 1 and 3 metres long and feeds on small fish, crustaceans and bivalves, which it detects with its nose or it spots thanks to its excellent vision.

This ray has a breathing hole, known as a spiracle, above each eye, through which the water can flow in freely. When in danger, the ray uses the venomous thorn at the back of its tail. thorn

At first sight, this odd creature that swims upright does not seem to be a fish at all.

What’s more, there’s no point in looking for pelvic and caudal fins on it, yet its tail is capable of grasping. The seahorse can move its eyes independently of each other. One other special feature of this species is that the male carries the eggs after mating in his pouch. It feeds on small animals such as snails and fish.

prehensile tail Seahorse

Thornback ray

Seahorsel

snout

pelvic fin

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The hagfish feeds with its sucking disc-like mouth as it lacks proper jaws, just as the first fish that emerged around 400 million years ago did. They have no eyes and their body is covered in slippery slime. They feed on dead fish. Apart from them, only lampreys have kept this ancient characteristic.

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OU KNOW? Y ID lk” on the Some fish are able to “wa ir fins. the by d rte seabed, suppo g cin du pro of Species capable n found bee ly on e hav y icit ctr ele among fish.

FISH Beautifully coloured opahs with disc-like bodies occur all over the world. They live in waters near the surface and feed by shaping their mouth into a tube and sucking in cephalopods.

What are fish like?

Cartilage and bonek

gill slits nose

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The skeleton of hundreds of fish species, including sharks and rays, is made up of flexible tissue called cartilage and is covered in tooth-like scales. These are cartilaginous fish.

Bony fish have a bone skeleton and a gas-filled sack called a swimbladder, which helps the fish stay at the same depth without floating up or sinking. There are very many kinds of bony fish, about 20,000 species moveable eyes in all, ranging from the tiny 1 cm goby to the huge ocean sunfish.

Fish live in water and usually breathe with gills. Scales cover their bodies and their body temperature can vary, which means this depends on the environment around them. A streamlined body, mucous-covered scales and fins help them move through the water. There are three types of fish: bony, cartilaginous and jawless.

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Armoured fish

Bright coloured clownfish live in the teeming world of the coral reefs and never go too far from their lifelong companion, the sea anemone. Both species benefit from their friendship: the clownfish has a hiding place while the anemone feeds from the scraps left by the fish.

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Getting to Know Animals strong flattened tail

Crocodiles

The Nile crocodile is one of the most widespread crocodile species. It is 6 metres long from the tip of its snout to the end of its tail and weighs up to 750 kg. It is a fierce predator and moves with ease in the water.

Its eyes, ears and nose are all positioned on the top of its head. This means that the crocodile can use all three sensory organs excellently as these are above the surface when it is floating in the water. When the croc submerges, it closes its nostrils and swims steering with its powerful tail. Tough muscles operate its terrifying jaws, ensuring no escape from their grip. The females are caring parents.

scales

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Geckos

Reptiles

terrifying jawsk

Reptiles are rightly the models for dragons in storybooks due to their cold eyes, scaled skin, which can even be green, their crests, long strong tail and characteristic movement though none has seven heads. They evolved from ancient amphibians and the dinosaurs, which lived millions of years ago, were their relatives. The oldest reptile fossils are 315 million years old. Reptiles include crocodiles, snakes, lizards as well as turtles and tortoises.

Most of them reproduce by laying soft shelled eggs.

This lizard is native to the hot parts of the world. Its flattened body and large eyes are characteristic, as are its feet with adhesive toe pads enabling it to walk on almost any surface. Geckos hunt at night for their insect prey and, unlike their quiet reptile relations, they keep in touch by shrieking loudly.

Tuatara

This reptile, which is less than a metre long, lives in New Zealand. The tuatara preys on eggs, small animals and baby birds. A spiny crest runs along its back and tail, which it is able to stiffen when danger threatens. If you look into its eyes, you will be looking into the eyes of a living fossil as its ancestors lived before the dinosaurs evolved. The tuatara spends its days in a dark burrow and comes out to sunbathe from time to time.

You can find lizards anywhere from the seashore to the edge of areas permanently covered in snow. Species of varied shapes and colours have exploited their features exceptionally well. Some are good at running on the ground, others at climbing trees, and yet others have mastered diving or jumping and flying skills.

People usually like them and an encounter with them poses no danger except for some large and aggressive types.

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REPTILES

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independently rotating eye

‘The biggest reptiles of all time live d in the age of dinosaurs.

The famous Tyrannosaurus rex, for example, was 14 m long, but some 30 to 40 m dinos also roamed the Earth millions of years ago.

Chameleons

grasping feet prehensile tail

A special muscle enables its long tongue with a sticky tip to flick out and retract in a fraction of a second, and the unfortunate targeted insect finds itself in the chameleon’s belly instead of on a fragrant flower. The chameleon’s truly amazing quality is that it can change colour by rearranging its pigments. This change occurs not only because of the background colours but its mood as well.

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Chameleons live in the forests of Africa and India, and grow up to 30 cm long. Special abilities enable them to climb trees. The chameleon can retract its limbs under its body and hold onto a branch by grabbing it with two toes from one side and three the other.

Using its skilful prehensile tail as an anchor, it firmly fixes itself to the branch. This reptile can move its eyes independently of each other and thus has 360-degree vision to find its prey.

Horned lizards

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Why is reptile skin tough?

The outer surface of reptiles’ skin is covered in horny plates called scutes or scales. Under this is the skin, which is thinner than that of mammals, containing veins and nerves as well pigment cells responsible for colouration. The skin of some reptiles is strengthened by bony plates embedded in it. The tough outer layer, which does not expand easily, is shed from time to time.

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This spiky-bodied reptile is called the Texas horned lizard.

Although it is only 13 cm long, the horn-like spikes on the back of its head are rather dangerous. This little dragon is unable to breathe fire but it can spray blood from its eyes. It uses this special ability as a means of self-defence.

Getting to Know Animals

Flightless birds

In the course of bird evolution, the ability to fly proved to be less important for the lifestyle of certain species and the wings of these birds gradually became smaller and reached the point where they were no longer able to fulfil their original function. This group of birds includes ostriches, rheas, kiwis and penguins.

The kakapo is a New Zealand parrot and a very rare bird. It can barely fly but has very strong legs. It usually goes in search of its plant food, mainly moss, at night.

The kakapo nests in a burrow among roots.

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Monkey-eating eagles

Large-bodied scary-looking eagles nest in the canopy of the jungle. The Philippine or monkey-eating eagle is indigenous to the island group it is named after. It has relatively short wings and long tail feathers so the eagle is able to manoeuvre skilfully among the branches. It hunts in the forest boldly at great speed and preys on small monkeys, as its name suggests. In the South American rainforests the harpy eagle and in Africa the crowned eagle follow a similar lifestyle.

OU KNOW? Y DID ran the ostrich ey igger than b Th s r. d ir ca b as ce On d of Madag d their n la is e th d tall an aroun n r 3 metres grew to ove 9 kg. They were know ed h g ei w s s. g eg t bird as elephan

Shrikes The honeyeater is a small bird living in Australia and Africa.

It feeds on honey, fruit and insects.

Ostriches

The bird community in the Amazonian rainforest has its own sentries. Two species of shrike fulfil this position, one among the branches and one on the ground, calling to warn the others when danger threatens. However, they have also realised the advantage of giving a false alarm when they spot a tempting food source. While the other birds are busy escaping, they can have a feast.

The savannahs of Africa are home to the world’s largest bird, which stands over 2 metres tall. If need be, it can gallop at 70 km per hour, which is faster than horses do! The ostrich’s tennis ball-sized eyes give it excellent vision and for this reason the bird’s company is welcomed by grazing animals with poorer sight. Its huge eggs are 24 times bigger than the hen’s and have very strong 2 mm thick shells. The hatchlings are looked after by the male. If two male ostriches leading their chicks meet, sometimes they have a fight and one chases the other away. Nevertheless, the winner adopts the abandoned chicks and brings them up together with his own ones.

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BIRDS

Birds-of-paradise

Why don’t birds fall off the tree at night?

This stunning plumage is the privilege of the male, which attracts females with it. When the time is ripe, a spectacular fashion show is given with loud calls as a musical backdrop.

Birds sitting on a tree grasp the branch with 3 toes from the front and one toe from behind, and a special tendon pulls the toes tight.

Parrots

These highly colourful birds have a characteristic hooked beak and can grab their food with their feet. They mainly eat plants and use their beak to hold on. The largest are the long-tailed macaws.

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Macaw

Frigate birds

Birds of prey

These birds have special inflatable pouches under their bill, which is a means of attracting females. At the right moment the courting male inflates his throat pouch like a balloon, spreads his wings gently vibrating them, and makes a drumming sound. If the male is successful, his chosen bride will touch the pouch with her head.

These predatory birds mainly rely on their keen vision to find prey, which is then grabbed with sharp talons and torn to pieces with their hooked beak.

Apart from birds preferring “fresh meat”, scavengers belong to this group.

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T h e Da i ly L i v e s o f A n i m a l s

What use are feelers?

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atures in es great help to cre This headgear provid covered in und as the feelers are finding their way aro ssages me e eiv sors. They rec thousands of tiny sen rature, and pe tem d an movement about changes in air ding a mate or nts which make fin can also detect sce predator. of an approaching food easier or warn

The hairy antennae of the male silkmoth are for detecting a substance emitted by the female and a single molecule is enough to tell the suitor which way to go.

Smell, taste, touch

The outside world is perceived through chemical stimulants, sight, sound and touch, which are particularly important for getting around, and when searching for a mate, avoiding harmful substances and finding food. Of course, the animals themselves actively give off stimuli that influence the behaviour of other members of their own species or different kinds of animals living nearby. A one-way message becomes a “conversation” when another animal sends a reply.

When a snake basks in the morning sunshine, it directly uses the warmth of the sun to increase its body temperature. When it goes off to hunt, the snake can sense an infrared image of the thermal radiation coming from its prey animals.

On the trail of scents

Mammals live in a world of scents. Man’s best friend, the dog, is able to tell the difference between a pair of identical twins, is good at tracking, and can sniff out drugs. At the same time, the dog’s bodily secretions are scent signals for others of the same species that they have strayed into its territory and they had better leave..

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The pitcher plant is the final lovely smell for the insects that slip inside the plant and fall into the trap of this irresistible flower.

S M E L L , TA S T E , T O U C H

RECORD

Cnidarians and octopi use their tentacles to sense and grab their victims.

The suckers on their arms are excellent for climbing on rocks.

The smelliest animal is the skunk. The giant peacock moth has the best sense of smell as its antennae with 100,000 receptors can detect the scent of a female from a distance of 10 kilometres. A millionth of 1 g of this enticing perfume is enough to attract 1 billion males to a single female.

Feeling is profitable

A csillagorrú vakond orra végén lévő apró tapogatóival a sötétben is megtalálja táplálékát.

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Usually birds do not have a good sens e of smell except for vultures and seab irds.

Fish have a very good sense of smell (sharks, for example, can sense blood from 500 m), but cuttlefish shoot black ink in defence, which stops its attacker from seeing and smelling.

Rafflesia is a flowering plant that is one metre in diameter and emits the odour of rotting meat, which is more attractive than anything else for flies.

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The skunk sprays a pungent liquid from its scent gland as a means of defence. This can reach a distance of up to 10 metres. The victim of its spraying cannot get rid of the smell even after a year.

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Certain animals have special bodily appendages that are touch organs which are usually positioned around their mouth. They are mainly used for feeling but often are important in obtaining food and also help in grasping it. Arthropods mainly use their antennae for touch. Some animals have sensory hairs to detect vibrations and the movement of air. Cats have highly sensitive whiskers to feel with, while orang-utans can grasp with their big toes. The tiny baby kangaroo is blind and deaf when it is born and relies on touch to find the nipple in the pouch. The sea cucumber has sticky tentacles for gathering food.

The star-nosed mole has tiny tentacles around its nose to find food in the dark.

H a b i tat s The peacock is kept as a pet for its resplendent plumage but in bygone days it was a delicacy served up at special feasts.

Domesticated ducks originating from the mallard first appeared in Asia, probably in China, about 3,000 years ago. However, ducks were kept even in ancient Egypt. Apart from their flesh and eggs, the feathers are also used.

Sleigh dogs

Man tamed and started breeding the animals he was in the greatest need of for their strength, skills or meat, thus also ensuring their survival. The first animal to be domesticated many thousand years ago was the dog, which at first protected man and helped people hunt.

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Pets

The dog breeds laika, malamute and husky are still man’s most enduring helpers in the northern ice fields. The dog sleigh is not only the favourite means of transport of northern peoples but polar researchers would also be in difficulty without them.

These dogs can cover up to a hundred kilometres a day at sled dog races, reaching speeds of 20 to 40 km an hour.

The domestic versions of the wild goat were among the first animals to be tamed. Their flesh, milk, skin and manure, which can be used for heating, as well as their loadbearing ability meant that goats were highly prized first in the ancient East and then around the world.

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The species of cattle that first developed 6,000 to 7,000 years ago were kept for their meat and hide and were only promoted to “employees” and “milk producers” later. They are thought to originate from the aurochs, an ancient type of wild cattle, which occurred in Europe, Asia and America.

NEAR PEOPLE The ancestor of the chicken was probably the junglefowl, which was domesticated by the Indians in Asia around 3000 BC. Their main role living alongside humans is to produce eggs and meat but they have also been used for cock fighting and prophesying and have been kept as pets.

DID YOU K N OW

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The domestic pig, this tame descendant of the wild boar, has provided meat for humankind for 6,000 to 8,000 years. In some places pigs are used to locate truffles, and they also excel at sniffing out drugs.

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Horses were first kept by people as a source of meat and milk. It is likely that the people of the Asian steppes started domesticating and training them. For a long time warfare was unimaginable without them. Eastern peoples, such as the Magyars, were skilled horse breeders and horsemen, and terrified Europe with their raids on horseback. Horses “taught” by wild animals were fearless and excellent warriors. Elsewhere, they pulled chariots, and carried knights in the Middle Ages and hussars in later centuries.

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People needed beasts of burden that can be used for work. The donkey was among the first animals to be domesticated from the wild donkey in the Middle East.

The animal taken from its original desert or grassland environment proved to be an excellent load bearer and spread quickly due to its undemanding nature. Its milk was thought to have magical powers.

Legend has it that Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, bathed in donkey’s milk to retain her beauty.

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The enduring donkey