The secret language of animals

Unlock the secrets behind the behavior of the world's most fascinating creatures-from the Adélie penguin to the plains zebra to the giant panda-in this wonderfully written, beautifully illustrated book.

In The Secret Language of Animals , biologist Janine Benyus takes us inside the animal kingdom and shows us the whys and the hows behind the distinctive behavior of creatures great and small in their natural environments.

Divided geographically into five sections-Africa, Asia, North America, the oceans, and the poles-the book examines and describes the behavior, body language, and patterns of communication of 20 different animals: the gorilla, lion, African elephant, plains zebra, black rhinoceros, giraffe, ostrich, greater flamingo, Nile crocodile, giant panda, peacock, Komodo monitor, bottlenose dolphin, California sea lion, gray wolf, bald eagle, sandhill crane, beluga whale, polar bear, and Adélie penguin.

For each animal, Benyus describes and explains basic behaviors (locomotion, feeding, drinking, bathing, grooming, sleeping), communication behavior (greeting, social play, group defense, conflict, aggression/submission, fighting, courtship, copulation), and parenting behavior (birth, care and feeding, teaching, communal care).

The book is illustrated throughout with tender yet precise line drawings that beckon us to the animals and vividly capture everything from changing facial expressions to nurturing postures to playful and aggressive interactions. The text, too, is both intimate and informative, allowing for a deep connection with, and a great admiration for, each one of the animals.

Author Notes

Janine Benyus is a biologist, innovation consultant, and author of six books, including Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. In Biomimicry, she names an emerging discipline that emulates nature's designs and professes (e.g., solar cells that mimic leaves) to create a healthier, more sustainable planet. In 2010, Janine founded Biomimicry 3.8 (www.biomimicry.net), which provides biomimicry innovation is to inspire, educate, and connect the growing community of biomimicry practitioners around the world. An educator at heart, Janine believes that the more people learn from nature's mentors, the more they'll want to protect them. This is why she writes and speaks about, and revels in describing, the wild teachers in our midst. She lives in Missoula, Montana.
Juan Carlos Barberis was the staff artist and illustrator for the Museum of Natural History in New York City for 20 years.

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Humans have always pondered what makes us different from animals. After all, many species exhibit behaviors that resemble our own (or is it the other way around?). This informative volume covers 20 of the world's most well-known animals, including African elephants, flamingos, giant pandas, Nile crocodiles, and polar bears. Divided by geographical regions (African Jungles, Plains, and Waterways ; Asian Forests ; Warm Oceans ; North America ; and The Poles), the chapters cover some of the basic habits and behaviors of a particular animal, such as elimination, self-grooming, and sleeping. Social behaviors, from friendly to threatening, are discussed, as are sexual and parental interactions. Numerous sidebars showcase vital stats on each animal, quirky facts, and trivia. Each chapter ends with a list of behaviors for readers to look for at the zoo or in the wild.Plentiful introductory material highlights zoo conditions and habitat simulation and includes a lengthy overview of how animals behave in general. Noted nature illustrator Juan Carlos Barberis supplies artful line drawings. The narrative is extremely accessible, and readers of all ages will enjoy learning something new about their favorite zoo animals. Recommended for most public libraries, where this would do well in the circulating collection.--Vnuk, Rebecca Copyright 2014 Booklist

Library Journal Review

This clear and concise guide offers sections on creatures of the African jungles, plains, and waterways; Asian forests; warm oceans; North America; and the Poles. Within those sections the material is laid out animal by animal, with information on the communication habits of, for example, the gorilla, lion, African elephant, plains zebra, black rhinoceros, giraffe, ostrich, Nile crocodile, giant panda, peacock, bottlenose dolphin, gray wolf, bald eagle, polar bear, and Adelie penguin. The book opens with a discussion of zoos, for Benyus (A Field Guide to Wildlife; Northwoods Wildlife) is a proponent of well-managed and carefully thought-out facilities as a means of animal preservation while the fragile earth is slowly yet carefully brought back from the brink of ruin. These early pages also provide primer material on general animal behavior, complete with a discussion of habitat, basic behaviors, interacting strategies, and more. A number of pen-and-ink drawings also complement this first chapter. VERDICT Benyus's approachable writing can easily be understood and navigated, and her topic will be compelling to a wide range of library patrons.-Susan E. Brazer, Salisbury Univ. Lib., MA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Foreword	p. 7
Acknowledgments	p. 9
There's No Place Like Home	p. 13
What's New With Zoos?	p. 17
How Animals Behave: A Primer	p. 31
The World's Most Watchable Animals
African Jungles, Plains, and Waterways
Gorilla	p. 101
Lion	p. 119
African Elephant	p. 141
Plains Zebra	p. 165
Black Rhinoceros	p. 185
Giraffe	p. 199
Ostrich	p. 215
Greater Flamingo	p. 231
Nile Crocodile	p. 247
Asian Forests
Giant Panda	p. 265
Peacock	p. 283
Komodo Monitor	p. 299
Warm Oceans
Bottlenose Dolphin	p. 315
California Sea Lion	p. 335
North America
Gray Wolf	p. 353
Bald Eagle	p. 375
Sandhill Crane	p. 391
The Poles
Beluga Whale	p. 409
Polar Bear	p. 423
Adélie Penguin	p. 439
Zoo Critique	p. 459
Index	p. 469

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Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Library Journal Review

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