Flightless Birds (Greenwood Guides to the Animal World)

We share the earth with a wide variety of animal species, each of which brings something special to the diversity of the planet. By knowing more about how animals behave and live, we gain a greater understanding of how life evolved and the importance of biodiversity. This volume provides a complete guide to those birds that have evolved a trait that would seem to harm their ability to survive - flightlessness. Flight has its advantages - why would some birds be flightless? Flightless Birds covers the loss of flight in birds, both permanently after years of evolution, and temporarily as a result of unusual molting behavior, and those species that are in various stages of losing their flight. The book provides a thorough guide, perfect for research papers in biology classes, for understanding the behavior and biodiversity of a fascinating and unusual group of animals. Flightless Birds includes sections on the major groups of flightless birds: Rarities whose ancient ancestors were on the continents when they broke away millions of years ago, and who survived despite competing with mammals; birds that were marooned on islands in the ocean, where food was plentiful and predators absent; penguins, which evolved alongside seas teeming with food and had no need to fly, and the special case of New Zealand's many flightless species which evolved in a predator-free paradise but could not cope with the settlers and their alien animals; and the many species which have become extinct within historic times. Beautifully illustrated, with numerous color photos, Flightless Birds provides copious material for understanding these unusual animals.

we Share The Earth With A Wide Variety Of Animal Species, Each Of Which Brings Something Special To The Diversity Of The Planet. By Knowing More About How Animals Behave And Live, We Gain A Greater Understanding Of How Life Evolved And The Importance Of Biodiversity. This Volume Provides A Complete Guide To Those Birds That Have Evolved A Trait That Would Seem To Harm Their Ability To Survive - Flightlessness. Flight Has Its Advantages - Why Would Some Birds Be Flightless? flightless Birds Covers The Loss Of Flight In Birds, Both Permanently After Years Of Evolution, And Temporarily As A Result Of Unusual Molting Behavior, And Those Species That Are In Various Stages Of Losing Their Flight. The Book Provides A Thorough Guide, Perfect For Research Papers In Biology Classes, For Understanding The Behavior And Biodiversity Of A Fascinating And Unusual Group Of Animals.

flightless Birds Includes Sections On The Major Groups Of Flightless Birds: Rarities Whose Ancient Ancestors Were On The Continents When They Broke Away Millions Of Years Ago, And Who Survived Despite Competing With Mammals; Birds That Were Marooned On Islands In The Ocean, Where Food Was Plentiful And Predators Absent; Penguins, Which Evolved Alongside Seas Teeming With Food And Had No Need To Fly, And The Special Case Of New Zealand's Many Flightless Species Which Evolved In A Predator-free Paradise But Could Not Cope With The Settlers And Their Alien Animals; And The Many Species Which Have Become Extinct Within Historic Times. Beautifully Illustrated, With Numerous Color Photos, flightless Birds Provides Copious Material For Understanding These Unusual Animals.

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these Three Guides Are Very Similar In Format And Writing Style, With Introductory Chapters Followed By The Natural History Of Selected Animals. A Wealth Of Information Is Presented, But Only The Most Dedicated Older Student Is Going To Wade Through The Technical Vocabulary. The Color And Black-and-white Photos Are Minor Components. nocturnal Animals, Which Describes How Specific Animals From Different Groups Survive During The Day And Live During The Night, Is The Best Of The Three Books. flightless Birds Presents An Exceptional Opportunity To Elucidate The Mechanism Of Natural Selection And Survival Of The Fittest, But Unfortunately Neither Of These Processes Of Evolution Is Mentioned And Flightlessness Is Attributed To The Deterioration Of Muscles Through Lack Of Use. It Is Not Only Misleading But Also Contributes To Misconceptions About Evolution. hibernation Contains A Chapter Titled Cold-blooded Mammals. Although The Author Is Trying To Make The Point That These Mammals Have Lower And More Erratic Body Temperatures Than Other Mammals, It Only Creates Confusion And Misinterpretation For Students, Because They Are Still Warm-blooded Mammals. The Bibliographies Include Web Sites, But Most Of The Books And Articles In The Bibliographies Would Be Unavailable To Students And Unsuitable For Research Because They Are Not Up-to-date. Less Than One-fourth Were Published As Recently As 1990, Whereas More Than Half Pre-date 1980. These Books Cannot Be Recommended For A Library Serving Youth.

Provides a guide to those birds that have evolved a trait that would seem to harm their ability to survive - flightlessness. This book covers the loss of flight in birds, both permanently after years of evolution, and temporarily as a result of unusual moulting behaviour, and those species that are in various stages of losing their flight. Explores flightless birds, discussing both permanent and temporary loss of flight, behaviors, biodiversity, and extinct species of these animals