By Marianne Taylor
1st Edition
This excellent RSPB guide to bird anatomy looks at the avian body,
system by system, how it evolved, and how it functions. Chapters explore
traits that are unique to birds, including their remarkable one-way
breathing cycle, their trimmed-down skeleton, how feathers permit
flight, provide weather-proofing and add beauty, and the avian bill – a
lightweight replacement for both teeth and food-handling forelimbs.
Each
chapter tackles a particular body system and includes detailed
anatomical illustrations, from cells and organs to skeletons and
muscles, to show how birds' anatomical adaptations enable all their
physical feats and fascinating behaviour. Feature spreads offer more
in-depth analysis on topics like birdsong, temperature control,
ornamentation, unusual diets, social behaviour, nocturnal adaptations,
mutation and natural selection.
No comments:
Post a Comment