Books published by publisher DK ADULT

A comprehensive, best-selling guide to more than 3,000 snake species for fans of snakes, snake owners, and students — now in an updated second edition produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution.Get to know more than 3,000 snakes from around the world, from the familiar, massive Green Anaconda to the deadly Tropical Rattlesnake, the Reticulated Python, Red-Spitting Cobra, Puff Adder, Gaboon Viper, and more. Learn about the lesser-known dainty Leopard Snake, whose bright markings trick predators — and often humans — into thinking it is a deadly viper.Snake uses gorgeous, full-color photographs of 60 snakes to showcase what makes these reptiles so extraordinary, and includes more than 450 illustrations and detailed close-up photographs that show the snakes in action.Herpetology expert and wildlife photographer Chris Mattison accompanies each profile with fascinating snake facts and trivia on the snake's physical and behavioral characteristics, information about habitats, reproductive behavior, feeding, defense, and more. Plus, the updated, easy-to-reference Snake Directory lists every snake species within the 18 snake families, including little-known and rarely sighted species.Snake is a beautiful and comprehensive guide to some of nature's more compelling animals.

Newly revised and updated, the Italian-English Bilingual Visual Dictionary is a quick and intuitive way to learn and recall everyday words in Italian. The Italian-English Bilingual Visual Dictionary introduces a range of useful current vocabulary in thematic order, using full-color photographs and artworks to display and label all the elements of everyday life — from the home and office to sport, music, nature, and the countries of the world — with panel features on key nouns, verbs, and useful phrases. The Italian-English Bilingual Visual Dictionary features: A quick and intuitive way to learn and remember thousands of words. A complete range of illustrated objects and scenes from everyday life. Fast and effective learning for any situation, from home and office to shopping and dining out. Detailed index for instant reference. Handy size ideal for travel. The illustrations in the Italian-English Bilingual Visual Dictionary provide a quick and intuitive route to learning a language, defining the words visually so it is easier to remember them and creating a colorful and stimulating learning resource for the foreign-language and EFL/ESL student.

The most accessible recognition guides. A systematic approach, authoritative text, and clear photographs make the Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians the most comprehensive and easy-to-use pocket guide to the reptiles and amphibians of the world. Packed with over 600 color photographs of more than 400 species, this handbook is designed to enable you to recognize each species quickly and easily. Expertly written, each entry combines a precise description with fully annotated photographs to highlight the chief characteristics and distinguishing features of each species. A comprehensive introduction describes the anatomy, lifecycle, and behavior of the major groups of reptiles and amphibians, while the initial steps of identification are facilitated by a clear visual key. Each entry in the Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians is accompanied by a map showing the geographical distribution of the species while the text and color-coded bands give the internationally accepted scientific name and provide at-a-glance information on size, diet, habitat, reproduction, and population status. A concise glossary explains all technical and scientific terms used in the book.

These four companion books take a dramatic look at our watery planet. For centuries, killer whales had a fearsome reputation as indiscriminate killers. In recent years we have realized that they are incredibly complex, endearing, and enigmatic creatures and do not deserve their killer name. We do not understand why, but unlike lions, tigers, and polar bears, they seem to be very careful not to harm people. Killer whales are the largest members of the dolphin family. Living in close-knit family groups known as pods, they are unmistakable with their distinctive jet-black and brilliant white markings and the tall, triangular dorsal fins of the males. They are most common in the cooler waters of the polar regions but can be seen almost anywhere. Best known for their supreme hunting abilities, they use their strength and some remarkable cooperative hunting strategies to tackle a wide variety of prey, including squid, fish, sea turtles, seabirds, sea lions, dolphins, and even whales several times larger than themselves. Killer whales are highly vocal animals and make a medley of weird and wonderful calls and whistles to communicate with one another. Killer Whales explores the surprising and awe-inspiring world of these amazing ocean predators, describing their daily lives and habits and examining their prospects for the future.

These Dorling Kindersley Handbook titles have been updated, and given a fresh new look. The series has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. They are the most visually appealing guides on the natural world in the book marketplace. Each title in the series contains over 500 full-color illustrations and crystal-clear photographs precisely annotated to make identification simple and accurate.

Accompanied by an audio CD containing a variety of bird calls and songs, a colorful study of the birds of the world profiles more than 1,500 avian species, photographed in their native environment and featuring information on bird behavior and characteristics, tips on prime bird-watching locations, and facts about bird anatomy, life cycles, and conservation.