Investigating a whole host of species from around the globe, the first short and affordable introduction to animal behavior

Investigating a whole host of species from around the globe, the first short and affordable introduction to this growing field of study

“Byers ultimately makes the reader yearn to join him and watch animals for a living… an excellent example of popular-science writing.” Booklist

Why do birds have regional accents? Can horses learn maths? What do animals without eyes see? Questions such as these have fascinated scientists and animal lovers alike long before ethology - the study of animal behavior - became recognised as a science in the 1970s. Now, as issues of conservation and welfare dominate the field, an understanding of how and why animals act the way they do has become even more critical. Drawing together evolutionary theory, ecology, population biology, genetics, physiology, and anatomy to demonstrate the diversity involved when studying animals, Byers explains the mechanisms and motivations behind a range of animal movements. Readers are equipped with the core knowledge and skills to further their own studies and better understand the natural world that surrounds us.

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'Byers sets scenes beautifully and his examples are convincing and memorable… may lead to some interesting self-evaluation…'