The Secret Language & Remarkable Behavior of Animals [Hardcover]

Janine M. Benyus (Author), Juan Carlos Barberis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 10, 1998 | ISBN-10: 1579120369 | ISBN-13: 978-1579120368 | Edition: 1st ed

Illustrations by Juan Carlos Barberis * The definitive inquiry into the secret communication and behavior of animals for animal-lovers of all ages. * The behavior and body language of animals such as the Giant Panda, Gray Wolf, Nile Crocodile, Plains Zebra, African Elephant and Bald Eagle are brought to life through 200 illustrations. * Organized just the way exhibits are set up at the zoo, the text provides in-depth explanations on how to determine and interpret the social, familial, interactive and private behavior of these animals. * Janine M. Benyus, a knowledgeable zookeeper, draws from extensive research of animal behaviorists and explains why and how these creatures scratch, run, bathe, preen, stretch, yawn, play and eat, court their mates, confront one another, give birth to young and keep them fed.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Author Janine M. Benyus transforms the rather scholarly discourse of animal communication into a tome that is clear and engaging--making this the perfect book for animal lovers of all ages. Benyus, a zookeeper and an expert on animal behavior, has spent years researching and studying the body language and verbal communication of zebras, lions, bald eagles, giant pandas, and dolphins to name but a few. The early chapters of her book take the form of a simple primer--with short but fascinating information on DNA, the role of habitat in the animal kingdom, feeding, predatory behavior, and the many forms of animal communication. The author then guides us on a worldwide journey, exploring the quintessential animals of each continent with a detailed look at the behavior of each species. You'll discover, for example, that gorillas signify their superiority by growling--so it's probably best to stay away from a grumbling gorilla! Learn why giraffes like to lick each other; what a crocodile is signifying when it lifts its spout; and how a peacock defends its territory. The Secret Language and Remarkable Behavior of Animals is illustrated throughout with ornate pencil drawings by Juan Carlos Barberis, a former artist for the Museum of Natural History in New York. --Naomi Gesinger

From the Inside Flap

What makes whales whistle, cranes dance, pandas turn somersaults, and crocodiles roar - what makes any wild animal act menacing or cute, aggressive or lovable? The Secret Language & Remarkable Behavior of Animals answers all these questions and more while taking you on an amazing tour of the most interesting creatures around the world - from Africa and Asia to North America, the oceans and the poles.

Perfect for animal lovers of all ages, this book interprets animals' expressive body language and in the process gives us a better understanding of the fascinating behavioral patterns of the creatures around us.

Author Janine Benyus, renown animal behaviorist, writes in clear and simple terms as she explores the subtleties of communication in the wild kingdom. The direction a lion points its ears shows you if it is curious or threatened; when a gorilla hoots, it's telling its group to start moving; when a gray wolf holds it's tail straight out, its ready to attack and when a male crocodile shoots a fountain of water into the air, it's courting its mate.

A complex set of instincts and learned reactions control how all animals act. By observing their body language, you can learn to predict their behavior and unlock some of the mysteries of our animal friends.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers; 1st ed edition (January 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579120369
• ISBN-13: 978-1579120368
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,488,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This One's A Winner!, June 17, 2000

By 

Nikki Osgatharp - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Language & Remarkable Behavior of Animals (Hardcover)

This book contains information on the behavior of 20 completely different species from 5 extremely diverse locations. I liked the way it was organized, with many charts and great detailed information. It touches on so many subjects in detail, yet the information it holds is as valuable as if it was contained in 20 separate books. Wrote in a way any amateur to animal science can understand, I hold this book as invaluable.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have!!, December 27, 2001

By 

Justin Whitney "whitne11" (Mandeville, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Language & Remarkable Behavior of Animals (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent addition to both the professional and nonprofessional. The details in it are superb. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the study of animal behavior.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive guide, July 8, 2000

By 

Duaa Anwar "Dressage rider/ Author" (Cairo, Egypt) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Language & Remarkable Behavior of Animals (Hardcover)

This is by far the best book I have read on animal behaviour as it covers every aspect of about 20 species lives' in great detail and with simplicity of language, which makes it a great read for every animal enuthsiast. It contains avid description of animals' habits, from eating to sleeping to sexual behaviour, and why certain species behave the way they do. I suppose the only slightly disappointing aspect of this book is that it contains no photography whatsoever, although it does hold a good amount of illustrations. I was also not in favor of the fact that the author based much of her explanations on the theory of evolution. Otherwise, I think the book is successfully interesting and comprehensive.