evolution

"How long does it take for science to find an answer to a problem? On January 25, 1862, naturalist Charles Darwin received a box of orchids. One flower, the Madagascar star orchid, fascinated him. It had an 11.5" nectary, the place where flowers make nectar, the sweet liquid that insects and birds eat. How, he wondered, did insects pollinate the orchid? It took 130 years to find the answer. After experiments, he made a prediction. There must be a giant moth with a 11.5" proboscis, a straw-like tongue. Darwin died without ever seeing the moth, which was catalogued by entomologists in 1903. But still no one had actually observed the moth pollinating the orchid. In 1992, German entomologist, Lutz Thilo Wasserthal, Ph.D. traveled to Madagascar. By then, the moths were rare. He managed to capture two moths and released them in a cage with the orchid. He captured the first photo of the moth pollinating the flower, as Darwin had predicted 130 years before"--Provided by the publisher.

Learn about the different ways to classify today's reptiles, as well as how certain species have adapted to their environments.

Examines the apparent connection between birds and dinosaurs by comparing fossils, dinosaur bones, and modern birds.

Explores the dinosaurs that were birds and had teeth, including the discovery, different types, and more.

Text and plentiful color illustrations chronicle the evolution of Homo sapiens and its relationship to other hominid species, using archaeological findings to trace human lineage and speculate on how the earliest people lived.

Intoduces young readers to what stars are made of.

Looks at the world of fish, from lively colored coral reef tropical fish to creatures from the lowest depths of the oceans.

Readers will learn about a variety of insect species, how they are classified, their life cycle and behavior, and how their senses and skills have developed over time.

"Readers will learn about early birds, such as the Archaeopteryx, and what we've learned from their fossils. They'll also learn about the classifications for birds that are alive today, such as perching birds, raptors, and flightless birds. Colorful pictures, diagrams, and sidebars take readers on an adventure to meet these amazing feathered friends."--Provided by publisher.