Real animals are more bizarre than the most incredible fantasies and fascinate us no less than the illustrations of a medieval bestiary. This thought prompted Caspar Henderson to write a book full of tenderness and concern about our planet. The more we study nature, the more amazing discoveries we make. Scientists discovered the yeti crab living in almost boiling water only in 2005. The axolotl, capable of regenerating not only lost limbs, but also some internal organs, inspires hope among transplantologists. Mysterious sponges can tell a lot about the origins of animals and humans. The king of nature is given a separate chapter, although in fact the entire book is dedicated to him, because the author examines the animals themselves through the prism of their similarity and dissimilarity to humans, figuring out how evolution and variety of forms help to interpret human nature.

Ambystoma mexicanum

Phylum: chordatesClass: amphibiansOrder: caudatesStatus: critically endangered

Xestospongia sp.

Type: spongesClass: common spongesConservation status: many species; status not assigned

Acanthaster planci

Type: echinodermsClass: starfishConservation status: not assigned

Delphinidae

Type: chordatesClass: mammalsOrder: CetaceansConservation status: some species are critically endangered, others do not cause concern or are not included in the lists of protected species

Phylum: chordatesClass: ray-finned fishOrder: eelsFamily: moray eelsConservation status: not assigned

Phylum: Acoelomorpha and Platyhelminthae (flatworms) Conservation status: not assigned

Gonodactylus smithii

Phylum: arthropodsSubphylum: crustaceansClass: higher crustaceansOrder: stomatopods or mantisesConservation status: not assigned

Phylum: chordatesClass: mammalsOrder: primatesFamily: hominidsGenus: peopleConservation status: not assigned

Iridogorgia

Type: cnidariansOrder: horn corals{26}Suborder: Holaxonia{27}Protection status: not assigned

Macaca fuscata< /p>

Phylum: chordatesClass: mammalsOrder: primatesFamily: marmosetsGenus: macaquesConservation status: minimal risk

Indian honeyeater (Mellivora capensis)

Phylum: chordatesClass: mammalsFamily: mustelidsConservation status : with minimal risk

Large honeyguide (Indicator indicator)

Type: chordatesClass: birdsFamily: honeyguidesSecurity status: minimal risk

Dermochelys coriacea

Type: chordatesClass: reptilesOrder: turtlesConservation status: critically endangered species

Phidippus mystaceus

Type: arthropodsClass: arachnidsFamily: jumping spidersConservation status: not assigned

Nautilus spp.

Type: molluscsClass: cephalopodsSubclass: NautiloidaConservation status: not assigned, but the number of many populations is declining

Octopus vulgaris and other species

Phylum: molluscsClass: cephalopodsConservation status: varies among species (some species are critically endangered, others are least threatened).

Tetraodontidae< /p>

Type: chordatesClass: ray-finned fishOrder: pufferfishConservation status: no status assigned

Quetzalcoatlus Northropi

Type: ChordataOrder: pterosaursConservation status: extinct

Northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), Japanese right whale (Eubalaena japonica), southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) and bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)

Type: chordatesClass: mammalsOrder: CetaceansFamily: right whalesConservation status: endangered

Type: mollusksClass: gastropodsOrder: pteropodsConservation status: many species, no status assigned

Moloch horridus

Class: reptilesOrder: squamate Family: agamidae Security status: not assigned

Mitsukurina owstoni

Phylum: chordatesClass: cartilaginous fishSubclass: elasmobranchs Security status: not assigned

Cestum veneris

Type: ctenophoresConservation status: not assigned

Eutardigrada sp.

Type: tardigradesConservation status: not assigned

Xenoglaux loweryi

Phylum: chordatesClass: birdsOrder: owlsConservation status: not assigned

Syringammina fragilissima

Kingdom: rhizariaType: foraminiferaOrder: xenophyophoresConservation status: not assigned

Kiwa hirsuta

Phylum: arthropodsSubphylum: crustaceansClass: higher crayfishConservation status: least concern

Danio rerio

Phylum: chordatesClass: ray-finned Family: CyprinidaeConservation status: least concern