From the #1 New York Times bestselling World Almanac comes a colorful, fun-filled book devoted to the odd, fascinating, and unusual animals that share our planet. From the weirdest mammals, marsupials, and birds, to reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fish you may not have even known existed, this book combines trivia and fast facts with solid science on the oddest critters around. Eager readers are introduced to a new pest--or pet possibility?--on every page, using eye-catching photos to appeal to animal-lovers of all ages. While young readers enjoy sharing just how weird the animal world gets, parents and teachers will find a valuable source of information with fun details and engaging new topics you can't find in just every textbook or even a trip to the local zoo. Amaze curious animal lovers with astonishing odd animals and their incredibly unique quirks, such as: A burrowing owl not only digs into the ground, it makes rattlesnake-like noises to scare predators. The archer fish shoots powerful jets of water from its mouth to knock tasty insects out of mid-air from up to five feet away. When threatened, a bombardier beetle can release a chemical strong enough to burn skin. Binturongs smell like popcorn--but the reason why might be too gross to put on this book cover! Look inside for more!