Hidden Wonders
New Species and Rediscoveries in an Age of Extinction
David Alderton author Akara Heart illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Skyhorse Publishing
Publishing:8th Apr '27
£25.00
This title is due to be published on 8th April, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
In an age of extinction, the natural world is still full of astonishing surprises.
We may think we know our planet, but scientists are discovering extraordinary new animals at a remarkable pace. From the darkest depths of the ocean to remote rainforests and isolated mountain peaks, creatures once unknown to science are emerging into the light—while others, long believed extinct, are making unexpected returns.
In Hidden Wonders, acclaimed natural-history author David Alderton takes readers on a fascinating journey through some of the most remarkable zoological discoveries of the twenty-first century. Encounter the colossal squid, a deep-sea giant armed with rotating hooks; the mysterious kipunji, a monkey whose discovery revealed an entirely new genus; brilliantly colored reptiles, unusual amphibians, and astonishing fish; and elusive animals that have seemingly returned from the dead.
Featuring beautiful illustrations by Akara Heart, this captivating exploration reveals how advances in DNA analysis, underwater technology, and scientific exploration are transforming our understanding of the animal kingdom. Along the way, Alderton introduces the dedicated researchers whose discoveries are rewriting the natural-history books and illuminating the extraordinary diversity of life on Earth.
Yet these discoveries carry an urgent warning. Many newly identified species are already threatened with extinction, and some may disappear before we have a chance to understand them. At once a celebration of nature's endless capacity to surprise and a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose, Hidden Wonders invites readers to rediscover the thrill of exploration—and marvel at the countless mysteries still waiting to be uncovered.
Praise for Hidden Wonders
"This book is simply brilliant: a highly accessible celebration of wildlife discovery in the twenty-first century that includes everything from primates and other mammals through birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish to invertebrates, whilst also paying homage to those species that have recently vanished. David Alderton is a master wordsmith, able to work from detailed academic sources and craft the information into rich, enduring content that is easy to understand and quite thrilling to read. Hidden Wonders is a thoroughly entertaining and sobering reminder that the natural world still holds extraordinary secrets, mysteries and discoveries.”—John Courteney-Smith, MRSB, FLS, head of science & innovation, Arcadia Reptile
“David Alderton has once again provided an amazing analysis of the world’s fauna, focusing here on the discovery of unknown species and those thought to be ‘extinct’. Hidden Wonders is an intriguing, uplifting counternarrative to familiar stories of animal extinction. Thanks to progressively better tools for finding and identifying animals, many new species have been recognized recently, along with others making a Lazarus-like comeback. There are perhaps millions yet to be found. The discoveries of thousands of new species in the first quarter of the twenty-first century deserves celebration. Hidden Wonders is simply awe-inspiring.”—Marshall Meyers, environmental policy lawyer
“Evocative of Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, but with modern scientific technology and insight, this marvelous book reveals that we probably only know of about ten per cent of the species in the oceans. We learn of new creatures and of Lazarus or species returning from extinction. This book celebrates nature but warns of the hidden wonders at risk because of our human activity..”--Dr. Keith Souter, author
ISBN: 9781510782419
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 447g
336 pages