The Screaming Hairy Armadillo and 76 Other Animals with Weird, Wild Names

A fascinating compendium featuring over 70 unusual animal species.

What's in a name? This lively, illustrated celebration is jam-packed with creatures notable for their bizarre, baffling, and just-plain-funny names. 

Meet the White-Bellied Go-Away Bird, whose cry sounds like someone screaming, "Go away!" Or the Aye-Aye, whose name means "I don't know" in Malagasy because no one wants anything to do with this bad-luck creature. 

Some are obvious, if still weird––gues what the Fried Egg Jellyfish looks like. Others sound like an inside joke: It's easy to figure out what was on the taxonomist's mind when he christened a fly he discovered Pieza Pie. 

Along the way you'll learn all about these curiously named animals' just-as-curious habits, appearances, and abilities. 

“"Like its title, this is sure to be a scream." -- Kirkus Reviews”

"This book is irresistible...The plentiful full-color illustrations and photos are especially compelling, and, in addition to giggling and snorting (bluefooted booby! monkeyface prickleback!) readers will learn a great deal. This fun romp will delight animal-lovers and liven up STEM collections." —Booklist, starred review

"Like its title, this is sure to be a scream." —Kirkus Reviews

"... a fun choice for supplementing science lessons at home or at school." —Foreword Reviews

Matthew Murrie is a former public school teacher, curriculum writer, and private academy instructor. His father, Steve Murrie, is a retired science teacher with 40 years teaching experience. Matthew and Steve are the coauthors of Every Minute on Earth and Guide to the Planet.

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