Secret Language of Animals: A Guide to Remarkable Behavior

by Janine M. Benyus

Unlock the secrets behind the behavior of the world's most fascinating creatures-from the Adélie penguin to the plains zebra to the giant panda-in this wonderfully written, beautifully illustrated book.

In The Secret Language of Animals , biologist Janine Benyus takes us inside the animal kingdom and shows us the whys and the hows behind the distinctive behavior of creatures great and small in their natural environments.

Divided geographically into five sections-Africa, Asia, North America, the oceans, and the poles-the book examines and describes the behavior, body language, and patterns of communication of 20 different the gorilla, lion, African elephant, plains zebra, black rhinoceros, giraffe, ostrich, greater flamingo, Nile crocodile, giant panda, peacock, Komodo monitor, bottlenose dolphin, California sea lion, gray wolf, bald eagle, sandhill crane, beluga whale, polar bear, and Adélie penguin.

For each animal, Benyus describes and explains basic behaviors (locomotion, feeding, drinking, bathing, grooming, sleeping), communication behavior (greeting, social play, group defense, conflict, aggression/submission, fighting, courtship, copulation), and parenting behavior (birth, care and feeding, teaching, communal care).

The book is illustrated throughout with tender yet precise line drawings that beckon us to the animals and vividly capture everything from changing facial expressions to nurturing postures to playful and aggressive interactions. The text, too, is both intimate and informative, allowing for a deep connection with, and a great admiration for, each one of the animals.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Environment, Biology

480 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2014

About the author

Janine M. Benyus is an American natural sciences writer, innovation consultant, and author.

Benyus graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with degrees in natural resource management and english literature/writing. Benyus teaches interpretive writing, lectures at the University of Montana, and works towards restoring and protecting wild lands. She serves on a number of land use committees in her rural county, and is president of Living Education, a nonprofit dedicated to place-based living and learning.


Biomimicry

Benyus has authored six books on biomimicry, including Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. In this book she develops the basic thesis that human beings should consciously emulate nature's genius in their designs.
In 1998, Benyus co-founded the Biomimicry Guild, the Innovation Consultancy, which helps innovators learn from and emulate natural models in order to design sustainable products, processes, and policies that create conditions conducive to life. She is also President of the The Biomimicry Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to naturalize biomimicry in the culture by promoting the transfer of ideas, designs, and strategies from biology to sustainable human systems design.



Authored works

Biomimicry : Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M. Benyus, Sept. 1, 1997, (ISBN 0-06-053322-6)
Beastly Behaviors: A Zoo Lover's Companion by Janine M. Benyus and Juan Carlos Barbery (1990-now WL VA) (Oct 1993) (ISBN 0-201-62482-6)
Northwoods Wildlife: A Watcher's Guide to Habitats by Janine M. Benyus (Jul 1989) (ISBN 1-55971-003-9)
The Secret Language & Remarkable Behavior of Animals by Janine M. Benyus and Juan Carlos Barberis (Jan 10, 1998) (ISBN 1-57912-036-9)
The Field Guide to Wildlife Habitats of the Eastern United States by Janine M. Benyus (Jun 15, 1989) (ISBN 0-671-65908-1)
Wildlife in the upper Great Lakes Region a Community Profile (SuDoc A 13.78:NC-301) by Janine M. Benyus (1992)
Christmas Tree Pest Manual by Janine M Benyus (Jan 1, 1983)


Awards and honors

Women of Discovery Award (2006), WINGS WorldQuest
Rachel Carson Environmental Ethics Award
Lud Browman Award for Science Writing
Science Writing in Society Journalism Award
Barrows and Heinz Distinguished Lectureships
Design Futures Council Senior Fellow
[edit]See also

Reviews

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reference book that devotes a chapter each to some of the more interesting (large) animals around the world. Much of the focus is on African fauna - gorillas, lions, zebras, crocodiles, etc. - but Benyus also samples Asia, the oceans, North America and the poles. The selection is governed in large part by the animals' presence in zoos, and the author devotes the opening and closing chapters to critiques of zoos and how they can better accommodate their charges, and zoos' importance in a world where humans are short-sightedly destroying natural habitats at a frightening pace.

Five interesting things I learned:

1. Because black rhinos are so unsocial, mating rituals can be dangerous as "in response to early solicitations, the female is likely to attack." (p. 195)

2. The unfortunate myth that rhino horns promote sexual virility comes from the fact that copulation can last up to 1-1/2 hours.

3. Among male giraffes, dominance contests often cause erections and end in the winner mounting the loser.

4. Bottlenose dolphins exude a mucous from their eyes that helps them move through the water more easily.

5. Komodo monitors are not picky eaters. Smaller, younger monitors run the risk of becoming meals themselves if they get in the way of their larger cousins.

And one example of the need for editors:

There's a point in the book where Benyus uses the idiom "it doesn't faze the animal" but it's spelled "phase."

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plainly worded and concise book of animal behavior. This would be a great reference to take to the zoo. It includes mating, social, predatory behavior for many species and it is beautifully illustrated.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Language of Animals by Janine M. Benyus is an extensive explanation of how animals act. The book starts with an overall look at animal behavior in the first chapter and then has a chapter about 20 different animals that people are most drawn to observe in captivity or in nature. They are : gorilla, lion, African elephant, Plains zebra, Black Rhinoceros, giraffe, ostrich, Greater flamingo, Nile crocodile, Giant panda, peacock, Komodo monitor, Bottlenose dolphin, California sea lion, Gray wolf, Bald eagle, Sandhill crane, Beluga whale, Polar bear, and Adelie penguin. The author writes in depth about each animal, giving the reader cues as to what to look for when visiting the animals in a zoo setting. It also compares animal behavior in captivity versus in the wild, and the book is easy to understand and keeps the reader's attention. The author does, however, in the first chapter make many references to and assumptions to concepts and ideas that are not scientific facts. It also has several artist like sketches of animals, but does not contain any real pictures of real animals other than the cover photo. The book is not meant to be a photo album, but real pictures are always appreciated and liked. I gave Benyus's book 4 stars.

[Wiley R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, it was boring. It was in a very repetitive format, which made it very well organized, but it meant the animals blurred together. It was also fairly sentimental. However, there was good info.

[Book Grocer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchase Secret Language of Animals here for just $10!

One can only hope there are more books like this from Ms. Benyus giving us even more insight into the world and lives of the animals with whom we share this earth, this planet. If you like animals, if you have a natural curiosity about animals or if you are just looking for a good book to read, try this one.

Alicia - The Book Grocer

[Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to animal behaviour - Benyus' writing style is appreciated as always and I really enjoyed the use of images throughout.

My main complaint is the focus being on mainly common 'zoo-star' animals. I would have loved to see a section on something like carpenter ants or crows. I also think the Gray Wolf section is sorely lacking a discussion on the 'Alpha Wolf' misconception - but I do recognize that some of this book is out-of-date by now, and that not every animal could be covered in-depth anyhow.

[TL Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information here. Each animal gets it's own section and they are all laid out the same. It makes for easy reading and is very organized. It does however start to get a bit dull in that each section is essentially the same and there are no "stories" - just listed facts and info about each animal in regards to a chosen list of behaviors. In some cases, less information would have been better - it is a bit repetitive (on the other side of that, it is thorough). I learned lots of new things about some favorite zoo animals.

[Cadrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm only on the 120th page of the approximately 600, but I even can not count how many times I've giggled to myself, because the author's style is so vivid! Furthermore, I found myself analysing another "funny cat video" by its movements and ears and I realised it's thanks to this book! It's very educating and thorough. Thank you, Janine!

[Neurocomp · Rating 5 out of 5]

must read for any AI researcher dealing close with bio/psych behaviours {altq, rts , social(flocking , schools, boids), robot-mech}

[Kaleena Rheeya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benyus does a wonderful job dispelling wild animal behaviors for some of the most well known animals on the planet. This is a great book for beginners studying animal behavior, those who love to go to the zoo or other animal themed parks, or those who love animals in general. I look forward to seeing other volumes of this book come out someday and hope that the author will consider creating a video repository to help readers who are more visually inclined have a better understanding of the behaviors discussed in the book. The drawings are helpful but a special website for the book would be awesome (perhaps a partnership with Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, or National Geographic would be helpful.) I could see The Secret Language of Animals as a supporting textbook in a College Animal Behavior course or for used as part of an elective course on animal behavior for certain high schools. Just a few minor changes are needed in the book though:

Pg 391 should say 34-48 inches not feet for Sandhill Cranes.

Pg. 430 last paragraph should say October not Octover

Pg. 435 under "Defending the cubs" should say "by defending" instead of "but defending."

I am so glad that I won this book through Goodreads First Reads. It was a delight to read. I look forward to sharing my newfound knowledge of the animals behaviors mentioned in the book with my daughter on future visits to institutions that harbor wild animals.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book focusing mainly on the behavior of zoo animals. If you want to enrich your visit to the zoo and understand more about the animals you see there, this book is a great guide.

[Layla Kepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wonderful!

[Angie Boyter · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my Amazon review: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Language...

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look at every animal differently...it resonates within when you are able to recognize what is actually happening and empathises any animal lover.