This Is Not a Weasel
Subtitle: A Close Look at Nature's Most Confusing Terms
Publisher: Wiley; John Wiley & Sons
Published: October 16, 2003
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780471273967
First sentence: When casually discussing nature, whether verbally or in print, we typically use pretty informal language.
Description: "This useful reference takes on a wide-ranging list of monikers for all types of plants and animals. It lays to rest any lingering confusion over the distinctions between seemingly related - yet crucially distinct - terms, such as hare and rabbit; seal and sea lion; moss and lichen; crocodile and alligator; skate and ray; turtle and tortoise; and mink, sable, ferret, ermine, stoat, and weasel. Reviewed by an impressive cadre of experts, this authoritative guide defines and clarifies 240 frequently misapplied plant- and animal-related terms, covers wild and domestic plants, insects, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, debunks common misconceptions and exposes flagrant misuse of terms, and identifies sources of confusion from history, the popular media, and scientific literature."--Jacket.