The secret world of animals at night, and a call to preserve the endangered darkness they inhabit, by an intrepid wildlife biologist
When the sun has set, things get interesting with wild animals. Where people wait for buses during the day, a family of raccoons rummages through the trash can. Foxes and skunks search for food, fireflies send flashing signals to potential mates, owls and bats fly overhead. Night is not just a time, but a diverse habitat that we still know too little about. Wildlife biologist Sophia Kimmig is on the trail of the secrets of the night. Not only does she introduce its wild inhabitants, but she also shows what it’s like to live in this parallel world—how it came to be, what it looks like, feels like, or smells like—in this fascinating journey into the wonders of the night.
Tabela de Conteúdo
Prologue: Night in the City
Chapter 1: The Dark Side of the Day
Of Subjective Realities
The Other World
A Life in the Dark
Fun Fact | Shining Eyes
Chapter 2: Dwellers of the Night – DORMICE
Of Mafiosi and Sleepers
Secret Neighbors
Fun Fact | Adhesive feet
Chapter 3: Why animals are nocturnal and what dinosaurs have to do with it
From shadowy existence to triumphant march
Excuse me, is there still room for me somewhere?
Fun Fact | Artistic Freedom
Chapter 4: Dwellers of the Night – OWLS
Silent Hunters
Two Weird Birds
Fun Fact | 270 degrees
Chapter 5: Only where there is light, there are shadows
When organisms bring light into the dark
Fun Fact | Obligatory or optional?
Chapter 6: Inhabitants of the night – BATS
Vampire or cotton ball
Delicate but tough
Fun Fact | Dark wings
Man under the spell of darkness
The night is dark and full of terror
Nocturnal cultural assets
Fun Fact | Fifty shades of gray
Chapter 7: Dwellers of the night – RACCOONS
Sensitive survival artist
The tank busters among the animals
Fun Fact | The Guild
Chapter 8: The Loss of Night
The Dark Side of Light
The Meaning of Darkness
Fun Fact | From sleepy cows to relaxed mice
Chapter 9: Inhabitants of the night – NIGHT FEEDING
Brown bear and copper mother hen – the world of night owls
Sensual
Fun Fact | Nemo’s Anemone
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes, selected references, and bibliography
Index