The final volumes of the massive revised Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia have finally rolled off the press. We reviewed volumes 8 to 11 (Birds) in the January 1 & 15, 2003, issue, and volumes 4 and 5 (fishes), volume 6 (amphibians), and volume 7 (reptiles) in the December 1, 2003, issue. Volume 17 is a comprehensive index.
H. C. Bernhard Grzimek hoped his original encyclopedia would "disseminate knowledge of the animals and love for them." This is also a goal of the revised edition; it does not disappoint. All volumes follow a similar organization. Introductory chapters, written in a narrative style, are usually followed by taxonomic chapters and species accounts, which follow a prescribed format. There are no page references from the main account of the species to the illustrations; the index at the end of each volume must be consulted. Color photographs, illustrations, and distribution maps supplement the text. Additional resources include references to books, periodical articles, organizations, and Web sites.
Volume 1, Lower Metazoans and Lesser Deuterostomes (e.g., sea anemones, sponges, jellyfish, flukes, tapeworms, nematodes).