“What are the best books about Zoology?” We looked at 282 of the top Zoology books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 11 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Zoology” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 250+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 11 Zoology Books Of All-Time

11 .) Animals in Translation : The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow by Temple Grandin

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Depository
• Booktopia

Why would a cow lick a tractor? Why are collies getting dumber? Why do dolphins sometimes kill for fun? How can a parrot learn to spell? How did wolves teach man to evolve? Temple Grandin draws upon a long, distinguished career as an animal scientist and her own experiences with autism to deliver an extraordinary message about how animals act, think, and feel. She has a perspective like that of no other expert in the field, which allows her to offer unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas. People with autism can often think the way animals think, putting them in the perfect position to translate “animal talk.” Grandin is a faithful guide into their world, exploring animal pain, fear, aggression, love, friendship, communication, learning, and, yes, even animal genius. The sweep of Animals in Translation is immense and will forever change the way we think about animals.

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10 .) Cat Sense : The Feline Enigma Revealed by John Bradshaw

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Depository
• Booktopia

Cats have been popular household pets for thousands of years, and their numbers only continue to rise. Today there are three cats for every dog on the planet, and yet cats remain more mysterious, even to their most adoring owners. Unlike dogs, cats evolved as solitary hunters, and, while many have learned to live alongside humans and even feel affection for us, they still don’t quite “get us” the way dogs do, and perhaps they never will. But cats have rich emotional lives that we need to respect and understand if they are to thrive in our company.

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9 .) Fingers in the Sparkle Jar : A Memoir by Chris Packham

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Depository
• Booktopia

Every minute was magical, every single thing it did was fascinating and everything it didn’t do was equally wondrous, and to be sat there, with a Kestrel, a real live Kestrel, my own real live Kestrel on my wrist! I felt like I’d climbed through a hole in heaven’s fence. An introverted, unusual young boy, isolated by his obsessions and a loner at school, Chris Packham was only at home in the fields and woods around his suburban home. But when he stole a young kestrel from its nest, he was about to embark on a friendship that would teach him what it meant to love, and that would change him forever. In his rich, lyrical and emotionally exposing memoir, Chris brings to life his childhood in the 70s, from his bedroom bursting with fox skulls, birds’ eggs and sweaty jam jars, to his feral adventures. But pervading his story is the search for freedom, meaning and acceptance in a world that didn’t understand him. Beautifully wrought, this coming-of-age memoir will be unlike any you’ve ever read.

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8 .) Invertebrate Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary Approach by Edward E. Ruppert, Richard S. Fox, and Robert D. Barnes

Lists It Appears On:

• Ebay
• Text Books

This long-awaited revision to Ruppert/Barnes’ best-selling introduction to the biology of invertebrates is highly regarded for its accuracy and strong research base. This thorough revision provides a survey by groups, emphasizing adaptive morphology and physiology, while covering anatomical ground plans and basic developmental patterns. New co-author Richard Fox brings to the revision his expertise as an ecologist, offering a good balance to Ruppert’s background as a functional morphologist. Rich illustrations and extensive citations make the book extremely valuable as a teaching tool and reference source.

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7 .) Jellyfish : A Natural History by Lisa

Lists It Appears On:

• Booktopia
• WHSmith

Jellyfish, with their undulating umbrella-shaped bells and sprawling tentacles, are as fascinating and beautiful as they are frightening and dangerous. They are found in every ocean at every depth, and they are the oldest multi-organed life form on the planet, having inhabited the ocean for more than five hundred million years. In many places they are also vastly increasing in number, and these population blooms may be an ominous indicator of the rising temperatures and toxicity of the world’s oceans. Jellyfish presents these aquarium favorites in all their extraordinary and captivating beauty. Fifty unique species, from stalked jellyfish to black sea nettles, are presented in stunning color photographs along with the most current scientific information on their anatomy, history, distribution, position in the water, and environmental status. Foremost jellyfish expert Lisa-ann Gershwin provides an insightful look at the natural history and biology of each of these spellbinding creatures, while offering a timely take on their place in the rapidly changing and deteriorating condition of the oceans. Readers will learn about immortal jellyfish who live and die and live again as well as those who camouflage themselves amid sea grasses and shells, hiding in plain sight.

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6 .) Orca : How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean’s Greatest Predator by Jason M. Colby

Lists It Appears On:

• Booktopia
• WHSmith

Since the release of the documentary Blackfish in 2013, millions around the world have focused on the plight of the orca, the most profitable and controversial display animal in history. Yet, until now, no historical account has explained how we came to care about killer whales in the first place.

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5 .) The Chicken: A Natural History

Lists It Appears On:

• Booktopia
• WHSmith

In September 2009, The New Yorker magazine ran a feature proclaiming the chicken as the new “It Bird.” The article celebrated the return of the backyard chicken and found in it the perfect convergence of economic, gastronomic, and emotional matters of the moment. It is certainly true that in the last few years, chickens have undergone an image makeover so astonishing that it should be studied by marketing consultants. The Chicken is a timely, encyclopedic, science-based study that offers a true understanding of the species, reclaiming it from its commercial status as a mere egg and meat provider. High-quality photography, illustration, and info-graphics combine with engaging and authoritative text to create an accessible reference title for the general market. Topics include anatomy, development biology, ancestry, breeding and origins, and a comprehensive look at chicken behaviors. Boxed asides are included throughout, relating the scientific detail to the practicalities of chicken husbandry. The books final chapter is devoted to a beautiful visual study of the characteristics of particular breeds, providing quick-reference information on their origins, particulars and appearance.

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4 .) The Dog Listener : Learning the language of your best friend by Jan Fennell

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Depository
• Booktopia

In The Dog Listener Jan Fennell shares her revolutionary insight into the canine world and its instinctive language that has enabled her to bring even the most delinquent of dogs to heel. This easy-to-follow guide draws on Jan’s countless case histories of problem dogs—from biters and barkers to bicycle chasers—to show how you can bridge the language barrier that separates you from your dog. This edition includes a new 30-Day Training Guide to further incorporate Jan’s powerful method into every element of pet ownership, including: Understanding what it means to care for a dog Choosing the right dog for you Introducing your dog to its new home Overcoming separation anxiety Walking on a leash Dealing with behavioral problems Grooming And much more

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3 .) Integrated Principles of Zoology by Cleveland Hickman, Jr., Susan Keen, Allan Larson, and David Eisenhour

Lists It Appears On:

• Ebay
• Text Books
• Text Books

This best-selling, comprehensive text is suitable for one- or two-semester courses. Integrated Principles of Zoology is considered the standard by which other texts are measured. It features high quality illustrations and photos, engaging narrative, traditional organization, and comprehensive coverage.

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2 .) Zoology by Stephen A Miller, John P Harley

Lists It Appears On:

• Booktopia
• Ebay
• Ebay

Principles-oriented introductory zoology text for non-majors or combined majors/non-majors (freshman-sophomore level). An introductory general zoology text that is manageable in size and adaptable to a variety of course formats

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1 .) A Dictionary of Zoology by Michael Allaby

Lists It Appears On:

• Ebay
• Global OUP
• Text Books
• WHSmith

Michael Allaby has thoroughly revised this bestselling volume, offering the most authoritative and up-to-date zoology dictionary available today. Allaby covers all aspects of the study of animals in more than 5,250 clearly written entries–many new to this edition, including alarm pheromone, Fick’s laws, manometer, and synanthrope. Illustrated with many line drawings, the book defines terms from animal behavior, evolution, earth history, zoogeography, genetics, and physiology, provides full taxonomic coverage of arthropods and other invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals, and introduces new material on behavioral ecology and conservation biology. In many entries, he recommends web links, which are kept up to date through the Dictionary of Zoology’s companion website. Finally, the book includes detailed appendices covering the universal genetic code, endangered animals, the geologic time scale, and SI units. An invaluable dictionary for students of zoology and the related fields of biological and biomedical sciences, A Dictionary of Zoology is also ideal for amateur naturalists and anyone with an interest in animals.

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The 250+ Additional Best Zoology Books

11 Best Zoology Book Sources/Lists