This is Not a Weasel: A Close Look at Nature's Most Confusing Terms Book

Is your softwood hard or is your hardwood soft? How can you tell a buffalo from a bison and a yam from a sweet potato? What happens when a dolphin porpoises? Is it wrong to call a vulture a buzzard, and why are buzzards never called vultures? What's the difference between a frog and a toad, and are crawfish and crayfish really the same? This Is Not a Weasel helps you make sense of the ubiquitous similarities, confounding terminology, and downright misnomers that make plant and animal names so confusing. This entertaining and highly 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 Identifies sources of confusion from history, the popular media, and scientific literature Whether you're a language lover, a nature buff, or just someone who insists on accurate information, you will find this a charming book.Read More