The Smaller Majority

More about the book

Smaller than a human finger, the creatures that climb, scamper, and fly make up 99 percent of all visible animal life. In this spectacular large-format volume, Piotr Naskrecki presents over 400 exquisite, full-color photographs, some capturing animals never before photographed. This visual journey explores the remote world of organisms that, though often overlooked or reviled, are vital to tropical biodiversity and the planet's health. The book highlights species that dominate the tropics, including diverse invertebrates like insects and arachnids, as well as lesser-known vertebrates such as Madagascar's pygmy chameleons and legless caecilians. It documents behaviors previously unseen, like katydids preying on one another, in locations few have explored. Utilizing innovative camera techniques, Naskrecki reveals these creatures' perspectives, their environments, the threats they face, and the potential consequences of their extinction. This unique introduction to the marvels of overlooked life beneath our feet rekindles a child's sense of wonder while providing a deeply informed understanding of the significance of the world's smaller, teeming life.