The Encyclopedia of Animal Behaviour is the most authoritative, comprehensive, and accessible resource on the scientific study of animal behaviour. Contributors consist of an international group of well-respected animal behaviour scholars and authorities from many different disciplines, including biology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, veterinary medicine, and religious studies. Entries examine a broad array of different species and behaviour patterns, using techniques that range from molecular approaches to the study of behaviour to analyses of individuals, populations, species, and ecosystems.
Far more than simply a reference for scholars in the field, the Encyclopedia of Animal Behaviour includes many features for anyone with an interest in animals: Over 200 entries on topics from "Friendship in Animals" to "Communication Behaviour in Singing Birds," over 300 photographs, charts, and diagrams that illustrate aspects of animal behaviour, numerous sidebars on behaviours that help illuminate the more abstract and theoretical concepts, and entries on the usefulness of animal behaviour in such careers as conservation biology and animal-assisted therapy in counseling and in hospitals and hospices.