Strangest Things in the World: A Book About Extraordinary Manifestations of Nature
Thomas R. Henry
Play
Length 11 h 51 min
Chapters 189
First published 1958
"THE STRANGEST THINGS IN THE WORLD - A Book About Extraordinary Manifestations of Nature" This title sums up the wonderful line up in this book. Short pieces about the strange and often bewildering things that occur in our world, from the insect that is born pregnant, to the fearsome poison arrow frog and about 170 others. If you like odd facts and weird plants and animals, this collection will delight you. So pick something interesting and enjoy reading it. The author is one of the world’s best-known and most respected science writers. This book is a personal and unique distillation of the wisdom he has developed in a lifetime of dealing with man’s effort to resolve the paradoxes of nature.- from the Introduction (Summary by phil c and the introduction)
Chapters
1
The Invisible Underground Jungle Read by Marie Christian 6:03
2
The Self-Perpetuating Sponge Read by Marie Christian 3:54
3
Living “Stars” in Caves Read by Marie Christian 6:52
4
Parenthood Among Penguins Read by Marie Christian 3:25
5
The Strategy of Warrior Ants Read by Marie Christian 10:01
6
Uganda’s Miniature Dinosaur. Read by Kerry Adams 1:44
7
The Strange Ways of Spiders Read by maxmagnus99 4:23
8
Worms With a Thousand Eyes Read by Darrell Nobles 11:05
9
Queer Fish, But Definitely Read by Oris99 6:13
10
Love Life Among the Spiders Read by Tia Wright 1:45
11
The Lace Weavers Read by elibishop 8:54
12
The Ways of Crabs Read by Tia Wright 6:28
13
Ticks With Noses in Their Legs Read by Kerry Adams 1:26
14
The Fourth Realm of Life Read by Tia Wright 5:30
15
Rubber-Band Worms that Stretch and Stretch Read by Tom Merritt 7:57
16
Frog Versatility Read by Tom Merritt 6:46
17
The Horned Viper Spears Other Animals Read by lagrange123 1:48
18
The World of Insects Read by Winnifred Assmann 4:58
19
Gigantic Serpents of the Sky Read by Larry Wilson 8:35
20
The Limbless Lizard Read by RajVO 1:17
21
The Maddening Tarantula Read by bkelle 1:50
22
A Flower That Grows Through Solid Ice Read by Krista Zaleski 1:54
23
The Versatile Ant Farmers Read by ToniM 5:54
24
Ostracoderms: Ancestors of True Fish Read by Larry Wilson 5:47
25
The Ever Faithful Hornbills Read by Jananiram 6:58
26
Ants With Tailor Skills Read by bkelle 2:03
27
Fiend Symphonies of the Jungle Read by Tia Wright 8:11
28
Tyrants of the Polychaete Race Read by Larry Wilson 6:58
29
Eating Habits of Spiders Read by bkelle 1:16
30
The Suicide Instinct of Iguanas Read by Tia Wright 1:52
31
Forests That Eat Meat Read by Oris99 4:07
32
Cave-Dwelling Birds Read by Winnifred Assmann 3:31
33
Where Snails Become Flowers Read by Mike Manolakes 2:19
34
Termites That Eat Lead Read by Mike Manolakes 4:05
35
The Plant That Eats Animals Read by Tom Merritt 4:56
36
The Ocean’s Sound Barrier Read by Krista Zaleski 5:41
37
Snakes That Act and Look Like Worms Read by Tia Wright 2:38
38
A Porcupine of the Sea Read by Krista Zaleski 4:12
39
Worms That Are Unkillable Read by inararabbani 3:22
40
The Remarkable Brachiopods Read by Oris99 8:00
41
Feathers on Birds Adapt to the Seasons Read by Larry Wilson 1:29
42
Why the Dodo Became Extinct Read by Krista Zaleski 1:41
43
The Shark of the Soil Read by Tia Wright 2:13
44
The Sleeping Habits of Mammals Read by Tia Wright 1:28
45
The Eerie Eyes of Animals at Night Read by Larry Wilson 3:55
46
World of the Blind Read by Tia Wright 6:13
47
The Remarkable Clam Worms Read by gnels17 7:08
48
Winged Reptile Read by Larry Wilson 1:33
49
Vicious Fire Ants Read by Larry Wilson 1:42
50
The Architectural Genius of Birds Read by lagrange123 7:39
51
The Ferocious Leech Worms Read by lagrange123 8:24
52
The Complex Spider’s Web Read by Larry Wilson 1:02
53
Monsters of the Deep: The Great Squids Read by Andrea Kotzer 9:27
54
The Vanishing Whippoorwill Read by Larry Wilson 3:58
55
Ants Can Smell Almost Anything Read by Winnifred Assmann 3:05
56
Fish That Fish For Fish Read by ABVoice 5:26
57
Worms That Are Flowers Read by Krista Zaleski 11:13
58
The Heavy Toll of Bird Migrations Read by ToniM 2:19
59
Deadly Snakes That Take Life Easy Read by Andrea Kotzer 2:56
60
Weird Plant-Animals Read by Winston Smith 7:47
61
Weird Ways of Birds Read by Kevin Waters 4:25
62
The Fantastic Sea Horse Read by Krista Zaleski 5:03
63
The Great Seal Migrations Read by Mike Manolakes 4:38
64
Monsters With Buzz Saws Read by Mike Manolakes 8:52
65
Two-Headed Snakes Aren’t Rare Read by Ben Tucker 1:07
66
Fantastic Sea Creatures Read by Winston Smith 3:15
67
The Varieties of Raven Language Read by ChristosPax 3:06
68
Worms With Hypodermic Needles Read by Winston Smith 3:26
69
The Fatal Black Widow Spider Read by Kevin Waters 1:39
70
Plants That are Animated Read by Tia Wright 2:11
71
The Tomato—Cinderella of Vegetables Read by Tia Wright 2:21
72
The Holiest Place on Earth Read by Kevin Waters 8:58
73
The Vanishing Golden Carpet Read by Andrea Kotzer 4:42
74
Evolution of the Bird Read by Tom Merritt 2:37
75
Speed Ace of the Air Read by Kerry Adams 3:06
76
The Remarkable Instincts of the Silk Worm Read by Tom Merritt 6:58
77
The Strange World of the Sea Read by Lynn Marie 7:53
78
The Cannibal Birds of the Pacific Read by Tia Wright 4:48
79
Eagles as Indian Pets Read by Kerry Adams 1:50
80
The Giant Insects of the Carolines Read by Andrea Kotzer 2:47
81
The Valley Where Dusk is Death Read by Kevin Waters 4:03
82
Enigma of Evolution: the Snake Read by Tom Merritt 3:58
83
The Fastest Growth on Earth Read by Tom Merritt 5:39
84
Birds That Duel Read by mleigh 2:36
85
Brakes on Plant Life Read by Mike Manolakes 3:26
86
Snails Are the Flowers of the Sea Read by Krista Zaleski 3:45
87
The Brutal South Pole Birds Read by Krista Zaleski 2:33
88
Silk-Bearded Clams Read by JimLawter 3:36
89
Pearls Grow in Brooks Read by Tia Wright 2:38
90
Grasshopper-Infested Glaciers Read by Kerry Adams 1:45
91
Monster Clams of Polynesia Read by Tia Wright 1:10
92
Corals Combine Plants and Animal Life Read by Winston Smith 4:23
93
The First Engineers—Termites Read by Winston Smith 5:22
94
Oyster Oddities Read by Tom Merritt 1:41
95
The World’s Biggest Sneeze Read by mleigh 1:42
96
The Luminescent Ctenophores Read by ChristosPax 4:47
97
The Forest That Time Forgot Read by Ben Tucker 3:35
98
The Versatility of the Elephant’s Trunk Read by Tia Wright 2:43
99
Fiendish Vampires of the Night Read by Ben Tucker 3:20
100
Remarkable Orchids Read by Kevin Waters 2:07
101
Nature’s Insecticide: The Millipede Read by Winston Smith 4:04
102
Bats Have Built-in Radar Read by Kevin Waters 4:13
103
Crabs That Climb Trees Read by Kevin Waters 4:03
104
The Ferocious Centipede Read by lbleath 5:23
105
The Plant That Makes Men Dumb Read by Kevin Waters 1:30
106
The Scourge of the Earth: Locusts Read by Kevin Waters 5:37
107
Trees Can Grow Smaller Read by Tia Wright 1:52
108
Underworld Cities Read by juliaviolin 4:42
109
Plants That Create Mirages Read by mleigh 3:25
110
The Octopus Worm: Evolution’s Mystery Read by Caleb Stagayama 3:33
111
The Monster Bear of Kamchatka Read by Caleb Stagayama 4:18
112
Strange Denizens of the Deep Read by Krista Zaleski 3:13
113
Communism Among the Bees Read by emilyz 3:59
114
Candles on Bushes Read by Winnifred Assmann 1:34
115
The Desert Rat Manufactures Water Read by Kerry Adams 1:33
116
The Caste System of the Termite Read by czandra 3:48
117
The Shark That Stands Upright Read by redfalcon1009 2:01
118
The Dead Man’s Vine Read by Ben Tucker 1:19
119
The Insect With Fourteen Lives Read by Laurie Banza 5:47
120
Shyness Characteristic of Giant Rats Read by Kerry Adams 1:13
121
Nocturnal Potto Read by Kerry Adams 1:35
122
Where Trees are Square Read by mleigh 1:36
123
The Lamp That is a Beetle Read by SherlHolmesMD 1:04
124
Rainstorms of Worms Read by SherlHolmesMD 1:54
125
The Icy Arctic Wonderland Read by czandra 2:48
126
Fish That Live on Land Read by Winnifred Assmann 2:26
127
The Special Language of Bees Read by Tom Merritt 7:54
128
Poisonous Platters of the Sea Read by Larry Wilson 1:34
129
Our Un-American Food Read by Larry Wilson 4:10
130
Worms That Commit Mass Suicide Read by mleigh 2:40
131
Fish That Survive Freezing Read by Steve Mayer 3:04
132
Plants That Kill Read by Steve Mayer 2:41
133
Caterpillars That Pretend to be Snakes Read by Steve Mayer 1:57
134
All Plants Are Luminous Read by Steve Mayer 2:34
135
Worms That Live in the Snow Read by Steve Mayer 2:54
136
The Strange Ways of Snails Read by Steve Mayer 7:57
137
Vision-Producing Plants Read by Steve Mayer 2:35
138
The Abominable Snow Man Read by mleigh 5:27
139
Fish That Sing in the Moonlight Read by Andrea Kotzer 3:07
140
Brazil’s Vicious Glow Worm Read by Kerry Adams 1:37
141
Grasshoppers Like Chameleons Read by Margaret Lange 2:59
142
Beetles That Helped an Army Read by czandra 1:25
143
Worms in Medical History Read by Larry Wilson 1:51
144
Toads That Make Poison Gas Read by Larry Wilson 1:24
145
Plants That Thrive on Ice-Bloom Read by Larry Wilson 3:22
146
Poison Arrow Frogs Read by Tia Wright 2:46
147
The Seal That Can “Lose” Its Head Read by JimLawter 2:01
148
The Delectable Horned Viper Read by Kerry Adams 1:45
149
Flying Snakes, Frogs and Toads Read by Laurie Banza 2:22
150
Eagles Build Log Cabin Nests Read by czandra 1:31
151
The Predatory Mantid Read by Tia Wright 4:26
152
Fireflies as Electricians Read by Krista Zaleski 4:18
153
The Mollusk Vampire of Hell Read by Ben Tucker 4:20
154
Climbing and Flying Frogs Read by CadenB 5:32
155
Mad Dog Cycles Read by CadenB 2:56
156
The Amazing Survival of the Opossum Read by CadenB 4:35
157
Mammal Prototypes of the “Mermaid” Read by CadenB 6:26
158
Limbless Lizards and Glass Snakes Read by CadenB 3:26
159
The Only Bug in the Sea Read by CadenB 2:24
160
A Crocodile With Life After Death Read by ABC123yuv 9:44
161
The Salamander That Lives Like a Worm Read by Sarah Rothwell 4:06
162
Three-eyed Lizards of New Zealand Read by VOSolutions 6:34
163
Prodigious Fertility of Insects Read by SherlHolmesMD 1:05
164
The Lizard That Runs Out of Its Own Skin Read by Sarah Rothwell 1:38
165
High Living in the Himalayas Read by mleigh 2:52
166
Barking Spider Monkeys Read by Sarah Rothwell 3:13
167
The Insect That is Born Pregnant Read by SheriLynnWarren 2:18
168
Bull-dog Animals Read by Lee Vogler 1:01
169
Foresight of Kangaroo Rats Read by czandra 1:14
170
The Primitive Proturans Read by Sarah Rothwell 1:16
171
Air-Conditioned Homes of Beavers Read by mleigh 2:44
172
The Demon of Puerto Rico Read by KNashVox 2:46
173
Man-Made Plants Read by KNashVox 4:39
174
The Great Seal Migration Read by KNashVox 2:28
175
The Magic Bark of the Cinchona Tree Read by KNashVox 2:19
176
Colombia’s Ant Tree Read by KNashVox 1:33
177
The Strange Behavior of Plants Read by Brianna Chiles 4:47
178
Venezuela’s Nocturnal Orchid Read by Brianna Chiles 1:44
179
The Plant That Strikes Men Dumb Read by Brianna Chiles 1:40
180
Combat of Moth and Shrew Read by Brianna Chiles 2:20
181
The Ferocious Snake Weasel Read by Lee Vogler 2:21
182
The Rabbit That Swims Read by mleigh 2:59
183
Gorilla Warriors of the Belgian Congo. Read by Dyefferson Azevedo 3:10
184
The Biggest “Rat” in the World Read by Brianna Chiles 1:23
185
The Suicide Marches of Lemmings Read by bkelle 3:02
186
The Ferocity of the Tiger Read by docdlmartin 3:15
187
The Fearsome Porcupine Read by docdlmartin 1:31
188
The Plant That Stimulates Visions Read by docdlmartin 4:22
189
The Puzzling Platypus Read by Krista Zaleski 4:25
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens gutenberg.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
