Aristotle (c. 350 BC). Historia Animalium. IX, 621b-622a. Cited in Borrelli, Luciana; Gherardi, Francesca; Fiorito, Graziano (2006). A catalogue of body patterning in Cephalopoda. Firenze University Press. ISBN 978-88-8453-377-7. Abstract

NEGLECTED EVIDENCE FOR ARISTOTLE, HISTORIA ANIMALIVM 7(8) IN

Generally seen as a pioneering work of zoology, Aristotle frames his text by explaining that he is investigating the what (the existing facts about animals) prior to establishing the why (the causes of these characteristics). The book is thus an attempt to apply philosophy to part of the natural world. Throughout the work, Aristotle seeks to identify differences, both between individuals and between groups. A group is established when it is seen that all members have the same set of distinguishing features; for example, that all birds have feathers, wings, and beaks. This relationship between the birds and their features is recognized as a universal. Animalium is literally for everyone. Its illustrations are enchanting enough to entertain the imagination of the younger children while its accurately curated texts by Jenny Brown are informative enough to feed the intellectual hunger of the older audience.a b c d "Featured book archive: Historia animalium libri I-IV. Cum iconibus. Lib. I. De quadrupedibus uiuiparis. Zurich: C. Froschauer, 1551. N*.1.19(A)". Cambridge University Library. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019 . Retrieved 29 November 2014. In the History of Animals, Aristotle sets out to investigate the existing facts (Greek "hoti", what), prior to establishing their causes (Greek "dioti", why). [1] [3] The book is thus a defence of his method of investigating zoology. Aristotle investigates four types of differences between animals: differences in particular body parts (Books I to IV); differences in ways of life and types of activity (Books V, VI, VII and IX); and differences in specific characters (Book VIII). [1] Discovering it is a book aimed at children helped though. It clearly isn’t meant to be a thorough exploration of the different taxonomic groups, drilling down into the science behind the weirder traits, but an overview to introduce people to the basic ideas of grouping, evolution, and shared traits and to provide some visual examples (both well known and obscure). And it does that well. My wants out of a book like this are not the same as the target audiences, so I can’t rate it higher but what it aims to do it does very well. It isn’t attempting to be a children’s DK eyewitness book on animals (do children still use those? I loved them) but a beautiful reference book of much more select examples that is to be treasured as well as educational. And I don’t think you have to be 8-12 to appreciate it as that either. If I had got this age 8, it probably would have become one of my most precious and loved books. So 3 and a half stars from adult me (I just wanted more facts!) but probably 5 or even 6 stars from 8-year-old me!

Historium (Welcome To The Museum): With new foreword by Sir Historium (Welcome To The Museum): With new foreword by Sir

The History of Animals contains a large number of eye-witness observations, in particular of marine biology, in sharp contrast to Plato's "symbolic zoology". Aristotle's style and precision can be seen in the passage where he discusses the behaviour and anatomy of the cephalopods, mentioning the use of ink against predators, camouflage, and signalling. This is D'Arcy Thompson's translation: [9] Aristotle observed that the octopus can change colour when disturbed. Fürst von Lieven, A.; Humar, M. (2008). "A Cladistic Analysis of Aristotle's Animal Groups in the "Historia animalium" ". History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences. 30 (2): 227–262. JSTOR 23334371. PMID 19203017. There have been various academic studies relating to Gessner's inclusion of fantastical creatures in the volumes, such as the sea monk, sea bishop, or ichthyocentaur. [6] [7] The colored woodcut illustrations were the first real attempts to represent animals in their natural environment. It is the first book to illustrate fossils. [5] [10] a b Wilkins, John S. (16 September 2008). "Aristotle on the mayfly". Evolving Thoughts . Retrieved 16 October 2016.The History of Animals had a powerful influence on zoology for some two thousand years. It continued to be a primary source of knowledge until zoologists in the sixteenth century, such as Conrad Gessner, all influenced by Aristotle, wrote their own studies of the subject.