Kill or die

Male sea horses take on a role few other male animals do--they give birth! The female sea horse lays her eggs in a pouch on the male's body where they will grow for 25 days. Despite the careful care male sea horses take with their eggs, less than five babies in 1,000 will survive to adulthood. The bizarre life of the sea horse is just one illustration of the varied life cycles in nature. Full-color photographs and detailed sidebars offer readers a close look at some of the weird and wonderful ways animals are born, live, and reproduce.