The third edition of this work covers all the groups of living organisms, and has new concise introductory sections on the general features of each of the five kingdoms: bacteria; protoctista; animals; fungi; and plants - including background information and definitions. Photographs, some by Karlene Schwartz, drawings and brief essays describe representative members of each phylum. It should be of interest to students of biology, botany, zoology and other life sciences as well as professionals.