Visit our spring store! Shop now >>
It’s fun to be smart! Brain Quest is America’s #1 educational bestseller. Learn More »

The Screaming Hairy Armadillo and 76 Other Animals with Weird, Wild Names
By Matthew Murrie, Steve Murrie
Illustrated by Julie Benbassat
A fascinating compendium featuring over 70 unusual animal species.
What's in a name? This lively, illustrated celebration is jam-packed with creatures notable for their bizarre, baffling, and just-plain-funny names.
Meet the White-Bellied Go-Away Bird, whose cry sounds like someone screaming, "Go away!" Or the Aye-Aye, whose name means "I don't know" in Malagasy because no one wants anything to do with this bad-luck creature.
Some are obvious, if still weird––guess what the Fried Egg Jellyfish looks like. Others sound like an inside joke: It's easy to figure out what was on the taxonomist's mind when he christened a fly he discovered Pieza Pie.
Along the way you'll learn all about these curiously named animals' just-as-curious habits, appearances, and abilities.
What's in a name? This lively, illustrated celebration is jam-packed with creatures notable for their bizarre, baffling, and just-plain-funny names.
Meet the White-Bellied Go-Away Bird, whose cry sounds like someone screaming, "Go away!" Or the Aye-Aye, whose name means "I don't know" in Malagasy because no one wants anything to do with this bad-luck creature.
Some are obvious, if still weird––guess what the Fried Egg Jellyfish looks like. Others sound like an inside joke: It's easy to figure out what was on the taxonomist's mind when he christened a fly he discovered Pieza Pie.
Along the way you'll learn all about these curiously named animals' just-as-curious habits, appearances, and abilities.
Shipping to the U.S. only. Please see our International FAQ for more information.
Books also available at
Look Inside
Meet the Authors

Matthew Murrie
More about the author
Steve Murrie
More about the author
Julie Benbassat
More about the authorReview quotes
"This book is irresistible...The plentiful full-color illustrations and photos are especially compelling, and, in addition to giggling and snorting (bluefooted booby! monkeyface prickleback!) readers will learn a great deal. This fun romp will delight animal-lovers and liven up STEM collections." —Booklist, starred review
"Like its title, this is sure to be a scream." —Kirkus Reviews
"... a fun choice for supplementing science lessons at home or at school." —Foreword Reviews
"Like its title, this is sure to be a scream." —Kirkus Reviews
"... a fun choice for supplementing science lessons at home or at school." —Foreword Reviews
Product Details
- 7 - 10
- 2 - 5
- 176
- September 29, 2020
- 9781523510900