Natural History of North America Author:Edward Ricciuti North America covers a vast proportion of the world's land area, & includes an enormous range of habitats & species. Many families of mammals originated in North America -- including the horse -- most of which have now spread elsewhere. Other wildlife entered North America from South America. A number of unusual reptiles inhabit the USA. North A... more »merica has more than 700 species of birds & several thousand species of flowering & non-flowering plants. Climate, land forms, & vegetation vary tremendously. Even urban areas are here revealed to be rich in wildlife. With more than 230 full color photos, plants, animals, & regions are easily identifiable. Maps pinpoint key habitats.« less