Creatures of Darkness: 100 of the Planet’s Weird and Wonderful Animals That Come Out at Night

by Dani Robertson

A compendium of 100 of the planet’s weird and wonderful creatures that come at night.

Most of us assume that living creatures prefer the sunlit hours of daytime. However, when the sun sets and the stars emerge, the planet truly comes alive. Creatures of Darkness takes readers on an extraordinary global journey, revealing the hidden world of 100 nocturnal species that thrive when the lights go out.

From the deepest, densest rainforests and jungles to the wide-open savannahs and deserts, and even rural countryside, this stunningly illustrated book showcases the incredible adaptability of these incredible animals. Plunge into the darkest depths of the ocean and discover how life flourishes in the very darkness humans often overlook.

Creatures of Darkness is packed with fascinating facts and stunning visuals, bringing to light the mysterious behaviours, unique adaptations, and survival strategies of nocturnal animals. Whether it's the silent flight of an owl, the bioluminescent glow of deep-sea creatures, or the secretive prowling of big cats, each page is dedicated to the awe-inspiring reality of life after dusk.

This book will not only change the way you perceive the natural world but also ignite a sense of wonder and curiosity about the incredible creatures that thrive in the shadows. Embark on this illuminating journey and see how the darkness of night reveals the brilliance of nature.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2026

Reviews

[AnnaLePanna PatatboerMozart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creatures of darkness is a small and informative little hardcover with small stories (1-2 pages) about all sorts of animals over the globe that are either nocturnal or are sometimes active at night. What I really liked about this book is the clear enthousiasm the writer has for the natural world and the graphic descriptions she gives of the ecosystem in which these creatures are active. It really made me look up some of the creatures that I didn't yet know and gave me more information about the ones I already knew.
However, some of the descriptions felt sometimes more as a way of getting a climate change and sustainability argument across than to actually provide information about the animals. This sometimes left a craving for more information on the animals, as the given information was already concise and the other part was already filled with information about the ecosystem.
This was a great read, it made my head really calm. It worked especially well as a 'bedtime story' reading one or a couple before going to bed. With these stories in your head, you realize some animals are just getting started while you are hitting the hay.

[Alicia Hofstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it’s so important to be more aware of our impact on the creatures we don’t really see. It’s easy to say we care about the conservation of the animals that are out and about when we’re awake but bats, moths, badgers, many birds and other animals that are severely impacted by human inventions (especially artificial light) don’t always get the attention they deserve.

This book is a really great read and I love that it’s a combination of cool facts, funny descriptions but also serious about conservation and how to help these animals and their habitats.

[Jamie Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been a massive animal nerd since 1995, this incredible book gave me so much insight to the night time life of some of my favourite animals and some interesting (and weird) new creatures I've never heard of before.

[Jacob Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed learning about so many animals which are nocturnal. Very easy to read book, loved the illustrations, and seeing the different names for animals was really interesting (especially ones in different languages.)

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting overview of creatures that seek darkness. I particularly liked the snippets of folklore and custom around them.