A Chinese publishing house apologized after a series of its illustrated handbooks fell under widespread criticism for hilarious printing mistakes, such as using the head of an elephant with tusks to represent a walrus.

“After investigation, the Illustrated Handbook of Common Animals published by our publishing house was confirmed to have quality issues. Based on an attitude of being responsible for our readers, we hereby express our sincere apologies,” the Post & Telecom Press said on Tuesday on its official Sina Weibo.

The handbook was brought under wide attention and under readers’ attack on June 24 when Beijing-based high school teacher Xu Liang called the book “an insult on readers that has defaced knowledge” with several photos attached to its post on his Sina Weibo. Xu's post has been reposted over 1,200 times as of press time.

One photo posted by Xu received the most laughter and criticism, as the illustration for a walrus showed an elephant head, with tusks, on what looked like a dolphin's body under water.

Many netizens joked that the illustrated handbook should be renamed into Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is a sequel to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Xu told the People's Daily Online on Wednesday that the photos on his Weibo showed the book using incorrect illustrations of birds and some introductions about some birds were also found with errors. Xu noted that the page on sparrow used a picture of a plover and the introduction of Eurasian golden oriole went with pictures of a Hawfinch and a wood-warbler.

Xu said he was also contacted by the publishing house after his posts and received an apology.

“It has been our pursuit to improve the quality of our books and we always feel a great responsibility,” noted the publishing house on its Weibo, adding that readers who have bought the book can get a refund.

The editing office for the illustrated handbook series has published over 100 books, most of which aim to teach popular science, covering knowledge on ocean, animals and plants, natural disasters and architecture, according to news site guancha.cn.