The evolution of vertebrate design

the long version

The Evolution of Vertebrate Design is a solid introduction to vertebrate evolution, paleontology, vertebrate biology, and functional, comparative anatomy. Its lucid style also makes it ideal for general readers intrigued by fossil history. Clearly drawn diagrams illustrate biomechanical explanations of the evolution of fins, jaws, joints, and body shapes among vertebrates. A glossary of terms is included. "A luminous text is matched by lucid drawings rationally placed. . . . A great teaching monograph, the book will charm lay readers of fossil history. For virtually every college & public collection."Scitech Book News.--Annotation Published: March 2014. This is simultaneously an unusual and useful book. It covers aspects of vertebrate biology usually included in comparative anatomy and paleontology courses, but in doing so in fewer than 200 pages it is too brief to be a classroom textbook. Its functional (mechanistic) approach provides a reader with adequate background to understand anatomy, diversity, and evolution of the vertebrates. Radinsky examines the critical characters and basic transformations in structure leading to the rich fossil and modern record of this group. He brings in current studies (but without references) focused on feeding mechanisms, modes of locomotion, and behavior to demonstrate how much has been learned, and he points to ways of analyzing these activities in extinct vertebrates. His simplified illustrations provide excellent representations of many different animals and draw the reader's attention to important characters. His ``block style'' drawings help one visualize the essential operating mechanism under discussion. This book could, and should, be read by the general reader, high school students, and college students seeking a quick but solid background in vertebrate evolution-there is nothing better for its size and purpose.-D. Bardack, University of Illinois at Chicago--Choice Reviews. This text will be of interest to evolutionists, archaeologists, and all researchers or laymen interested in vertebrate structure. Phylogeny and evolution are introduced first along with the basic vertebrate body plan. The ostracoderms, jawed fish, and early and later bony and cartilaginous fishes are outlined in the next several sections. Body designs for land life, amphibians and early reptiles are covered next. Information found on land and amphibious radiations, and reptilian designs for water and flight are detailed in parts 12-15; while the final three parts discuss mammalian origin, diversity, and evolution as determined by fossils. The text contains extensive line drawings, a glossary, additional readings, and an index.--BIOSIS.