An Introduction to the Invertebrates

A simple clear introduction to invertebrate biology, with an emphasis on evolution in each group.

Janet Moore (Author)

9780521674065, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 September 2006

340 pages, 48 b/w illus.
23.4 x 20.6 x 1.9 cm, 0.63 kg

'A very accessible book that will serve as an excellent overview of the invertebrate animals.' Wildlife Activist

So much has to be crammed into today's biology courses that basic information on animal groups and their evolutionary origins is often left out. This is particularly true for the invertebrates. The second edition of Janet Moore's An Introduction to the Invertebrates fills this gap by providing a short updated guide to the invertebrate phyla, looking at their diverse forms, functions and evolutionary relationships. This book first introduces evolution and modern methods of tracing it, then considers the distinctive body plan of each invertebrate phylum showing what has evolved, how the animals live, and how they develop. Boxes introduce physiological mechanisms and development. The final chapter explains uses of molecular evidence and presents an up-to-date view of evolutionary history, giving a more certain definition of the relationships between invertebrates. This user-friendly and well-illustrated introduction will be invaluable for all those studying invertebrates.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Illustration acknowledgements
1. The process of evolution: natural selection
2. The pattern of evolution: methods of investigation
3. Porifera
4. Cnidaria
5. On being a worm
6. Platyhelminthes
7. Nemertea
8. Nematoda
9. Annelida
10. Mollusca: general and Gastropoda
11. Mollusca: Bivalvia and Cephalopoda
12. Arthropoda: general
13. Crustacea
14. Chelicerata and Myriapoda
15. Insecta
16. Animals with lophophores
17. Echinodermata
18. Invertebrate Chordata and Hemichordata
19. Development
20. Invertebrate evolutionary history
Further reading and references
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Zoology: Invertebrates [PSVT], Zoology & animal sciences [PSV], Parasitology [non-medical PSGH], Evolution [PSAJ], Taxonomy & systematics [PSAB]