Invertebrates

by Richard C. Brusca, Stephen M. Shuster, Wendy Moore

"In the 12 years since publication of the previous edition (2nd), fundamental shifts have occurred in our understanding of the origins and evolutionary relationships among protists and animals. These changes are largely due to the explosion of molecular phylogenetics and evo-devo research, emergence of the new field of animal genomics, major fossil discoveries in China, Australia, and elsewhere, and important new embryological and ultrastructural studies. As a result the new edition (3rd) includes:

>New phyla have been described (e.g., Micrognathozoa, Xenacoelomorpha).
>Old phyla have been collapsed into others (e.g., Sipuncula and Echiura are now placed within Annelida; acanthocephalans are now known to be highly modified, parasitic rotifers).
>Phyla once thought to be deuterostomes are now part of the protostome clade (e.g., Chaetognatha, Phoronida, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda).
>The Protostomia has been reorganized into two major clades known as Ecdysozoa and Spiralia.

For each of the 32 currently recognized phyla, Invertebrates, Third Edition, presents detailed classifications, revised taxonomic synopses, updated information on general biology and anatomy, and current phylogenetic hypotheses, organized with boxes and tables, and illustrated with abundant line drawings and new color photos. The chapters are organized around the “new animal phylogeny,” while introductory chapters provide basic background information on the general biology of invertebrates. Two new coauthors have been added to the writing team, and 22 additional invertebrate zoologists have contributed to chapter revisions. This benchmark volume on our modern views of invertebrate biology should be in every zoologist’s library."

[From the publisher's web site]

Genres: Biology, Science, Nonfiction, Textbooks, School, College

1052 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1990

Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's face it: it's a giant textbook on taxonomy - it's not exactly exciting. It's the Hulk of biology textbooks, and it has everything you never wanted to know about invertebrates. Is it a great information database? Yes. Are you going to want to read it cover to cover and memorize it for an exam? Dear God, no.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well constructed and has changed for the better from the past edition. Still, it can be very difficult to make technical jargon sound interesting. The information is delivered in a very textbook scientific fashion, but still carries the interest of those seeking knowledge on all invertebrates.

[Elizabeth Chang · Rating 2 out of 5]

The class I needed this textbook for was truly amazing, but the textbook? Goodness...so dense with words, it was often very overwhelming. Also really annoyed me that there was no glossary in the back.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the organization in this book and the figures were really helpful.

[Mimesis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taxonomy is somewhat outdated and the sheer scope and organization of the book make it overwhelming, however it is still a useful source and the overview boxes of every phylum are actually helpful.

[Kulasingha · Rating 5 out of 5]

biology