The Animal Kingdom: A Very Short Introduction

by Peter Holland

Overview

The animal world is immensely diverse, and our understanding of it has been greatly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study of evolution and development ('evo-devo'). In this Very Short Introduction Peter Holland presents a modern tour of the animal kingdom. Beginning with the definition of animals (not obvious in biological terms), he takes the reader through the high-level groupings of animals (phyla) and new views on their evolutionary relationships based on molecular data, together with an overview of the biology of each group of animals. The phylogenetic view is central to zoology today and the volume will be of great value to all students of the life sciences, as well as providing a concise summary for the interested general reader. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191620492
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	11/24/2011
Series:	Very Short Introductions
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Peter Holland is Linacre Professor of Zoology and Head of the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford, and a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. After a degree in Zoology and a PhD in Genetics he has spent the last 20 years undertaking research into the evolution of the animal kingdom, focussing primarily on the genetic and developmental differences between animal groups. He has published over 150 research papers on animal development and evolution.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xi

List of illustrations xiii

1 What is an animal? 1

2 Animal phyla 8

3 The evolutionary tree of animals 15

4 Basal animals: sponges, corals, and jellyfish 24

5 The bilaterians: building a body 35

6 Lophotrochozoa: wondrous worms 43

7 Ecdysozoa: insects and nematodes 55

8 Deuterostomes I: starfish, sea squirts, and amphioxus 70

9 Deuterostomes II: the rise of vertebrates 82

10 Deuterostomes III: vertebrates on land 96

11 Enigmatic animals 109

Further reading 119

Index 121