Vertebrate Life

Vertebrate Life distills the necessary information from vertebrate anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavioral studies and then helps students see important connections across levels of biological scale. As a result, students come to understand how organisms function effectively in their environments and how lineages of organisms change through evolutionary time.Processing complex detailed information about expansive phylogenies and diverse anatomies can be difficult for even the most motivated students, and Vertebrate Life addresses this challenge by combining appropriately detailed, clearly written text with outstanding phylogenies and figures, making it a thorough and engaging reference for students and instructors alike. The text's impressive illustration program helps students visualize complex concepts, allowing them to parse difficult anatomical information. The eleventh edition features an upgraded illustration program with several new and revised figures, including layered figures presented in the new enhanced e-Book.The eBook offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: Find the eBook on VitalSource.FeaturesIncorporation of the dagger symbol (†) to indicate extinct taxa, a helpful convention in a field that requires constant comparisons between extinct and extant taxaIncludes more than 2,000 photographs and illustrations, of which about 800 are newConsistent phylogenetic approachNew to this EditionLearning Objectives presented at the start of each section within a chapter to highlight key takeaway concepts for the sectionForty-five new interactive figures in the Enhanced e-BookRedevelopment of background materials for the study of vertebrate evolution: Exemplified by Figure 1.2 and the many new time trees and cladogramsMany updated examples throughout the book use key fossils vertebrates to explore new phylogenetic interpretations and explain how particular anatomical features, such as the mammalian middle ear, evolved (see Figure 22.11)Reorganization of key topics to improve continuity and connections among chapters along with extensive new cross-referencing to link topics between chaptersEnhanced coverage and reorganization of chapters on sharks (Chapter 6), ray-finned fishes (Chapter 7), sarcopterygians (Chapter 8), early tetrapods, lissamphibians, and amniotes (Chapter 9), dinosaurs (Chapter 18 and 19), synapsids (Chapter 22), therians (Chapter 23), and primates (Chapter 24)Consolidation and reorganization of chapters to better highlight the role of thermoregulation and comparative physiology in vertebrate evolution (Chapter 14)Incorporation of new behavioral and ecological information throughout the book to highlight the lives of vertebratesUpdated Discussion Questions at the end of each chapterA selection of new and relevant references for each chapter to help users connect with the constant stream of new and exciting information on vertebrate biologyDevelopment of new and informative labels that appear directly on the figures, providing "instant captions" to orient students and serve instructors who depend on illustrations for teaching"Balloons" call attention to key points in many figures

Table of Contents:
PrefaceChapter 1. Diversity, Classification, and Evolution of Vertebrates1.1 The Vertebrate Story --Binominal nomenclature --Extant vertebrate groups1.2 Phylogenetic Systematics1.3 Applying Phylogenetic Criteria --Evaluating possible phylogenies --Molecules and morphology --The problem of dating --Dagger (†) convention adopted in this book1.4 Using Phylogenetic Trees --Extant phylogenetic brackets --Paraphyly --Crown and stem groups1.5 Genetic Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change --Phenotypes and fitness --Developmental regulatory genes1.6 Epigenetic Effects1.7 Earth History and Vertebrate EvolutionChapter 2. What Is a Vertebrate? 2.1 Vertebrates in Relation to Other Animals?2.2 Characteristics of Chordates? --Chordate origins and evolution? --Extant nonvertebrate chordates?2.3 What Distinguishes a Vertebrate??2.4 Vertebrate Embryonic Development? --Development of the body? --Development of the pharyngeal region? --Development of the brain? --Other neurogenic tissues of vertebrates?2.5 Vertebrate Tissues? --Adult tissue types --Mineralized tissues2.6 Vertebrate Organ Systems --Integumentary system --Skeletal system --Muscular system --Nervous system and sense organs --Endocrine system --Respiratory system --Circulatory system --Digestive system --Excretory and reproductive systemsChapter 3. Jawless Vertebrates and the Origin of Gnathostomes 3.1 Earliest Evidence of Vertebrates --Enigmas: †Conodonts and †Tullimonstrum ---Early mineralized tissues --Environment of early vertebrate evolution3.2 Cyclostomes: Extant Jawless Vertebrate --Characters of cyclostomes --Hagfishes: Myxiniformes --Lampreys: Petromyzontiformes3.3 Jawless Osteognathostomes3.4 Gnathostome Body Plan --Gnathostome skeletons --What about soft anatomical features?3.5 Origin of Jaws --Hypotheses of jaw origins --Importance of the nose --Selective value of jaws3.6 Origin of Paired Appendages --Fin development and the lateral somitic frontier --Advantages of fins3.7 Extinct Paleozoic Jawed FishesChapter 4. Living in Water 4.1 Aquatic Environment --Obtaining oxygen from water using gill --Obtaining oxygen from air using lungs and other respiratory structure --Adjusting buoyancy4.2 Sensory World of Aquatic Vertebrates --Vision --Chemosensation: Olfaction and taste --Detecting water displacement --Hearing and equilibrium --Electroreception and electrogenesis4.3 Maintaining an Internal Environment --Nitrogenous wastes and kidney --Osmoregulation --Regulation of ions and body fluids4.4 Osmoregulation in Different Environments --Marine cartilaginous fishes and coelacanths --Marine teleosts --Freshwater teleosts and lissamphibians --Euryhaline vertebratesChapter 5. Geography and Ecology of the Paleozoic 5.1 Deep Time --The Precambrian world --The Paleozoic5.2 Continental Geography --Continental drift and plate tectonics --Shifting continents of the Paleozoic --Shifting continents and changing climates5.3 Paleozoic Climates5.4 Paleozoic Ecosystems --Aquatic life --Terrestrial flora --Terrestrial fauna5.5 Extinctions Chapter 6 Origin and Radiation of Chondrichthyans6.1 Acanthodii6.2 Chondrichthyes --Habitats and diversity --Placoid scales --Cartilaginous skeleton --Teeth and tooth plates --Jaws and jaw suspension --Internal fertilization and claspers --Distinctive soft tissue and physiological features6.3 Euchondrocephali and Chimaeriformes --Biology of extant Chimaeriformes6.4 Elasmobranchii, Euselachii, and Neoselachii --Selachii: Sharks --Batomorphi: Skates and rays6.5 Biology of Neoselachii --Feeding --Bioluminescence and biofluorescence ---Hypoxia and the epaulette shark --Endothermal heterothermy --Swimming --Reproduction --Elasmobranch brains --Social networks and migration in sand tiger sharks6.6 Declining Elasmobranch Populations --Conservation and sawfishes --Threats to chondrichthyans --Vulnerabilities of chondrichthyans --Ecological impacts of shark population declines --Policies to protect sharksChapter 7. Origin of Osteichthyes and Radiation of Actinopterygian 7.1 Osteichthyes, Actinopterygii, and Sarcopterygi --Osteichthyan character --Fin adaptations --Other differences between actinopterygians and sarcopterygians7.2 Actinopterygii: Basal Group --Polypteriformes --Acipenseriformes --Neopterygii: Holostei --Neopterygii: Teleoste7.3 Characters of Teleostei7.4 Teleostei: Basal Groups --Elopomorpha --Osteoglossomorpha --Otocephala --Basal euteleosts7.5 Teleostei: Acanthopterygii --Basal acanthopterygians --Percomorph7.6 Swimming and Hydrodynamics --Generating forward thrust --Modes of locomotion --Speed and drag --Steering, stopping, and staying in place7.7 Reproduction and Development --Oviparity --Viviparity --Sex change in teleosts7.8 Ecology of Marine Teleosts --Black-water diving and larval teleosts --The photic zone and its subdivisions --Coral reef fishes --Pelagic and deep-sea fishesChapter 8. Sarcopterygians and the Origin of Tetrapods 8.1 Phylogenetic Concepts of Tetrapoda and Characters for Sarcopterygii8.2 The Miguasha Lagerstätte and the “Good Fossil Effect”8.3 Actinistia --†Onychodontia --Coelacanthiformes8.4 Dipnomorpha --†Porolepiformes --Dipnoi ?8.5 Tetrapodomorpha --Basal tetrapodomorphs --Tetrapods8.6 Moving onto Land --How did fins become limbs? --Body support and locomotion of early tetrapods8.7 Paleoecology of Devonian TetrapodomorphsChapter 9. Origins of Lissamphibia and Amniota 9.1 Paleozoic Tetrapods and the Origins of Extant Groups --Temnospondyli --Origins of Lissamphibia --Reptiliomorpha and the origin of amniotes --Paleozoic diversification of amniotes9.2 Characters of Amniotes --Skeletal characters --The amniotic egg --Other soft-tissue characters of amniotes9.3 Diversification of Amniotes --Temporal fenestration: Synapsids and diapsid --Ankle evolution in amnioteChapter 10. Geography and Ecology of the Mesozoic 10.1 Continental Geography and Climates --Continental movements --Climate shifts10.2 Terrestrial Ecosystems --Flora --Fauna10.3 Marine Ecosystems --Faunal composition: Apex predators --Other clades10.4 Extinctions --Triassic and Jurassic extinctions --Cretaceous extinctionsChapter 11. Living on Land 11.1 Support on Land --Axial skeleton --Axial muscle --Appendicular skeleton --Size and scaling11.2 Locomotion11.3 Eating11.4 Breathing Air11.5 Pumping Blood Uphill11.6 Sensory Systems --Vision --Hearing and equilibrium --Olfaction11.7 Conserving Water in a Dry Environment --Cutaneous water loss --Respiratory water loss --Excretory water lossChapter 12. Lissamphibians 12.1 Diversity of Lissamphibians --Synapomorphies of Lissamphibia --Salamanders --Anurans --Caecilians12.2 Life Histories of Lissamphibians --Mating and reproduction in salamanders --Anuran mating and reproduction --Anuran metamorphosis --The ecology of tadpoles --Caecilian reproduction and development12.3 Respiration and Circulation --Cutaneous respiration and blood flow --Blood flow in larvae and adults12.4 Water Relations --Uptake and storage of water --Cutaneous water loss --Behavioral control of cutaneous water loss12.5 Crypsis, Warning Colors, Toxins, and Venoms --Skin glands and toxins --Toxicity and diet --Venomous lissamphibians12.6 Why Are Lissamphibians Vanishing? --Chytrid fungi --Synergisms and domino effectsChapter 13. Synapsids and Sauropsids: Two Ways of Living on the Land 13.1 Conflicts between Locomotion and Respiration13.2 Lungs and Lung Ventilation: Supplying Oxygen to the Blood --Synapsid lungs --Sauropsid lungs13.3 Circulatory Systems: Supplying Oxygen to Tissues --Systemic arches of mammals and birds --Hearts with a ventricular septum: Mammals and birds --Hearts without a ventricular septum: Turtles and lepidosaurs --Shunting blood when the heart has a ventricular septum: Crocodylians13.4 Getting Rid of Wastes: The Kidneys --Nitrogenous waste products --Nitrogen excretion by synapsids: The mammalian kidney --Nitrogen excretion by sauropsids: Renal and extrarenal routesChapter 14. Ectothermy and Endothermy: Two Ways of Regulating Body Temperature 14.1 Why Regulate Body Temperature?14.2 Ectothermal Thermoregulation --Energy exchange and mechanisms of ectothermy --Thermal ecology of ectotherms14.3 Endothermal Thermoregulation --Mechanisms of endothermal thermoregulation?14.4 Pure Ectothermy and Pure Endothermy Lie at the Extremes of a Continuum --Endothermal ectotherms --Heterothermal endotherms: Torpor and hibernation --Heterothermal endotherms: Hyperthermia and life in the desert14.5 Evolution of Endothermy --How did endothermy evolve? --Evaluating the models --Many factors14.6 Thermoregulation, Energy Use, and Body Size --Energy requirements --Body size --Gigantothermy and the body temperatures of dinosaurs14.7 Ectotherms, Endotherms, and EcosystemsChapter 15. Lepidosaurs 15.1 Characters and Diversity of Lepidosaurs --Rhynchocephalians and the biology of tuatara --Squamata: Lizards --Squamata: Serpentes15.2 Foraging Modes15.3 Skull Kinesis and Feeding --Feeding specializations of snakes --Venom and fangs --Hearts and stomachs15.4 Predator Avoidance and Defense --Crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry --Deterrence --Autotomy --Venom and poisons as defense mechanisms15.5 Social Behavior --Courtship and territoriality --Sociality and parental care15.6 Reproductive Modes --Oviparity and viviparity --Parthenogenesis --Sex determination15.7 Climate ChangeChapter 16. Turtles 16.1 Form and Function --Shell and skeleton --Head retraction --Lung ventilation --Evolution of the turtle body plan16.2 Diversity16.3 Social Behavior, Communication, and Courtship16.4 Reproduction --Environmental sex determination --Parental care --Hatching and the behavior of baby turtles16.5 Navigation and Migration --Navigation by adult sea turtles --Navigation by hatchling and juvenile sea turtles16.6 Turtles in Trouble --Life history --Turtles are both delicious and considered medicinal --Turtles are in demand as pets --Sea turtles face extra risksChapter 17. Crocodylians 17.1 Diversity of Extant Crocodylians --Distribution of extant crocodylians --Locomotion17.2 The Crocodylomorph Lineage --†Notosuchia --Neosuchia --Neosuchia17.3 Predatory Behavior and Diet17.4 Communication and Social Behavior17.5 Reproduction and Parental Care --Environmental sex determination --Parental care17.6 Threats to and from Crocodylians --Threats from crocodylians --Threats to crocodylians --Reconciling humans and crocodyliansChapter 18. Avemetatarsalia and the Origin of Dinosauria 18.1 Characters and Systematics of Avemetatarsalia18.2 †Pterosaurs: Vertebrates Achieve Powered Flight --Structure of †pterosaurs --Reproduction, eggs, and parental care --Did the evolution of birds doom †pterosaurs18.3 Dinosaurs: One of the Most Successful Tetrapod Radiations --The structure of dinosaurs18.4 †Ornithischia --†Thyreophora --†Neornithischia --†Marginocephalia --†Ornithopoda --Social behavior of †ornithischian dinosaurs --Nesting and parental care by †ornithischians --†Neornithischia --†Marginocephalia --†Ornithopoda --Social behavior of †ornithischian dinosaurs --Nesting and parental care by †ornithischians18.5 †Sauropodomorpha --Social behavior of †sauropod --Nesting and parental care by †sauropodomorphs?Chapter 19. Theropods and the Origin of Birds 19.1 Characters and Systematics of Theropods --Phylogenetic overview of Theropoda --†Coelophysoids: Early theropods --†Ceratosauria --Tetanurae --Community ecology of theropods --Social behavior of theropods19.2 †Archaeopteryx, Mesozoic Avialans, and the Mosaic Evolution of Avian Characters --Discovery of †Archaeopteryx --Cretaceous avialans --Mosaic evolution of some avialan characters --Other avian features --Body size19.3 Evolution of Powered Flight --How-and why-birds got off the ground --Gliding and flying by other Mesozoic paravians19.4 Reproduction and Parental Care by Theropods --Eggs and nests --Parental care of hatchlingsChapter 20. Geography and Ecology of the Cenozoic 20.1 Continental Geography and Climates --Continental movements --Cenozoic climates20.2 Cenozoic Ecosystems --Fossil Lake --Freshwater habitats --Marine habitats --Terrestrial flora --Terrestrial fauna20.3 The Great American Biotic Interchange --Terrestrial vertebrates of North and South America --Faunal interchange --Marine fauna and isthmian pairs20.4 ExtinctionsChapter 21. Extant Birds 21.1 Diversity of Aves21.2 Structural Specializations for Flight and Bipedalism --Body size --Feathers --Streamlining and weight reduction --Skeleton --Muscles21.3 Wings and Flight --Flight mechanics --Wing shape and flight21.4 Feet and Locomotion --Hopping, walking, and running --Swimming21.5 Bills, Feeding, and Digestion --Bills, cranial kinesis, and tongues --Digestive tract21.6 Sensory Systems --Vision --Hearing --Olfaction --Touch21.7 Communication --Vocalization --Sonation --Visual displays21.8 Reproduction --Reproductive organs and insemination --Egg structure --Maternal effects ---Sex determination -Hatching and developmental state of young21.9 Parental Care --Nest building --Incubating --Feeding young --Interspecific brood parasitism21.10 Orientation, Navigation, and Migration --Navigational abilities --Using multiple cues during navigation --Seasonal migration21.11 ConservationChapter 22. Synapsids and the Origin of Mammals 22.1 Synapsid Evolution --Cranial skeleton and teeth --Phylogenetic history of synapsids22.2 Jaw Joints and Middle Ear Bones22.3 Other Mammalian Features --Teeth --Specializations of the palate and tongue for swallowing --Facial muscles --Integument --Lactation, nursing, and suckling --Brain and senses --Internal anatomy22.4 Basal Mammalian Clades --Prototheria --†Allotheria --TheriaChapter 23. Therians 23.1 Therian Features and Origins of Marsupialia and Placentalia --Therian skeletons23.2 Diversity of Marsupials --Marsupials and the Australian fauna23.3 Diversity of Placentals --Atlantogenata --Boreoeutheria23.4 Reproduction --Genitalia --Urogenital tracts --Placentation --Gestation --Evolution of therian viviparity23.5 Teeth and Feeding Specializations --Cusps and lophs --Carnivores and herbivores: Differences in jaw muscles --Digestive tracts23.6 Locomotion --Limbs: Speed versus power --Cursorial adaptations of ungulate limbs --Digging --Powered flight of bats --Swimming --Cetacean evolution23.7 Trophy Hunting and Extinction Risk --Bighorn sheep: A case study --Endangering the endangered: The effect of perceived rarity --The extinction vortexChapter 24. Primate Evolution and the Emergence of Humans 24.1 Primate Origins and Diversification --Basal primates --Euprimates --Anthropoids --New World monkeys --Old World monkeys and apes24.2 Origin and Evolution of Hominoidea --Hylobatidae --Hominidae --Homininae24.3 Origin and Evolution of Hominini --Distinctive features of hominins --Early hominins24.4 The Genus Homo --†Homo habilis --†Homo erectus --†Dmanisi hominins --†Neanderthals --†Denisovan hominins --†Homo longi --Island species and miniaturization --†Homo naledi --†Homo bodoensis --Origin and radiation of Homo sapiens --What happened to the humans who were already there?24.5 Evolution of Human Characters --Bipedalism --Large brains --Speech and language24.6 Humans and Other Vertebrates --Humans as superpredators and environmental disruptors --Megafaunal extinctions --Is this the Anthropocene?AppendixA-1 GlossaryG-1 IndexI-1

About the Author :
Harvey Pough, Professor Emeritus at Rochester Institute of Technology, is a herpetologist, specializing in environmental and evolutionary physiology; a past president of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists; and the senior author of textbooks on Herpetology and Vertebrate Zoology. He has taught courses in Animal Behavior, Ecology, Herpetology, Human Biology, Introductory Biology, Physiological Ecology, and Vertebrate Zoology.William E. Bemis is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University and Faculty Curator of Ichthyology at the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates. He has studied the anatomy, systematics, and evolution of extant and fossil vertebrates for fifty years with a focus on fishes. He currently teaches Vertebrate Biology, Ichthyology, and Herpetology.Betty McGuire is a retired Senior Lecturer from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. She has studied social behavior, reproduction, and ecology of small mammals and currently studies behavior of domestic dogs. She coauthored textbooks on Animal Behavior and Human Biology, and taught courses in Vertebrate Biology, Mammalogy, Human Biology, Animal Behavior, Evolution, and Introductory Biology.Christine M. Janis is Professor Emerita at Brown University, USA, and currently an Honorary Professor at the University of Bristol, UK. She is a mammalian paleobiologist who has studied the feeding and locomotion of Cenozoic mammals, especially ungulates (hoofed mammals) and kangaroos, and their paleobiology in the context of climatic and environmental change. She has taught courses in Comparative Anatomy and Vertebrate Paleontology.Contributors:Sergi Lâopez-Torres is an Assistant Professor at the University of Warsaw, Poland, and Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History, New York. He is a mammalian paleontologist who studies the early stages of primate evolution and the functional morphology and paleoecology in fossil Euarchontoglires. He currently teaches Human Origins, Primate Evolution, Zoology, and Paleobiology.Emanuel Tschopp is a Humboldt Fellow at University of Hamburg, Germany, and Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History, New York. He studies osteological variability in extant and extinct animals, and how it can be used to infer systematics and evolution of dinosaurs and lizards.Art Development by William E. Bemis.

Review :
“I really like the summary component of Pough et al. This will be extremely helpful for students to focus on the big picture points moving forward.” -Carly Anne York, Lenoir-Rhyne University “I think Vertebrate Life has over many iterations of deeply scholarly editions has achieved an excellent treatment of the comparative evolution of adaptive form and function across the tree of vertebrate life. It excels at placing the comparative morphology and physiology of major vertebrate lineages into a clear phylogenetic context with outstanding integration of both extinct and extant forms through the history of space and time on Earth since the early Paleozoic. [In the upcoming edition,] I like the continued expansion to more mixed media illustrations. The increased use of multiple colors in displays and use of more photographs to complement drawn scientific illustrations continues to move in a productive direction for this chapter, and this new edition in general.” -Andrew M. Shedlock, University of Charleston “Vertebrate Life really has been the top undergraduate textbook for a survey course on the evolution and form and function of vertebrate animals, for the better part of two decades. The new edition [has] upped the ante a bit in terms of clarity and coverage.” -Jonathan Weinbaum, Southern Connecticut State University “[The new edition of Vertebrate Life] updates a previous edition of an excellent text with better organization and new information. [It has a] balance between presenting interesting information without overloading detail.” -Udo Savalli, Arizona State University “Pough et al. has a wonderful variety of species that the students will find compelling. It is written in a very accessible writing style, [with a variety of] engaging species examples. The figures will greatly enhance student understanding with well-chosen and interesting examples.” -Claire Kendal-Wright, Chaminade University Vertebrate life is almost as diverse as it is ubiquitous across most habitats around the globe, from small to large animals living in water or on the land. This is the story, history and key features of that life, in the form of a well-established textbook, now in its 11th edition.