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"A 'state of the science' exposition and synthesis of sensory organ
evolution, discussed in a phylogenetic context. This is a source
book of basic knowledge on the comparative anatomy and physiology
of the senses, and a 'must read' for all biologists interested in
the way animal sense organs, ecology, and evolution
interact."--Annalisa Berta, San Diego State University, co-author
of "Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology," 2nd edition.
"There are no better examples of evolution than the spectacular
returns of land vertebrates to the sea. There is no better way to
study secondarily aquatic adaptations by vertebrates of terrestrial
ancestry than by analyses of the function and evolution of their
sensory organs and systems. This remarkable volume, drawing from
diverse studies of sensory systems in the context of evolutionary
analyses, offers a first-rate integration of evolutionary studies
with studies of sensory functional adaptation. Each case of land
vertebrates returning to aquatic life represents an independent run
of a similar evolutionary experiment. Studies of these examples in
convergent evolution are powerful tools to unveil the common
processes at work in evolutionary transition. Thewissen and Nummela
have compiled the best summaries of very diverse topics, all framed
by the rigorous study of evolution. They have presented a
multidisciplinary field in an interdisciplinary volume."--Zhe-Xi
Luo, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carnegie Museum of Natural
History
"This book represents integrative biology at its best. It takes a
specific topic, the sensory adaptations of vertebrates secondarily
adapting to life in the water, and provides a fascinating overview.
It is broadphylogenetically as it covers all the vertebrate special
senses, and it is comparative as it details the parallel
adaptations of wildly different taxa. Each part in the volume,
focused on a different sense, is introduced by an excellent
introductory chapter on the basic physics and physiology of that
sense. These introductions are then followed by clear discussions
of specific adaptations required in the transition to water from
air. The book will serve as a fine resource for those interested in
sensory evolution, vertebrate senses or the adaptations to water,
and it admirably meets its stated goal of being a useful resource
on the vertebrate senses for evolutionary biologists, and evolution
for the sensory biologists."--Kathleen K. Smith, Duke University,
Director of The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
"What a nice book! I like the combination of short reviews with
longer chapters reporting original research...the book is a
landmark and a must for any evolutionary biologist considering the
return of tetrapods to the sea. It's comprehensive, well-organized
and insightful."--William F. Perrin, co-editor of the "Encyclopedia
of Marine Mammals"
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