This introductory text lays particular emphasis on the relationship between development and behaviour. Indeed, the second part of the book is devoted to examining the role of factors present during development which influence the growth of the nervous system and subsequent behaviour. Throughout the subject matter is extensively illustrated in clear, colour diagrams, and each chapter ends with learning objectives and questions.

This book, part of a series from The Open University in the United Kingdom, is about animal behaviour. The behaviour of animals, including humans, is very diverse and often very complex. Studying behaviour draws on the work of scientists from several disciplines, including ethologists, psychologists, physiologists and biochemists. The question that most of them are interested in answering is: why does an animal behave in the way it does? The possible answers - development, survival value, evolutionary history or cause-and-effect - are the themes that run through this introduction to behaviour and evolution.