Vertebrate Life

Vertebrate Life, 10th Edition blends information about anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavior to present vertebrates within an evolutionary context. Engaging and readable, the 10th edition features full color throughout with completely new photographs and line art. Important advances in vertebrate biology are highlighted, including the increasing influence of molecular phylogenies, insights provided by evo-devo, and our growing appreciation of the significance of developmental plasticity and epigenetics. Taxon-specific conservation issues are discussed in each chapter that treats extant forms.

Preface

Chapter 1. Evolution, Diversity, and Classification of Vertebrates
1.1. The Vertebrate Story
Major extant groups of vertebrates
Non-amniotes
Amniotes
1.2. Classification of Vertebrates
Binominal nomenclature
Phylogenetic systematics
Applying phylogenetic criteria
Morphology-based and molecular-based phylogenies
Using phylogenetic trees
1.3. Crown and Stem Groups
1.4. Genetic Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change
Phenotypes and fitness
Developmental regulatory genes
Intragenerational versus transgenerational phenotypic modification
1.5. Earth History and Vertebrate Evolution

Chapter 2. What Is a Vertebrate?
2.1. Vertebrates in Relation to Other Animals
2.2. Characteristics of Chordates
Chordate origin 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
Unique developmental features of vertebrates
2.5. Basic Vertebrate Structures
Adult tissue types
Mineralized tissues
The skeletomuscular system
2.6. Basic Vertebrate Systems
The alimentary system
The cardiovascular system
The excretory and reproductive systems
The sense organs

Chapter 3. Jawless Vertebrates and the Origin of Jawed Vertebrates
3.1. The Earliest Evidence of Vertebrates
The origin of bone and other mineralized tissues
The mysterious conodonts
The environment of early vertebrate evolution
3.2. Cyclostomes: The Extant Jawless Fishes
Characters of cyclostomes
Fossil cyclostomes
Extant hagfishes: Myxiniformes
Lampreys: Petromyzontiformes
Cyclostomes and humans
3.3. Ostracoderms: Extinct Jawless Fishes
Characters of ostracoderms
Ostracoderm evolutionary patterns
3.4. The Basic Gnathostome Body Plan
Gnathostome biology
What about soft tissues?
3.5. The Origin of Jaws
Early hypotheses of jaw origins
The importance of the nose
Developmental studies of extant vertebrates
Transitional anatomy in fossils
The selective value of jaws
3.6. The Origin of Paired Appendages
The advantages of fins
Fin development and the lateral somitic frontier
Origin of the neck region
3.7. Extinct Paleozoic Jawed Fishes
Placoderms: Armored fishes
Acanthodians
The surviving gnathostome groups

Chapter 4. Living in Water
4.1. The Aquatic Environment
Obtaining oxygen from water: Gills
Obtaining oxygen from air: Lungs and other respiratory structures
Adjusting buoyancy
4.2. Water and the Sensory World of Aquatic Vertebrates
Vision
Hearing
Chemosensation: Taste and smell
Detecting water displacement
Electrical discharge
Electroreception by sharks and rays
4.3. The Internal Environment of Vertebrates
4.4. Exchange of Water and Ions
Nitrogen excretion
The vertebrate kidney
Regulation of ions and body fluids
4.5. Vertebrates in Different Environments
Marine vertebrates
Freshwater vertebrates: Teleosts and amphibians
Euryhaline vertebrates
Terrestrial vertebrates

Chapter 5. Geography and Ecology of the Paleozoic Era
5.1. Shifting Continents and Changing Climates
5.2. Continental Geography of the Paleozoic
5.3. Paleozoic Climates
5.4. Paleozoic Ecosystems
Aquatic life
Terrestrial floral ecosystems
Terrestrial faunal ecosystems
5.5. Paleozoic Extinctions

Chapter 6. Radiation and Diversification of Chondrichthyes
6.1. Chondrichthyes: The Cartilaginous Fishes
Distinctive characters of chondrichthyans
6.2. Evolutionary Diversification of Chondrichthyes
Paleozoic chondrichthyan radiations
The Mesozoic chondrichthyan radiation
Paleozoic and Mesozoic chondrichthyan paleobiology

Chapter 7. Extant Chondrichthyans
7.1. Morphology of Extant Chondrichthyans
Skeleton
Jaws
Skin
7.2. Sharks (Selachii)
Sensory systems and prey detection
Ecology of sharks
Heterothermy
Feeding
Reproduction
7.3. Skates and Rays (Batoidea)
Morphology
Ecology
Courtship and reproduction
7.4. Chimaeras (Holocephali)
7.5. Declining Shark Populations: An Ecological Crisis

Chapter 8. Radiation and Diversity of Osteichthyes
8.1. The Origin of Bony Fishes
Earliest osteichthyans and the major groups of bony fishes
8.2. Evolution of Actinopterygii
Basal actinopterygians
Neopterygii
Evolution of jaw protrusion
Pharyngeal jaws
Specializations of fins
8.3. Evolution of Sarcopterygii
Actinistia
Dipnoi
Tetrapodomorpha

Chapter 9. Extant Bony Fishes
9.1. Actinopterygians: Ray-Finned Fishes
Non-teleosts
Teleosts
9.2. Swimming
Minimizing drag
Steering, stopping, and staying in place
9.3. Actinopterygian Reproduction
Oviparity
Viviparity
9.4. The Sex Lives of Teleosts
Protandry
Protogyny
Hermaphroditism
All-female species
9.5. Teleosts in Different Environments
Deep-sea fishes
Coral reef fishes
9.6. Heterothermal Fishes
Warm muscles
Hot eyes
9.7. Sarcopterygians:Lobe-Finned Fishes
Actinistians: Coelacanths
Dipnoans: Lungfishes
9.8. Pollution, Overfishing, and Fish Farming
Freshwater fishes
Marine fishes

Chapter 10. Origin and Radiation of Tetrapods
10.1. Tetrapod Origins
Tetrapodomorph fishes
Earliest tetrapods of the Late Devonian
10.2. Moving onto Land
Terrestrial and walking fishes today
How are fins made into limbs?
Body support and locomotion
Lung ventilation and dermal bone
10.3. Radiation and Diversity of Non-Amniote Tetrapods
10.4. Amniotes
Derived features of amniotes
The amniotic egg
Patterns of amniote temporal fenestration

Chapter 11. Extant Amphibians
11.1. Diversity of Lissamphibians
Salamanders
Anurans
Caecilians
11.2. Life Histories of Amphibians
Salamanders
Anurans
The ecology of tadpoles
Caecilians
11.3. Amphibian Metamorphosis
11.4. Exchange of Water and Gases
Cutaneous respiration
Blood flow in larvae and adults
Cutaneous permeability to water
Behavioral control of evaporative water loss
Uptake and storage of water
11.5. Toxins, Venoms, and Other Defense Mechanisms
Skin glands
Toxicity and diet
Venomous amphibians
11.6. Why Are Amphibians Vanishing?
Disease
Synergisms

Chapter 12. Living on Land
12.1. Support and Locomotion on Land
The skeleton
The cranial skeleton
The axial skeleton: Vertebrae and ribs
Axial muscles
The appendicular skeleton: limbs and limb girdles
Size and scaling
Locomotion
12.2. Eating on Land
12.3. Breathing Air
12.4. Pumping Blood Uphill
12.5. Sensory Systems in Air
Vision
Hearing
Olfaction
Proprioception
12.6. Conserving Water in a Dry Environment
12.7. Controlling Body Temperature in a Changing Environment
Ectothermy
Endothermy
Ectothermy, endothermy, and heterothermy

Chapter 13. Geography and Ecology of the Mesozoic Era
13.1. Continental Geography of the Mesozoic
13.2. Mesozoic Climates
13.3. Mesozoic Aquatic Life
13.4. Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems
The Triassic
The Jurassic
The Cretaceous
13.5. Mesozoic Extinctions

Chapter 14. Synapsids and Sauropsids
14.1. The Conflict between Locomotion and Respiration
Locomotion and lung ventilation of synapsids
Locomotion and lung ventilation of sauropsids
14.2. Limb-Powered Locomotion
The basal amniote ankle joint
The sauropsid ankle joint
The synapsid ankle joint
14.3. Increasing Gas Exchange
Synapsid lungs
Sauropsid lungs
The respiratory system of birds
Why are synapsid and sauropsid lungs so different?
14.4. Transporting Oxygen to the Muscles: The Heart
14.5. The Evolution of Endothermy
How did endothermy evolve?
Evaluating the models
When did endothermy evolve?
14.6. Getting Rid of Wastes: The Kidneys
Nitrogen excretion by synapsids: The mammalian kidney
Nitrogen excretion by sauropsids: Renal and extrarenal routes
14.7. Sensing and Making Sense of the World
Vision
Chemosensation: Gustation and olfaction
Hearing
Brains

Chapter 15. Ectothermy: A Low-Energy Approach to Life
15.1. Vertebrates and Their Environments
15.2. Dealing with Dryness: Ectotherms in Deserts
Desert tortoises
The chuckwalla
Desert amphibians
15.3. Coping with Cold: Ectotherms in Subzero Conditions
Frigid fishes
Frozen frogs
15.4. Energetics of Ectotherms and Endotherms
Body size
Body shape
15.5. The Role of Ectotherms in Terrestrial Ecosystems
Conversion efficiency

Chapter 16. Turtles
16.1. Everyone Recognizes a Turtle
Shell and skeleton
Families of extant turtles 285
16.2. Turtle Structure and Function
Lung ventilation
The heart
Patterns of circulation and respiration
Body size and temperature regulation
16.3. Reproductive Biology of Turtles
Moisture and egg development
Temperature-dependent sex determination
Parental care
Hatching and the behavior of baby turtles
16.4. Social Behavior, Communication, and Courtship
16.5. Navigation and Migrations
Navigation by adult turtles
Navigation by hatchling and juvenile sea turtles
16.6. The Fateful Life-History Characteristics of Turtles

Chapter 17. Lepidosaurs
17.1. Rhynchocephalians and the Biology of Tuatara
17.2. Radiation of Squamates
Lizards
Snakes
17.3. Foraging Modes
Correlates of foraging mode
17.4. Skull Kinesis
17.5. Feeding Specializations of Snakes
Venom and fangs
Hearts and stomachs
17.6. Predator Avoidance and Defense
Crypsis
"Eavesdropping"
Deterrence
Autotomy
Venomous and poisonous snakes
17.7. Social Behavior
Territoriality
Sociality
17.8. Reproductive Modes
Sex determination
Oviparity and viviparity
Parthenogenesis
Parental care
17.9. Thermal Ecology
Organismal performance and temperature
17.10. Lepidosaurs and Climate Change

Chapter 18. Crocodylians
18.1. Diversity of Extant Crocodylians
18.2. The Crocodylomorph Lineage
Notosuchia
Neosuchia
18.3. Predatory Behavior and Diet of Extant Crocodylians
18.4. Communication and Social Behavior
18.5. Reproduction and Parental Care
Temperature-dependent sex determination
Parental care
18.6. The Skin Trade

Chapter 19. Mesozoic Diapsids: Dinosaurs and Others
19.1. Characteristics of Diapsids
19.2. Diversity of Mesozoic Diapsids
19.3. Lepidosauromorphs: Marine Diapsids
Terrestrial lepidosauromorphs
Marine lepidosauromorphs
19.4. Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorphs
19.5. Pterosaurs: The First Flying Vertebrates
The structure of pterosaurs
Reproduction, eggs, and parental care
Did the evolution of birds doom the pterosaurs?
19.6. Triassic Faunal Turnover
19.7. The Structure and Function of Dinosaurs
Hips and legs
Dinosaur lineages
19.8. Ornithischian Dinosaurs
Thyreophora
Marginocephalia
Ornithopoda
Social behavior of ornithischian dinosaurs
Nesting and parental care by ornithischians
19.9. Herbivorous Saurischians
The structure of sauropods
Social behavior of sauropods
Nesting and parental care by sauropods
19.10. Carnivorous Saurischians
Tyrannosauroides
Ornithomimisauria
Maniraptora
Social behavior of theropods
Nesting and parental care by theropods
19.11. Gigantothermy and the Body Temperature of Dinosaurs

Chapter 20. Endothermy: A High-Energy Approach to Life
20.1. Balancing Heat Production with Heat Loss
Whole-body metabolism
Shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis
Insulation
Evaporative cooling
20.2. Endotherms in the Cold
Avoiding cold and sharing heat
20.3. Facultative Hypothermia
Seasonal hypothermia
Rest-phase hypothermia
Hibernation
20.4. Endotherms in the Heat
Temperature stress and scarcity of water
Strategies for desert survival
Avoidance
Relaxation of homeostasis by hyperthermia
Hypothermia in the desert

Chapter 21. The Origin and Radiation of Birds
21.1. Avian Characters in Nonavian Theropods
Skeletal characters
Feathers
Reproduction and parental care
Body size
21.2. The Mosaic Evolution of Birds
How-and why-birds got off the ground
The appearance of powered avian flight
21.3. Early Birds
21.4. The Mesozoic Radiations of Birds

Chapter 22. Extant Birds
22.1. The Structure of Birds: Specialization for Flight
Feathers
Streamlining and weight reduction
Skeleton
Muscles
22.2. Wings and Flight
Wing muscles
Wing shape and flight characteristics
22.3. Feet
Hopping, walking, and running
Climbing
Swimming
22.4. Feeding and Digestion
Beaks, skulls, and tongues
The digestive system
22.5. Sensory Systems
Vision
Hearing
Olfaction
22.6. Social Behavior
Plumage colors and patterns
Vocalization, sonation, and visual displays
22.7. Oviparity
Egg biology
Sex determination
Maternal control of sex of offspring
22.8. Monogamy: Social and Genetic
22.9. Nests and Parental Care
Incubation
Parental care
Brood parasitism
22.10. Orientation and Navigation
22.11. Migration
Migratory movements
Costs and benefits of migration
22.12. Birds and Urbanization
Success in the city
Noise pollution
Not so sexy in the city

Chapter 23. Geography and Ecology of the Cenozoic Era
23.1. Continental Geography of the Cenozoic
23.2. Cenozoic Climates
Paleogene and Neogene climates
The Pleistocene ice ages
23.3. Cenozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems
23.4. Biogeography of Cenozoic Mammals
The isolation of Australian mammals
The isolation of mammals on other continents
23.5. Cenozoic Extinctions

Chapter 24. Synapsida and the Evolution of Mammals
24.1. The Origin of Synapsids
24.2. The Diversity of Non-Mammalian Synapsids
Pelycosaurs: Basal non-mammalian synapsids
Therapsids: More derived non-mammalian synapsids
Therapsid diversity
24.3. Evolutionary Trends in Synapsids
Evolution of the diaphragm
Evolution of a double occipital condyle
Evolution of jaws and ears
24.4. The First Mammals
Metabolic and growth rates
Skeletomuscular system
Feeding and mastication
Brain, senses, and behavior
The integument: Epidermis and glands
Lactation and suckling
Food processing and swallowing
Facial musculature
Internal anatomy
24.5. Mesozoic Mammals
Dual radiations of Mesozoic mammals

Chapter 25. Extant Mammals
25.1. Major Lineages of Mammals
Multituberculates
Monotremes
Marsupials
Placentals
25.2. Differences between Therians and Non-Therians
Craniodental features
Postcranial skeletal features
Gait and locomotion
Hearing
Vision
Lactation
Information from the genes
Sex determination and sex chromosomes
25.3. Differences between Marsupials and Placentals
25.4. Mammalian Reproduction
Mammalian urogenital tracts
Genitalia
Reproductive mode of monotremes: Matrotrophic oviparity
Reproductive mode of therians: Matrotrophic viviparity
The earliest therian condition, and the discredited notion of placental superiority
25.5. Specializations for Feeding: Teeth and Jaws
Mammalian teeth
Differences between carnivorous and herbivorous mammals
Rodents: Specialized feeders
25.6. Specializations for Locomotion
Cursorial limb morphology
Fossorial limb morphology
25.7. The Evolution of Aquatic Mammals
Morphological adaptations for life in water
The evolution of cetaceans
25.8. Trophy Hunting
Endangering the endangered: The effect of perceived rarity
The extinction vortex

Chapter 26. Primate Evolution and the Emergence of Humans, by Sergi Lopez-Torres
26.1. Primate Origins and Diversification
Evolutionary trends and diversity in primates
26.2. Origin and Evolution of Hominoidea
Diversity and social behavior of extant apes
Relationships within Hominoidea
Diversity of fossil hominoids
26.3. Origin and Evolution of Humans
Early hominins
Ecological and biogeographic aspects of early hominin evolution
26.4. Derived Hominins: The Genus Homo
Homo erectus and Homo ergaster
The Dmanisi hominins
Homo floresiensis
Homo naledi
Precursors of Homo sapiens
The Neandertals
The Denisovans
Origins of modern humans
What happened to the humans who were already there?
26.5. Evolution of Human Characteristics
Bipedalism
Large brains
Speech and language
Loss of body hair and development of skin pigmentation
Human technology and culture
26.6 Why Is Homo sapiens the Only Surviving Hominin Species?
Hybridization among species of Homo
26.7 Humans and Other Vertebrates
Humans as superpredators and environmental disruptors
Megafaunal extinctions
Is this the Anthropocene?

Appendix
Glossary
Illustration Credits
Index