Best of
Biology

1994

Journey to the Ants: A Story of Scientific Exploration


Bert Hölldobler - 1994
    Wilson's monumental treatise The Ants also was praised in the popular press and won a Pulitzer Prize. This overwhelming success attests to a fact long known and deeply felt by the authors: the infinite fascination of their tiny subjects. This fascination finds its full expression in Journey to the Ants, an overview of myrmecology that is also an eloquent tale of the authors' pursuit of these astonishing insects.Richly illustrated and delightfully written, Journey to the Ants combines autobiography and scientific lore to convey the excitement and pleasure the study of ants can offer. The authors interweave their personal adventures with the social lives of ants, building, from the first minute observations of childhood, a remarkable account of these abundant insects' evolutionary achievement. Accompanying Holldobler and Wilson, we peer into the colony to see how ants cooperate and make war, how they reproduce and bury their dead, how they use propaganda and surveillance, and how they exhibit a startlingly familiar ambivalence between allegiance and self-aggrandizement. This exotic tour of the entire range of formicid biodiversity - from social parasites to army ants, nomadic hunters, camouflaged huntresses, and energetic builders of temperature-controlled skyscrapers - opens out increasingly into natural history, intimating the relevance of ant life to human existence. A window on the world of ants as well as those who study them, this book will be a rich source of knowledge and pleasure for anyone who has ever stopped to wonder about the miniature yet immense civilization at our feet.

Naturalist


Edward O. Wilson - 1994
    He traces the trajectory of his life—from a childhood spent exploring the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Florida to life as a tenured professor at Harvard—detailing how his youthful fascination with nature blossomed into a lifelong calling. He recounts with drama and wit the adventures of his days as a student at the University of Alabama and his four decades at Harvard University, where he has achieved renown as both teacher and researcher.As the narrative of Wilson's life unfolds, the reader is treated to an inside look at the origin and development of ideas that guide today's biological research. Theories that are now widely accepted in the scientific world were once untested hypotheses emerging from one man's broad-gauged studies. Throughout Naturalist, we see Wilson's mind and energies constantly striving to help establish many of the central principles of the field of evolutionary biology. The story of Edward O. Wilson's life provides fascinating insights into the making of a scientist and a valuable look at some of the most thought-provoking ideas of our time.

The Private Life of Plants: A Natural History of Plant Behaviour


David Attenborough - 1994
    In the program and book, both titled The Private Life of Plants, Attenborough treks through rainforests, mountain ranges, deserts, beaches, and home gardens to show us things we might never have suspected about the vegetation that surrounds us. With their extraordinary sensibility, plants compete endlessly for survival and interact with animals and insects: they can see, count, communicate, adjust position, strike, and capture. Attenborough makes the plant world a vivid place for readers, who in this book can enjoy the tour at their own pace, taking in the lively descriptions and nearly 300 full-color photos showing plants in close detail.The author reveals to us the aspects of plants' lives that seem hidden from view, such as fighting, avoiding or exploiting predators or neighbors, and struggling to find food, increase their territories, reproduce themselves, and establish their place in the sun. Among the most amazing examples, the acacia can communicate with other acacias and repel enemies that might eat their leaves, the orchid can impersonate female wasps to attract males and ensure the spreading of its pollen, the Venus's flytrap can take other organisms captive and consume them. Covering this remarkable range of information with enthusiasm and clarity, Attenborough helps us to look anew at the vegetation on which all life depends and which has an intriguing life of its own. He has created a book sure to please the plant lover and any other reader interested in exploring the natural world.

The Coming Plague: Newly Emerging Diseases in a World Out of Balance


Laurie Garrett - 1994
    Improper use of antibiotics. Local warfare. Massive refugee migration. Changing social and environmental conditions around the world have fostered the spread of new and potentially devastating viruses and diseases—HIV, Lassa, Ebola, and others. Laurie Garrett takes you on a fifty-year journey through the world's battles with microbes and examines the worldwide conditions that have culminated in recurrent outbreaks of newly discovered diseases, epidemics of diseases migrating to new areas, and mutated old diseases that are no longer curable. She argues that it is not too late to take action to prevent the further onslaught of viruses and microbes, and offers possible solutions for a healthier future.

The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time


Jonathan Weiner - 1994
    For among the finches of Daphne Major, natural selection is neither rare nor slow: it is taking place by the hour, and we can watch.In this dramatic story of groundbreaking scientific research, Jonathan Weiner follows these scientists as they watch Darwin's finches and come up with a new understanding of life itself. The Beak of the Finch is an elegantly written and compelling masterpiece of theory and explication in the tradition of Stephen Jay Gould.With a new preface.

The Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to Its Structure, Function and Disorders


Steve Parker - 1994
    Includes a 45-minute interactive DVD.

Physiology (Board Review Series)


Linda S. Costanzo - 1994
    The book concisely reviews key physiological principles and includes clinical correlations throughout to emphasize connections between basic physiology and clinical medicine. Numerous illustrations, tables, and flow charts help students visualize material quickly and aid in long-term retention. End-of-chapter USMLE-style questions and a comprehensive end-of-book exam test the student's problem-solving skills, and clearly explained answers guide the student through the correct steps in reasoning. This edition features increased coverage of pathophysiology, new questions, and a new two-color design and artwork.

The Evolution Of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating


David M. Buss - 1994
    Based on the most massive study of human mating ever undertaken, encompassing more than 10,000 people of all ages from thirty-seven cultures worldwide, The Evolution of Desire is the first book to present a unified theory of human mating behavior.Now in an updated edition with two new chapters by the author, The Evolution of Desire presents the latest research in the field, including starting new discoveries about the evolutionary advantages of infidelity, orgasm, and physical attractiveness.

Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine


Randolph M. Nesse - 1994
    Why We Get Sick compels readers to reexamine the age-old attitudes toward sickness. Line drawings.

The Moral Animal: Why We Are the Way We Are - The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology


Robert Wright - 1994
    Wright unveils the genetic strategies behind everything from our sexual preferences to our office politics--as well as their implications for our moral codes and public policies. Illustrations.

Witness: Endangered Species of North America


David Liittschwager - 1994
    By photographing each imperiled creature against a stark black or white backdrop, photographers Susan Middleton and David Liittschwager visually remove the habitat that would ensure its survival and bring the plight of the individual species -- whether a majestic Florida panther or a delicate Tennessee purple coneflower -- closer to home. A bibliography and an index, a resource giude to additional information sources, an eloquent introduction by E. O. Wilson, and an essay on the Endangered Species Act complete this formidable volume, making it not only an elegant and moving documentary, but a valuable tool in the fight for the preservation of diminishing habitats and the species that depend on them.

Molecular Biology of the Cell: The Problems Book [With CDROM]


John Wilson - 1994
    Each chapter will review key terms, test for understanding basic concepts, and pose research-based problems. The Problems Book has been designed to correspond with the first twenty chapters of Molecular Biology of the Cell, Fifth Edition.Includes the solutions to the end-of-chapter problems in the textbook Molecular Biology of the Cell, Fifth Edition. Contains over 2,000 problems and their solutions. All of the solutions to the problems in The Problems Book are on the CD-ROM that is packaged with every copy of the book. The problems are organized into the following categories: Terms to Learn, Definitions, True/False, Thought Problems, Calculations, and Data Handling.The Problems Book will be useful for homework assignments and as a basis for class discussion. It could even provide inspiration for exam questions.

The Reef Aquarium: A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tropical Marine Invertebrates, Volume 1


J. Charles Delbeek - 1994
    The reef aquarium vol i - delbeck & sprung

Butterflies and Moths


Paul A. Opler - 1994
    Condensed versions of the famous Peterson Field Guides, the First Guides focus on the animals, plants, and other natural things you are most likely to see. They make it fun to get into the field and easy to progress to the full-fledged Peterson Guides.

More Birding by Ear Eastern and Central North America: A Guide to Bird-song Identification


Richard K. Walton - 1994
    Walton and Lawson have created learning groups of similar vocalizations and clearly point out distinguishing characteristics, using phonetics, mnemonics, and other memory aids. MORE BIRDING BY EAR will increase your skill and enjoyment in the field by helping you learn the vocalizations of twenty-five species of warblers, all of the North American rails, and an assortment of terns, other waterbirds, and passerines. Many shorebird call notes are also included. Combine the auditory instruction here with the visual features of the Peterson Identification System. Page numbers in MORE BIRDING BY EAR's booklet refer to species descriptions in the PETERSON FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA, fifth edition.

Generative Energy: Protecting and Restoring the Wholeness of Life


Raymond Peat - 1994
    Practical issues of health, education, and creativity are often considered as though science had nothing to offer beyond certain concrete facts. Holistic and coherent views emerge from many areas of science, illuminating questions such as: Longevity: Brain improvement: Biological regeneration: Ecological restoration: The meaning of stress: A solution for obesity: Fertility.

Kanzi: The Ape at the Brink of the Human Mind


Sue Savage-Rumbaugh - 1994
    He is directly responsible for discoveries that have forced the scientific community to recast its thinking about the nature of the mind and the origins of language. He is Kanzi, an extraordinary bonobo chimpanzee who has overturned the idea that symbolic language is unique to our species. This is the moving story of how Kanzi learned to converse with humans and the profound lessons he has taught us about our animal cousins, and ourselves.". . . The underlying thesis is informative and well argued . . . Savage-Rumbaugh's results are impressive." — The Washington Post"This popular, absorbing, and controversial account is recommended." — Library Journal

The Monkey Wars


Deborah Blum - 1994
    We have all benefited from the medical discoveries of primate research--vaccines for polio, rubella, and hepatitis B are just a few. But we have also learned more in recent years about how intelligent apes and monkeys really are: they can speak to us with sign language, they can even play video games (and are as obsessed with the games as any human teenager). And activists have also uncovered widespread and unnecessarily callous treatment of animals by researchers (in 1982, a Silver Spring lab was charged with 17 counts of animal cruelty). It is a complex issue, made more difficult by the combative stance of both researchers and animal activists. In The Monkey Wars, Deborah Blum gives a human face to this often caustic debate--and an all-but-human face to the subjects of the struggle, the chimpanzees and monkeys themselves. Blum criss-crosses America to show us first hand the issues and personalities involved. She offers a wide-ranging, informative look at animal rights activists, now numbering some twelve million, from the moderate Animal Welfare Institute to the highly radical Animal Liberation Front (a group destructive enough to be placed on the FBI's terrorist list). And she interviews a wide variety of researchers, many forced to conduct their work protected by barbed wire and alarm systems, men and women for whom death threats and hate mail are common. She takes us to Roger Fouts's research center in Ellensburg, Washington, where we meet five chimpanzees trained in human sign language, and we visit LEMSIP, a research facility in New York State that has no barbed wire, no alarms--and no protesters chanting outside--because its director, Jan Moor-Jankowski, listens to activists with respect and treats his animals humanely. And along the way, Blum offers us insights into the many side-issues involved: the intense battle to win over school kids fought by both sides, and the danger of transplanting animal organs into humans. As it stands now, Blum concludes, the research community and its activist critics are like two different nations, nations locked in a long, bitter, seemingly intractable political standoff....But if you listen hard, there really are people on both sides willing to accept and work within the complex middle. When they can be freely heard, then we will have progressed to another place, beyond this time of hostilities. In The Monkey Wars, Deborah Blum gives these people their voice.

Power Unseen: How microbes rule the world


Bernard Dixon - 1994
    Power Unseen portrays the many, diverse and often unexpected activities of microbes through a series of 75 vignettes, each focusing on one particular organism and its characteristic behavior. Illustrating microbial life in its astonishing diversity, this fascinating and entertaining book leaves the reader in no doubt that microbes, not macrobes, rule the world.

Bugs In The System: Insects And Their Impact On Human Affairs


May R. Berenbaum - 1994
    An introduction to insect physiology, genetics and behaviour which looks at the interaction between humans and insects, and explores both the positive and negative aspects of the relationship.

Planet Ocean: A Story of Life, the Sea, and Dancing to the Fossil Record


Bradford Matsen - 1994
    In its own way it has inspired many people to take a new look at the fossil record and imagine creatures and things as they might have been—a blend of word and image unlike any other.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Karl Blossfeldt: Art Forms in Nature


Karl Blossfeldt - 1994
    His images influenced artists of the time and continue to affect the work of visual artists, craftsmen, and architects to the present day. A pioneer of Neue Sachlichkeit, his pictures are classics in the history of photography. Neither a trained photographer nor a botanist, Blossfeldt was interested in plants for didactic reasons. By enlarging the inner structures of plants he revealed their organic configuration and their consummate artistic forms that arose from biological necessity. Blossfeldt's aim was to produce a pure catalogue of forms, and yet he created one of the most stunning oeuvres in the history of photography. Gert Mattenklott in his essay explores the origin of Blossfeldt's work and its subsequent influence. Georges Bataille's historical article "The Language of Flower," first published in 1929 with illustrations by Blossfeldt, defines plants as occupying a space between profanity and sanctity.

Turtles of the United States and Canada


Carl H. Ernst - 1994
    Incorporating the explosion of new scientific information published on turtles over the past fifteen years--including the identification of four new species--Ernst and Lovich supply comprehensive coverage of all fifty-eight species, with discussions of conservation status and recovery efforts.Each species account contains information on identification, genetics, fossil record, distribution, geographic variation, habitat, behavior, reproduction, biology, growth and longevity, food habits, populations, predators, and conservation status. The book includes range maps for freshwater and terrestrial species, a glossary of scientific names, an extensive bibliography for further research, and an index to scientific and common names.Logically organized and richly illustrated--with more than two hundred color photographs and fifty-two maps--Turtles of the United States and Canada remains the standard for libraries, museums, nature centers, field biologists, and professional and amateur herpetologists alike.

Bats of the World


Gary L. Graham - 1994
    Full color.

Hollows, Peepers, and Highlanders: An Applachian Mountain Ecology


George Constantz - 1994
    While the information is scientific in nature, Constantz's accessible descriptions of the adaptation of various organisms to their environment enable the reader to enjoy learning about the Appalachian ecosystem. The book is divided into three sections: "Stage and Theater," "The Players," and "Seasonal Act." Each section sets the scene and describes the events occurring in nature. "Stage and Theatre" is comprised of chapters that describe the origins of the Appalachia region. "The Players" is an interesting and in-depth look into the ecology of animals, such as the mating rituals of different species, and the evolutionary explanation for the adaptation of Appalachian wildlife. The last section, "Seasonal Act," makes note of the changes in Appalachian weather each season and its effect on the inhabitants.

The Fossils of the Burgess Shale


Derek E.G. Briggs - 1994
    Main Selection of the Natural Science Book Club. This book provides the first comprehensive set of illustrations of the life forms revealed in the Burgess Shale. This century's most significant invertebrate fossil discovery, the Burgess Shale provides an unprecendented window ito the explosive evolution during the Cambrian Period.

Dunwoody Pond: Reflections on the High Plains Wetlands and the Cultivation of Naturalists


John Janovy Jr. - 1994
    Indeed, the mysteries ripple well beyond the pond's edge, where budding scientists stoop over their specimens, and one question in particular intrigues John Janovy: What makes these otherwise normal young people want to study parasites? The parasites that Janovy peers at in Dunwoody Pond, living their intricate lives on or in beetles, damselflies, frogs, toads, fish, and tiny crustaceans, are no less interesting and involved than the lives of the young scientists he observes in their pursuit of these microorganisms. An exploration of a small farm pond in Nebraska, the creatures that inhabit it, and the people who study them, this engaging book captures the spirit of scientific inquiry at its source. Janovy, a celebrated scientist, naturalist, and teacher, introduces us to five of his most gifted students at critical junctures in their scientific careers. As we watch these young people at work and learn about the fascinating microscopic universe that preoccupies them, we also learn firsthand about the curiosity, wonder, and excitement that animate scientific practice. As closely observed and warmly written as all of John Janovy's works, Dunwoody Pond is, above all, a highly original and insightful meditation on the nature of science itself.

Foxes, Wolves, and Wild Dogs of the World


David Alderton - 1994
    Loaded with crisp, full- color photographs that often astonish and amuse, the 16-volume set provides unique insights into the amazing diversity of species around the globe.The volume provide clear, basic information on physiology, classification, habitat, life cycle, and behavior, including such diverse topics as courtship and mating, egg-laying and development, reproduction and parental care, food and feeding.Packed with fascinating details and little-known facts, this volume chronicles every facet of these animal's behavior, biology, and ecology.

The Insects: An Outline of Entomology


P.J. Gullan - 1994
     This established and popular textbook is the definitive guide to the study of insects; a group of animals that represent over half of the planet's biological diversity.Completely updated and expanded, this new edition examines all aspects of insect biology including anatomy and physiology, ecology and evolution of insects, insect behaviours such as sociality, predation, parasitism and defense, medical and veterinary entomology and methods of collection, preserving and identifying insects.Features new chapters on the methods and results of studies of insect phylogeny and a new review of insect evolution and biogeography.Includes expanded sections on species diversity, social behaviour, pest management, aquatic entomology, parasitology and medical entomology.Successful strategies in insect conservation are also covered for the first time, reflecting the increasing threat to natural ecosystems from environmental changes.Boxes highlighting key themes, suggestions for further reading and illustrations, including specially commissioned drawings and colour plates, are included throughout.The artwork from the text is available for instructors either via CD-ROM or by visiting www.blackwellpublishing.com/gullan.

The Biology Of Tardigrades


Ian M. Kinchin - 1994
    Topics covered include: affinities of the tardigrades; origins and systematics; external morphology; reproduction and life history; and cryptobiosis.

Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar


Frank Glaw - 1994
    Individual species accounts provide the biology and description of all Malagasy amphibians and reptiles. Illustrated with over 1500 color photographs, range maps, illustrated ID keys, and extensive bibliography.

The Outer Reaches of Life


John R. Postgate - 1994
    John Postgate's fascinating exploration of these outer reaches of life shows how understanding microbes can provide new clues to the origin and evolution of terrestrial life, and offers glimpses of how life might have established itself elsewhere in the Universe. In the process, it raises profound questions about death, sensation and individuality, and insights into the nature of scientific progress. The feats of modern biotechnology are just one manifestation of the astonishing resources of microbes illuminated in John Postgate's lucid and intriguing account.

Eyewitness Natural World


Steve Parker - 1994
    -- Ladies Home Journal

How and Why We Age


Leonard Hayflick - 1994
    . . . Now comes a most fascinating book, insightful and scholarly, to provide what answers have emerged so far."--San Francisco ChronicleHere, at last, preeminent cell biologist Leonard Hayflick presents the truth about human aging. Based on more than thirty years of pioneering research in the field, How and Why We Age explores not only how our major biological systems change as we grow older, but also examines the intangible alterations in our modes of thinking and feeling, our moods and sexual desires, our personality traits and our memories. With the immediacy of the latest scientific discoveries, Dr. Hayflick explains how aging affects every part of the body, and dispels many of the most persistent aging myths, to show that: * Hearts do not naturally get weaker with age.* Regular exercise and a low-fat diet won't slow aging.* Curing cancer would only add two years to the average sixty-five-year-old American life. Curing heart disease, however would add fourteen years.* Only five percent of people over the age of sixty-five are in nursing homes* No human has lived--or probably can live--past 120 years.Gracefully written, clearly organized, and packed with essential facts and statistics, How and Why We Age is a landmark study of the aging process for readers of all ages."Written in clear, nontechnical language, it is an excellent introduction to the scientific and demographic literature on this multifaceted subject."--Nature

Colour Vision: A Study in Cognitive Science and the Philosophy of Perception


Evan Thompson - 1994
    In recent times, investigations into colour vision have been one of the main success stories of cognitive science, for each discipline within the field - neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, computer science and artificial intelligence, and philosophy - has contributed significantly to our understanding of colour. Evan Thompson's book is a major contribution to this interdisciplinary project. Colour Vision provides an accessible review of the current scientific and philosophical discussions of colour vision. Thompson steers a course between the subjective and objective positions on colour, arguing for a relational account. This account develops a novel ecological' approach to colour vision in cognitive science and the philosophy of perception. It is vital reading for all cognitive scientists and philosophers whose interests touch upon this central area.

Skeletons: An Inside Look at Animals


Jinny Johnson - 1994
    A meticulously detailed, full-color painting of each animal's skeleton appears next to a color portrait of the living animal and informative text.

Bird Migration: A General Survey


Peter Berthold - 1994
    During that time the field of bird migration has experienced many advances which are reflected in this second edition. No other book exists to bring together the vast amount of information currently available on the subject of bird migration. Includes discussion of evolution and history of bird migration, physiology, orientation mechanisms and threats to migrations and is accessible to experts as well as amateurs.

New Views on an Old Planet


Tjeerd H. van Andel - 1994
    Professor van Andel's now famous book on earth history interweaves three main themes: the evolution of the solid earth; the history of oceans and atmospheres; and the evolution of life. In the decade since this award-winning book was first published, much new information has been learned and confirmed, and Dr. van Andel draws on this wealth of knowledge to thoroughly revise and update the text. There is a new chapter on how we can improve our grasp on geological time and, mindful of the current interest in global change, new sections describe the greenhouse effect and address its possible future ramifications. In prose that is both concise and compelling and with a glossary and suggestions for further reading New Views on an Old Planet: A History of Global Change, makes earth history appealing to the general reader .

Human Embryology and Developmental Biology [with Student Consult Online Access]


Bruce M. Carlson - 1994
    Using a classical morphological approach to embryology, it offers mechanistic explanations for both normal and abnormal human development, enabling readers to understand development in terms of cellular and molecular controls. And, a wealth of reader-friendly features make this resource exceptionally user friendly.The smart way to study!Elsevier titles with STUDENT CONSULT will help you master difficult concepts and study more efficiently in print and online! Perform rapid searches. Integrate bonus content from other disciplines. Download text to your handheld device. And a lot more. Each STUDENT CONSULT title comes with full text online, a unique image library, case studies, USMLE style questions, and online note-taking to enhance your learning experience.

Myxomycetes: A Handbook of Slime Molds


Steven L. Stephenson - 1994
    Superbly illustrated, including keys, it is an introduction to their biology as well as a field guide. This book is only available through print on demand. All interior art is black and white.

Textbook on Criminology


Katherine S. Williams - 1994
    It provides a clear and comprehensive consideration of the theoretical, practical, and political aspects of the subject, including the influence of physical, biological, psychological, and social factors on criminality. The text is ideal both for law students studying criminology modules, and for students studying criminological theory modules as part of their criminology degrees.The author deals with the major questions of criminology such as 'How do you define a crime?', 'Why do people become criminals?', and 'How should we deal with criminals?' Each question is studied from an objective and academic viewpoint and encourages greater social, political, and philosophical awareness of crime, criminals, and society's response to them. The text also maps out the changes in crime control and society's expectations in relation to crime control, and encourages greater social, political, and philosophical awareness of crime, criminals, and society's response to them. The text also maps out the changes in crime control and society's expectations in relation to crime control, and students will find the insightful chapter on terrorism and state violence to be of particular interest and relevance in light of recent global events.

Poison Frogs of the Family Dendrobatidae: Jewels of the Rainforest


Jerry G. Walls - 1994
    All 65 species of Dendrobates, Epipedobates, Minyobates, and Phyllobates are discussed, with extensive coverage of the dozen species that are best known to naturalists and hobbyists alike.

Evolution by Association: A History of Symbiosis


Jan Sapp - 1994
    The symbiotic perspective on evolution, which argues that higher species have evolved from a merger of two or more different kinds of organisms living together, is now clearly established with definitive molecular evidence demonstrating that mitochondria and chloroplasts have evolved from symbiotic bacteria. In telling the exciting story of an evolutionary biology tradition that has effectively challenged many key tenets of classical neo-Darwinism, Sapp sheds light on the phenomena, movements, doctrines, and controversies that have shaped attitudes about the scope and significance of symbiosis. Engaging and insightful, Evolution by Association will be avidly read by students and researchers across the life sciences.

Ecological Feminism


Karen J. Warren - 1994
    It addresses basic questions about the conceptual underpinnings of `women-nature' connections, and emphasises the importance of seeing sexism and the exploitation of the environment as parallel forms of domination. Ecological Feminism is enriched by the inclusion of essays which take differing views of the importance and nature of ecofeminism. It will be an invaluable resource for courses on women's studies, environmental studies and philosophy.

Bones: The Unity Of Form And Function


R. McNeill Alexander - 1994
    Ingeniously designed by the processes of evolution, bones are marvels of engineering.In tribute to both the beauty and mechanics of its subject, Bones explores the structure, material, and movement of bones. It examines the miraculous composition of bone material. It looks at the joints and muscle attachments that allow for movement, including such elaborate mechanisms as fish jaws, rattlesnake fangs, and a lion's retractable claws. It shows how the same bone is shaped to wildly differently ends in a variety of animals.A wealth of specially commissioned color plates shows bones as they have seldom been seen before. The luminous images range from the unusual (the skeleton of a pygmy flying squirrel) to the ordinary (the tailbones of a domestic cat), and from the enormous (the vertebra of a dinosaur) to the minuscule (the acoustic bones of a desert kangaroo rat).With its blend of lively science and unexpected beauty, Bones leaves readers with insight into the workings of the skeleton, and a sense of wonder at its intricacy.