My Wish Lists Login / Join

History of the Coelacanth Fishes

By: Peter L. Forey

Write A Review

Hardcover | 30 November 1997

At a Glance

Hardcover
436 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
25.4 x 17.78 x 2.39

Hardcover

$329.00

or 4 interest-free payments of $82.25 with

Ships in 5 to 7 business days

The modern coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, is the product of 360 million years of evolution and since its discovery in 1938 has been popularly acclaimed as a living fossil and a "missing link" between fishes and tetrapods. Inherent in this reputation are the assumptions that the coelacanth has changed little from its Devonian relatives and that it can reveal the natural history of the tetrapod ancestor. This reputation is based on outdated classification and systematic methods, anecdotal evidence and scant regard for immediate fossil relatives, most of which were described long before Latimeria was discovered. This book evaluates the reputation of the coelacanth, presenting up-to-date accounts of the structure of fossil coelacanths, and suggests a family history to show that there have been subtle but significant changes in coelacanth history. The coelacanth lineage must now be regarded as more distantly related to tetrapods than was originally thought its importance lying in another direction, as an example of the most primitive lobe-finned fish. This book should be of interest to specialists, museum researchers, university lecturers in palaeontology, zoology and aquatic sciences.

Industry Reviews

`Collaboration between Chapman & Hall and the Natural History Museum has produced this rich and erudite volume...are to be congratulated on their commitment. ...elegantly written and easy enough to assimilate. Most palaeoichthyologists will have it on their wish-list.'
Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 13:8 (1998)

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Nature & The Natural World Rocks, Gems, Minerals & Fossils Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning Earth Sciences Palaeontology Science Biology, Life Sciences Life Sciences in General Evolution Zoology & Animal Sciences Zoology & Vertebrates

Fishes & Ichthyology Ecological Science Wildlife in General Wildlife & Aquatic Creatures Freshwater Life

Preface
Glossary
Introduction	p. 1
Natural history of Latimeria	p. 13
Dermal bones of the skull roof	p. 41
Cheek bones and sensory canals	p. 95
The lower jaw	p. 129
Neurocranium, parasphenoid and vomer	p. 165
Palate, hyoid and gill arches	p. 193
The postcranial skeleton and scales	p. 209
Interrelationships of coelacanths and evolutionary trends	p. 223
The relationships of coelacanths	p. 247
Taxonomy	p. 297
Conclusions	p. 367
Appendix A: Abbreviations used in the figures	p. 371
References	p. 375
Genera and species index	p. 397
General index	p. 401
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

History of the Coelacanth Fishes

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in Zoology & Animal Sciences

The Story of Birds

An Evolutionary History of the Dinosaurs That Live Among Us

Sentinels

when diseases spread between animals and humans

The Book of Birds

A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss

The Selfish Gene

50th Anniversary Edition

Bob the Robin

A true story of the friendship between one man and Britain's favourite garden bird

Canis dingo

Understanding Australia's Apex Predator

A Life on Our Planet

My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future

An Immense World

How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us

Why Do Birds Sing?

A Bird's IQ

innovation, intelligence, and problem-solving in the avian world

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

Australian Magpie : 2nd Edition

Biology and Behaviour of an Unusual Songbird

Where Song Began

Australia's Birds and How They Changed the World

The Compact Australian Bird Guide

The Vanishing Wild

Australian Wildlife and the Fight Against Extinction

Birds of Western Australia

2nd Edition - The Field Guide

Tracks, Scats and Other Traces

A Field Guide to Australian Mammals

Field Guide to Mammals of Australia

Third Edition

Complete Guide to Australian Birds

A Field Guide to Insects of Australia

Fifth Edition

Mr and Mrs Gould

The extraordinary true story of the life of Australia's greatest naturalists and explorers, from the award winning bestselling author and shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year

The Soul of an Octopus

A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness

Shark

Why We Need to Save the World's Most Misunderstood Predator

LIFE TRILOGY BOXSET HB+

This product is categorised by