Hyman's Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

by Marvalee H. Wake (Editor)

The purpose of this book, now in its third edition, is to introduce the morphology of vertebrates in a context that emphasizes a comparison of structire and of the function of structural units. The comparative method involves the analysis of the history of structure in both developmental and evolutionary frameworks. The nature of adaptation is the key to this analysis. Adaptation of a species to its environment, as revealed by its structure, function, and reproductive success, is the product of mutation and natural selection–the process of evolution. The evolution of structure and function, then, is the theme of this book which presents, system by system, the evolution of structure and function of vertebrates. Each chapter presents the major evolutionary trends of an organ system, with instructions for laboratory exploration of these trends included so the student can integrate concept with example.

795 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1992

Reviews

[Blaine Hebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rare book that currently has no equal or replacement. Libbie Hyman compiled the then-current knowledge of major organ systems compared across most major vertebrate groups and has been a major resource for zoology students for generations. Its major limitation is that its last revision was in 1979 and now lacks a great deal of current research and inclusion of modern genomic and phylogenetic research. Even so, this work is valuable in its ability to compare different organ systems across the major classes of vertebrates.
Zoology students would do well to include this work in their studies in comparative zoology and in understanding evolutionary development of the vertebrate classes. It will serve you well as a beginning point in understanding the basics of organ system development and evolution.