Great Adaptations (eBook)

Star-Nosed Moles, Electric Eels, and Other Tales of Evolution's Mysteries Solved

Kenneth Catania (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2020
224 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-0-691-20955-5 (ISBN)

Infos

"e;The irresistible enthusiasm of Great Adaptations couldn't come at a better time."e;-David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal"e;Be very amazed."e;-Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words and Becoming WildHow one scientist unlocked the secrets behind some of nature's most astounding animalsFrom star-nosed moles that have super-sensing snouts to electric eels that paralyze their prey, animals possess unique and extraordinary abilities. In Great Adaptations, Kenneth Catania presents an entertaining and engaging look at some of nature's most remarkable creatures. Telling the story of his biological detective work, Catania sheds light on the mysteries behind the behaviors of tentacled snakes, tiny shrews, zombie-making wasps, and more. He shows not only how studying these animals can provide deep insights into how life evolved, but also how scientific discovery can be filled with adventure and fun.Beginning with the star-nosed mole, Catania reveals what the creature's nasal star is actually for, and what this tells us about how brains work. He explores how the deceptive hunting strategy of tentacled snakes leads prey straight to their mouths, how eels use electricity to control other animals, and why emerald jewel wasps make zombies out of cockroaches. He also solves the enigma of worm grunting-a traditional technique in which earthworms are enticed out of the ground-by teaming up with professional worm grunters. Catania demonstrates the merits of approaching science with an open mind, considers the role played by citizen scientists, and illustrates that most animals have incredible, hidden abilities that defy our imagination.Examining some strange and spectacular creatures, Great Adaptations offers a wondrous journey into nature's grand designs.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 15.9.2020
• Zusatzinfo: 8 pg color insert. 58 b/w illus.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Natur / Ökologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Evolution
• Schlagworte: Action potential • Adaptation • American cockroach • Amphibian • anatomy • animal behavior • Anurag Agrawal • Apalachicola National Forest • Appendage • Aquarium • Audrey Revell • axon • Bee Sting • Behavior • biological detective • biologist • Biology • Book • brain • carnivore • Charles Darwin • citizen scientists • cockroach • Crayfish • David Hu • Disinfectant • distraction • earthworm • ecosystem • Eimer's organ • electrical synapse • electric eel • Electric Field • Electric fish • electricity • Electric organ • Electroreception • emerald jewel wasp • Entomology • Erpeton tentaculatum • escape response • Ethology • Evidence of common descent • Evolution • Field guide • Fishing • Forelimb • fumigation • Gary Revell • Gelatin • Graduate school • How to Walk on Water and Climb Up Walls • Human Brain • Hunting strategy • Illustration • ingredient • insect • Invertebrate • Jaw • John James Audubon • larva • Mammal • Mauthner cell • Metabolism • microscope • Microscopy • Molecule • monarchs and milkweed • Mouth • Muscle Contraction • Neocortex • Nerve • Nerve fiber • nervous system • neuroethology • Neuroscience • neuroscientist • nostril • odor • Olfaction • olfactory receptor • On the Origin of Species • Optic nerve • Parasitoid • photography • predation • Predator • Prey • Red-toothed shrew • Reproduction • result • retina • rodent • Sara Lewis • scanning electron microscope • Scarabaeidae • Science Spectrum • Scientist • Sense of Wonder • sensory • Sensory system • Shrew • shrews • Silent Sparks • Skin • Sniffing (behavior) • Soil • somatosensory • spinal cord • Star-nosed mole • Sugarcane • Taste bud • Technology • tentacle • tentacled snakes • The Cask of Amontillado • Tooth • Transmission Electron Microscopy • vanderbilt university • Vegetation • Vibration • video camera • Water shrew • wetland • wildlife • worm bait • Worm charming • worm grunting • Worms • Wrong direction • year • zombie cockroach
• ISBN-10: 0-691-20955-3 / 0691209553
• ISBN-13: 978-0-691-20955-5 / 9780691209555