Peter HollandThe Animal Kingdom: A Very Short Introduction

Like so many of the VSI series, this book has a fresh and informative style that allows the assimilation of cascade of information to be a pleasant experience. The definition of an animal is approached from a modern viewpoint with an important and interesting emphasis on epithelial cells sheets. A classification of the animal kingdom uses historical perspectives on bilateralism and coeloms to explain the most modern synthesis of animals into the basal phyla, the Lophotrochozoa, the Ecdysozoa and the Deuterostomia. This derives from the latest molecular evidence, an area where Holland is expert, and provides a lucid and engaging introduction. Holland then works methodically through these super-phyla.Working through the super-phyla inevitably requires a degree of listing. Many of the listings are accompanied by key points of interest: the emergence of the ubiquitous homeobox region in the genome of the Bilateria; the deep sea pogonophoran worm's troposome organ which allows chemosynthesis of hydrogen sulphide; uric acid storage in the wings of Pieris butterflies; a little story about nematomorph horse-hair worms that answered a perennial question from my childhood; and an evolutionary explanation for temperature dependent sex determination in the Tasmanian Snow Skink - these are but a few of the enlightening points which punctuate this survey of the animal kingdom. Holland's extensive walk-through of the whole kingdom necessarily leaves only twenty pages to cover the terrestrial deuterostomes with which we are familiar from day to day. Perhaps there is scope for a VSI on the vertebrates. The Further Reading and Index are both helpful.Holland achieves a thorough and insightful exposition on some complex topics which is often beyond expensive text books. It is a must-read for biology students and those who wish to refresh their knowledge of zoological classification through an inspiring VSI.

Endlessly fascinating - full of sound info interspersed with bits of gossip.

small print and dense pages.

When people think of groups of animals they will tend to name charismatic animals that feature in nature documentaries: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians; they might name fish at a push. These are all vertebrates, which represent about 0.032% of animal species. If you want to know what it means to be an animal, and learn about animals that you may never have even heard of, read this book.Mostly focusing on the major clades of animals and their interrelationships, this is a great introduction for students in their first year of a biology/genetics degree or people who want to catch up on the last 50ish years of advances in mapping out the tree of animal life.I would encourage anybody to read this book; it helps you place yourself in the context of nature and feel fundamentallyconnected with our fellow animals. A terrific read.

This book may be small, but like many of the VSI series it packs one mighty punch. One of my lecturers (at Cambridge) even recommended this to get a brief conceptual overview of the field. As useful for clarifying the thoughts of advanced readers and in inspiring and engaging everyone else.And for when you get hooked - and you will, this book's a gateway book to zoology writ large - Dawkins' The Ancestor's Tale is an excellent, accessible and detailed successor.If you found this review useful in any way I’d be super grateful if you clicked the “helpful” button below to let me know :)

Very user friendly for new students or the curious nature lover. Well written and a great contribution to a fantastic (and addictive) series

It is well written and easy to read but little detail, it is just an overview so if you want something more extensive this isn't the book for you.

Very short as advertised but so interesting! Bought this as recommended by a lecturer at my university and it was such a good summary of the Animal Kingdom! I have gone on to buy other books in the series as they present a lot of useful information in a very reader-friendly way which is excellent!