Monarchs of the Sea: The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods

Description

Before mammals, there were dinosaurs. And before dinosaurs, there were cephalopods. Publisher’s Note: Monarchs of the Sea was previously published in hardcover as Squid Empire. Cephalopods, Earth’s first truly substantial animals, are still among us: Their fascinating family tree features squid, octopuses, nautiluses, and more. The inventors of swimming, cephs presided over the sea for millions of years. But when fish evolved jaws, cephs had to step up their game (or end up on the menu). Some evolved defensive spines. Others abandoned their shells entirely, opening the floodgates for a tidal wave of innovation: masterful camouflage, fin-supplemented jet propulsion, and intelligence we’ve yet to fully measure. In Monarchs of the Sea , marine biologist Danna Staaf unspools how these otherworldly creatures once ruled the deep—and why they still captivate us today. Review: Fascinating, yet accessible - Written with wit and humour, this book is delving into the history of cephalopods and their evolution. I enjoyed the first chapter as an introduction to cephalopods, the author was very funny. The other chapter were very interesting and with the help of Google image, I was able to picture the many creatures Staaf mentioned. I am so glad I read this book cover to cover! Definitely worth the buy Review: Excellent. - As a scuba diver, my favorite encounters are with octopuses and squid. I chose this book to learn more about them. Danna Staaf is an award-winning science writer and this book did not disappoint. The history is thorough, well-documented, and the book is a pleasure to read.