Vertebrate Life

“I really like the summary component of Pough et al. This will be extremely helpful for students to focus on the big picture points moving forward.” -Carly Anne York, Lenoir-Rhyne University
“I think Vertebrate Life has over many iterations of deeply scholarly editions has achieved an excellent treatment of the comparative evolution of adaptive form and function across the tree of vertebrate life. It excels at placing the comparative morphology and physiology of major vertebrate lineages into a clear phylogenetic context with outstanding integration of both extinct and extant forms through the history of space and time on Earth since the early Paleozoic. [In the upcoming edition,] I like the continued expansion to more mixed media illustrations. The increased use of multiple colors in displays and use of more photographs to complement drawn scientific illustrations continues to move in a productive direction for this chapter, and this new edition in general.” -Andrew M. Shedlock, University of Charleston
“Vertebrate Life really has been the top undergraduate textbook for a survey course on the evolution and form and function of vertebrate animals, for the better part of two decades. The new edition [has] upped the ante a bit in terms of clarity and coverage.” -Jonathan Weinbaum, Southern Connecticut State University
“[The new edition of Vertebrate Life] updates a previous edition of an excellent text with better organization and new information. [It has a] balance between presenting interesting information without overloading detail.” -Udo Savalli, Arizona State University
“Pough et al. has a wonderful variety of species that the students will find compelling. It is written in a very accessible writing style, [with a variety of] engaging species examples. The figures will greatly enhance student understanding with well-chosen and interesting examples.” -Claire Kendal-Wright, Chaminade University
Vertebrate life is almost as diverse as it is ubiquitous across most habitats around the globe, from small to large animals living in water or on the land. This is the story, history and key features of that life, in the form of a well-established textbook, now in its 11th edition. * Dr Amanda Hardy, The Biologist *