Vertebrate Life

Preface xv Chapter 1 Diversity, Classification, and Evolution of Vertebrates 1.1 The Vertebrate Story --Binominal nomenclature --Extant vertebrate groups 1.2 Phylogenetic Systematics 1.3 Applying Phylogenetic Criteria --Evaluating possible phylogenies --Molecules and morphology --The problem of dating --Dagger (DR) convention adopted in this book 1.4 Using Phylogenetic Trees --Extant phylogenetic brackets --Paraphyly --Crown and stem groups 1.5 Genetic Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change --Phenotypes and fitness --Developmental regulatory genes 1.6 Epigenetic Effects 1.7 Earth History and Vertebrate Evolution Chapter 2 What Is a Vertebrate?? 2.1 Vertebrates in Relation to Other Animals? 2.2 Characteristics of Chordates? --Chordate origins and evolution? --Extant nonvertebrate chordates? 2.3 What Distinguishes a Vertebrate?? 2.4 Vertebrate Embryonic Development? --Development of the body? --Development of the pharyngeal region? --Development of the brain? --Other neurogenic tissues of vertebrates? 2.5 Vertebrate Tissues? --Adult tissue types --Mineralized tissues 2.6 Vertebrate Organ Systems --Integumentary system --Skeletal system --Muscular system --Nervous system and sense organs --Endocrine system --Respiratory system --Circulatory system --Digestive system --Excretory and reproductive systems Chapter 3 Jawless Vertebrates and the Origin of Gnathostomes 3.1 Earliest Evidence of Vertebrates --Enigmas: DRConodonts and DRTullimonstrum ---Early mineralized tissues --Environment of early vertebrate evolution 3.2 Cyclostomes: Extant Jawless Vertebrate --Characters of cyclostomes --Hagfishes: Myxiniformes --Lampreys: Petromyzontiformes 3.3 Jawless Osteognathostomes 3.4 Gnathostome Body Plan --Gnathostome skeletons --What about soft anatomical features? 3.5 Origin of Jaws --Hypotheses of jaw origins --Importance of the nose --Selective value of jaws 3.6 Origin of Paired Appendages --Fin development and the lateral somitic frontier --Advantages of fins 3.7 Extinct Paleozoic Jawed Fishes Chapter 4 Living in Water 4.1 Aquatic Environment --Obtaining oxygen from water using gill --Obtaining oxygen from air using lungs and other respiratory structure --Adjusting buoyancy 4.2 Sensory World of Aquatic Vertebrates --Vision --Chemosensation: Olfaction and taste --Detecting water displacement --Hearing and equilibrium --Electroreception and electrogenesis 4.3 Maintaining an Internal Environment --Nitrogenous wastes and kidney --Osmoregulation --Regulation of ions and body fluids 4.4 Osmoregulation in Different Environments --Marine cartilaginous fishes and coelacanths --Marine teleosts --Freshwater teleosts and lissamphibians --Euryhaline vertebrates Chapter 5 Geography and Ecology of the Paleozoic 5.1 Deep Time --The Precambrian world --The Paleozoic 5.2 Continental Geography --Continental drift and plate tectonics --Shifting continents of the Paleozoic --Shifting continents and changing climates 5.3 Paleozoic Climates 5.4 Paleozoic Ecosystems --Aquatic life --Terrestrial flora --Terrestrial fauna 5.5 Extinctions Chapter 6 Origin and Radiation of Chondrichthyans 6.1 Acanthodii 6.2 Chondrichthyes --Habitats and diversity --Placoid scales --Cartilaginous skeleton --Teeth and tooth plates --Jaws and jaw suspension --Internal fertilization and claspers --Distinctive soft tissue and physiological features 6.3 Euchondrocephali and Chimaeriformes --Biology of extant Chimaeriformes 6.4 Elasmobranchii, Euselachii, and Neoselachii --Selachii: Sharks --Batomorphi: Skates and rays 6.5 Biology of Neoselachii --Feeding --Bioluminescence and biofluorescence ---Hypoxia and the epaulette shark --Endothermal heterothermy --Swimming --Reproduction --Elasmobranch brains --Social networks and migration in sand tiger sharks 6.6 Declining Elasmobranch Populations --Conservation and sawfishes --Threats to chondrichthyans --Vulnerabilities of chondrichthyans --Ecological impacts of shark population declines --Policies to protect sharks Chapter 7 Origin of Osteichthyes and Radiation of Actinopterygian 7.1 Osteichthyes, Actinopterygii, and Sarcopterygi --Osteichthyan character --Fin adaptations --Other differences between actinopterygians and sarcopterygians 7.2 Actinopterygii: Basal Group --Polypteriformes --Acipenseriformes --Neopterygii: Holostei --Neopterygii: Teleoste 7.3 Characters of Teleostei 7.4 Teleostei: Basal Groups --Elopomorpha --Osteoglossomorpha --Otocephala --Basal euteleosts 7.5 Teleostei: Acanthopterygii --Basal acanthopterygians --Percomorph 7.6 Swimming and Hydrodynamics --Generating forward thrust --Modes of locomotion --Speed and drag --Steering, stopping, and staying in place 7.7 Reproduction and Development --Oviparity --Viviparity --Sex change in teleosts 7.8 Ecology of Marine Teleosts --Black-water diving and larval teleosts --The photic zone and its subdivisions --Coral reef fishes --Pelagic and deep-sea fishes Chapter 8 Sarcopterygians and the Origin of Tetrapods 8.1 Phylogenetic Concepts of Tetrapoda and Characters for Sarcopterygii 8.2 The Miguasha Lagerstätte and the