Pechenik J.A. Biology of the invertebrates

New York: McGraw-Hill , 2015. — 625 p.This textbook is the most concise and readable invertebrates book in terms of detail and pedagogy (other texts do not offer boxed readings, a second color, end of chapter questions, or pronunciation guides). All phyla of invertebrates are covered (comprehensive) with an emphasis on unifying characteristics of each group.List of Research Focus Boxes
Expanded Contents
Preface/Introduction
Guide to the Major Animal Groups
The Geologic Time Scale
Introduction: The Importance of Research on Invertebrates
Air Is Dry, Water Is Wet
Water Is the "Universal Solvent"
The Challenges of an Aquatic Life
Origins and Diversity of LifeClassification by Developmental Pattern
The Coelomates
The Pseudocoelomates and Acoelomates
Classification by Evolutionary Relationship
Inferring Evolutionary Relationships
Why Determine Evolutionary Trees?
Time Machines: Help from the Fossil Record
Classification by Habitat and LifestyleGeneral Characteristics
Structure and Function of Cilia
Structure and Function of Pseudopodia
Protozoan Feeding
Phylum Ciliophora
Patterns of Ciliation
Reproductive Characteristics
Phylum Dinozoa (=Dinoflagellata)
Phylum Apicomplexa
A Brief Aside on Microsporideans and Myxozoans
The Amoebozoans
The Arcellinids and Related Test-Bearing Amoebae
The Rhizaria
The Zooflagellated Protozoans — Free-Living Forms
The Zooflagellated Protozoans — Parasitic Forms
Two Interesting Transitional FormsGeneral Characteristics
Poriferan Diversity
Class Demospongiae
Class Hexactinellida
Other Features of Poriferan Biology: Reproduction and Development
General Characteristics
Introduction to the Hydrostatic Skeleton
Introduction and General Characteristics
Class Scyphozoa
Class Cubozoa
Subclass Hydroidolina
Order Siphonophora
The Hydrocorals
An Unusual Group of Likely Medusozoans: the Myxozoa
Class Staurozoa
Subphylum Anthozoa
Subclass Hexacorallia (=Zoantharia)
Subclass Octocorallia (=Alcyonaria)
Introduction and General Characteristics
Ctenophore Diversity
Class Tentaculata
Class Nuda
Introduction and General Characteristics
Class Turbellaria
Class Cestoda
Class Monogenea
The Digeneans
Getting to a New Host
The Aspidogastreans (=Aspidobothreans)
The Mesozoans
Class Orthonectida
Class RhombozoaIntroduction and General Characteristics
Class Seisonidea
Class Monogononta
Digestive System
Excretion and Water Balance
Phylum Acanthocephala
Phylum Micrognathozoa
Introduction and General Characteristics
Reproduction and Development
Introduction and General Characteristics
Class Polyplacophora
Class Monoplacophora
Class Gastropoda
The Prosobranchs
The Opisthobranchia
The Pulmonata
Class Bivalvia (=Pelecypoda)
Subclass Protobranchia
The Lamellibranchs
Subclass Anomalodesmata
Class Scaphopoda
Class Cephalopoda
Reproduction and Development
Nervous System
Digestive System
Excretory System
General Annelid Characteristics
Class Polychaeta
Polychaete Reproduction
General Characteristics
Siboglinid Reproduction and Development
The Echiurans
The Sipunculans
Subclass Oligochaeta
Oligochaete Reproduction
Subclass Hirudinea
Digestive System
Nervous System and Sense Organs
Circulatory System
Introduction and General Characteristics
The Hemocoel
Molting
The Circulatory System
Arthropod Visual Systems
Classification Used in This Book
Subphylum Chelicerata
Superclass Merostomata
Class Arachnida
Class Pycnogonida (=Pantopoda)
Superclass Myriapoda
Class Insecta
Class Malacostraca
Class Branchiopoda
Class Copepoda
Class Pentastomida
Crustacean Development
Digestion
Excretion
The Uncertainty of Arthropod Evolutionary Relationships
Introduction and General Characteristics
Phylum Tardigrada
Phylum Onychophora
Introduction and General Characteristics
Body Coverings and Body Cavities
Musculature, Internal Pressure, and Locomotion
Organ Systems and Behavior
Parasitic Nematodes
Beneficial NematodesPhylum Nematomorpha
Phylum Kinorhyncha (=Echinoderida)
Phylum Loricifera
Phylum Gastrotricha
General Characteristics and Feeding
Chaetognath Lifestyles and Behavior
Chaetognath Relationships
Phylum Cycliophora
Introduction and General Characteristics
Phylum Phoronida
Phylum Brachiopoda
Phylum Bryozoa (=Ectoprocta)
Class Phylactolaemata
Class Gymnolaemata
Class Stenolaemata
Reproduction
Digestion
Phylum Entoprocta (=Kamptozoa)
Introduction and General Characteristics
Class Crinoidea
Subclass Ophiuroidea
Subclass Asteroidea
Class Echinoidea
Class Holothuroidea
Reproduction and Development
Nervous System
Introduction and General Characteristics
Class Enteropneusta
Class Pterobranchia
Phylum Xenoturbellida
Introduction and General Characteristics
Class Ascidiacea
Class Larvacea (=Appendicularia)
Reproduction
Excretory and Nervous Systems
Subphylum Cephalochordata (=Acrania)Asexual Reproduction
Patterns of Sexuality
Gamete Diversity
Getting the Gametes Together
Larval Forms
Dispersal as a Component of the Life-History Pattern