Explore the building blocks of animal bodies and how skeletons shape every creature.
This classic introduction guides readers through the skeletons and support structures that give shape, protection, and movement to animals, from simple radiates to complex vertebrates. It presents clear, illustrated explanations of how hard parts form, connect, and differ across groups.
This edition lays out the state of knowledge in comparative anatomy and introduces key ideas in classification and physiology. Through accessible prose and concrete examples, it helps readers understand why bones, spicules, and external coverings matter to how animals live, move, and survive.
- How skeletons form from earth, crystal-like spicules, and elastic coverings
- Differences in osseous systems across invertebrate and vertebrate groups
- How digestive, muscular, and nervous structures relate to an animal’s lifestyle
- Illustrative diagrams and examples that highlight the diversity of animal support
Ideal for readers curious about the origins of anatomy, physiology, and the science of classification, and for students seeking a foundational overview of animal structure.