The Rise of Fishes: 500 Million Years of Evolution (Second Edition)

This updated edition of a classic text includes illustrations of new fossil discoveries and new interpretations based on genetic analyses. The author reveals how fishes evolved from ancient, jawless animals, explains why fishes have survived on the Earth for so long, and describes how they have become the dominant aquatic life-form.

Fishes that walk, fishes that breathe air, fishes that look like and are monsters from the deep. These and many more strange creatures swim through this richly illustrated tour of the past 500 million years. John A Long has updated his classic work with illustrations of recent fossil discoveries and new interpretations based on genetic analyses. This book combines scientific expertise with entertaining stories about Long’s own excursions, which span the oceans and continents. The book includes photographs of fossils from around the world, as well as dramatic colour illustrations depicting what the fish may have actually looked like.