Monarchs of the Sea: The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods

Before mammals, there were dinosaurs. And before dinosaurs, there were cephalopods.

Publisher's Note: Monarchs of the Sea was previously published in hardcover as Squid Empire.

Cephalopods, Earth's first truly substantial animals, are still among us: Their fascinating family tree features squid, octopuses, nautiluses, and more. The inventors of swimming, cephs presided over the sea for millions of years. But when fish evolved jaws, cephs had to step up their game (or end up on the menu). Some evolved defensive spines. Others abandoned their shells entirely, opening the floodgates for a tidal wave of innovation: masterful camouflage, fin-supplemented jet propulsion, and intelligence we've yet to fully measure. In Monarchs of the Sea, marine biologist Danna Staaf unspools how these otherworldly creatures once ruled the deep--and why they still captivate us today.


Author: Danna Staaf
Publisher: Experiment
Published: 09/15/2020
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.55lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.50w x 0.70d
ISBN13: 9781615197408
ISBN10: 1615197400
BISAC Categories:
- Nature | Animals | Marine Life
- Science | Life Sciences | Evolution
- Science | Life Sciences | Marine Biology