Life in a Shell: A Physiologist's View of a Turtle

摘要: Trundling along in essentially the same form for some 220 million years, turtles have seen dinosaurs come and go, mammals emerge, humankind expand its dominion. Is it any wonder persistent reptile bested hare? In this engaging book, physiologist Donald Jackson shares a lifetime of observation curious creature, allowing us look under shell an animal at once so familiar strange. Here we discover how turtle's proverbial slowness helps survive long, cold winter ice. How not only serves as protective home but also influences such essential functions buoyancy control, breathing, surviving remarkably long periods without oxygen, many other physiological features help define unique animal. offers insight into what exactly it's like to live inside - carry heavy carapace on land water, breathe expandable ribcage, sex with all that body armor intervening. Along way learn something about process scientific discovery answer one question leads new questions, chance can change direction study, above research always builds previous work others. A clear informative exposition concepts using turtle model organism, book is interesting tells investigation deep detailed understanding enduring 'works'.