Analysis of Vertebrate Structure

My perspective is based on teaching a 100 student comparative anatomy course at the sophomore/junior level. This text is unique among comparative anatomy texts in its organization and approach. There are three sections to the text: 3 chapters on the SURVEY OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS, the bulk of the text on THE PHYLOGENY AND ONTOGENY OF STRUCTURE, and a third portion, STRUCTURAL ADAPTATION. The material in this third section is usually dispersed throughout the presentation of body systems in other texts. Separation of the "structural adaptation" into a completely different section allows the instructor better flexibility in presentation, and it make the reading of the body systems more readable. The bulk of the text on the evolution and development of organ systems is of the most concise of any text. This is particularity appropriate for a sophomore level course. Addition of the topics of a biomechanical nature in the latter part of the text enriches the students understanding, providing a more advanced perspective. Two major drawbacks exist. First and foremost from a didactic point of view is the black and white illustration of the text. While the figures and illustrations ARE quite good, their lack of color makes this text less than attractive to students. While as one already educated in the topic of the text I find the illustrations useful, from the standpoint of a student these figures are forgettable and bland. Compare to any introductory biology or human anatomy & physiology text where the market for texts is strong, and this text looks to be 50 years old. The second downside to the text is its use of Linean nomenclature. Other texts in the market have gone to a cladistic approach and some (kardong) acknowledge linean nomenclature where appropriate but use predominantly cladistic nomenclature. While anyone can see the utility in using Linean nomenclature for the purposes of teaching undergraduate-level students, this system is not used in the modern literature and is flawed in its approach that ignores groupings based on common decent. Liem et al, for example, goes in an entirely different direction, using a strictly cladistic terminology and offers too much detail from my perspective. There must be some middle ground that allows one to incorporate modern terminology and phylogeny while still being accessible to the student. All-in-all, a great text with a few kinks. Overall, I'd recommend this text to any student of comparative anatomy and their instructors. For those wanting a resource/reference for phylogenetic or ontological aspects of vertebrate evolution and structure there are better texts available.

This text is easy to understand and goes well with Campbell's notes at UT Arlington's biology website. Campbell's password is snakes to get access to his notes.

The charts make referencing timelines of evolution simple. The novice student can assimilate the evolution and development of vertebrates easily with this handy manual.