Great Adaptations: Star-Nosed Moles, Electric Eels, and Other Tales of Evolution’s Mysteries Solved

Immensely curious as a child, fascinated by wildlife, and studying animals while employed in a zoo, MacArthur Fellow and Biology professor at Vanderbilt University Kenneth Catania congenially tours the reader through several aspects of his fifty years of research in animal behavior. With a delightful storytelling talent, the reader is introduced to the little known star-nosed moles who possess amazing sensory structures hidden within these strange protuberances. Follow the tentacled snake capturing its prey or check out a boxing match between a jeweled wasp and a cockroach, beware of the charge from an electric eel which can detect every movement made by its prey. Learn about worm grunters who quiver and shiver worms out from the ground. These are delightful tales of how simple curiosity led to scientific research into discovering and interpreting how animals’ features adapt and hone their predatory powers in this race to survive. Historic names such as Darwin, Humboldt, Faraday, and others tie into several beginnings of these studies. With dry humor and infectious enthusiasm for these awesome creatures, this author skillfully transmits the wonder and excitement that is found in unlocking some of the scientific secrets within these remarkable creatures.