Squid Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Cephalopods

by Danna Staaf Narrated by Emily Durante Unabridged — 7 hours, 18 minutes

Overview

Before there were mammals on land, there were dinosaurs. And before there were fish in the sea, there were cephalopods—the ancestors of modern squid and Earth's first truly substantial animals. Cephalopods became the first creatures to rise from the seafloor, essentially inventing the act of swimming. With dozens of tentacles and formidable shells, they presided over an undersea empire for millions of years. But when fish evolved jaws, the ocean's former top predator became its most delicious snack. Cephalopods had to step up their game.

Many species streamlined their shells and added defensive spines, but these enhancements only provided a brief advantage. Some cephalopods then abandoned the shell entirely, which opened the gates to a flood of evolutionary innovations: masterful camouflage, fin-supplemented jet propulsion, perhaps even dolphin-like intelligence.

Squid Empire is an epic adventure spanning hundreds of millions of years, from the marine life of the primordial ocean to the calamari on tonight's menu. Anyone who enjoys the undersea world—along with all those obsessed with things prehistoric—will be interested in the sometimes enormous, often bizarre creatures that ruled the seas long before the first dinosaurs.

Contains mature themes.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

“A book like Squid Empire is a reminder that in any scientific narrative, there are always two stories at play. There is the history of the subject you’re studying, and then there is the history of its discovery.”—New Republic


“Staaf captures what is rarely seen outside the ivory tower: scientists talking among themselves with a touch of irreverence. Researchers everywhere will surely relate.”—Science


“Staaf's approach is short and sweet, well-illustrated and strong on playful narrative. . . . I loved this book.”
—Nature


“Intriguing. . . . This in-depth coverage of an often neglected but ecologically vital group will change your view of squid, octopuses and their relatives, and make eating calamari feel like cannibalism.”—New Scientist


“This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you write a good popular academic book.”—The Inquisitive Biologist


“Given cephalopods’ history, readers should come away from the book with a newfound understanding of and respect for this fascinating group. . . . Recommended.”—Choice

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170517701
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	04/17/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	1,138,111

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