Oceanic Anglerfishes
Author | : Theodore W. Pietsch Ph.D. |
Publisher | : Univ of California Press |
Total Pages | : 571 |
Release | : 2009-04-22 |
ISBN-10 | : 9780520942554 |
ISBN-13 | : 0520942558 |
Rating | : 4/5 (558 Downloads) |
Download or read book Oceanic Anglerfishes written by Theodore W. Pietsch Ph.D. and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2009-04-22 with total page 571 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No environment on Earth imposes greater physical and biological constraints on life than the deep oceanic midwaters. Near-freezing temperatures, the absence of sunlight, enormous pressure, and a low food supply make habitation by any living thing almost inconceivable. Yet 160 species of anglerfishes are found there in surprising profusion. Monstrous in appearance, anglerfishes possess a host of unique and spectacular morphological, behavioral, and physiological innovations. In this fully illustrated book, the first to focus on these intriguing fish, Theodore W. Pietsch delivers a comprehensive summary of all that is known about anglerfishes—morphology, diversity, evolution, geographic distribution, bioluminescence, and reproduction.