Synopses & Reviews
This book deals with widely different aspects of the biology of hagfishes. It presents reviews of recent research, covering topics as palaeontology, systematics, ecology, immunology and reproduction as well as structure an dfunction of important organs and organ systems: skeleton, muscle, skin, respiratory organs, circulatory systems, kidney, endocrine organs, nervous systems and sensory organs. Hagfishes are shown to be far from the sluggish, degenerate animals they were considered a few decades ago. It becomes clearr that in addition to possessing original craniate traits, these unique animals exhibit some highly advanced solutions to life in the cold and dark environment, where they normally live. The book is written by an international team of specialists who integrate the most recent results with previous published accounts on hagfish biology. As hagfishes generally are considered a sister group to vertebrates, with affinities to fossil palaeozoic agnathans, this book will be of great value to all interested in vertebrate evolution.
Review
'... a mine of information on many aspects of hagfish biology. It succeeds because of its breadth and because of the consistent approach of the authors... highly recommended as a summary of current knowledge... belongs in every serious library and on the shelf of comparative vertebrate biologists.'
Copeia, 3 (2000)
Synopsis
The hagfishes comprise a uniform group of some 60 species inhabiting the cool or deep parts of the oceans of both hemispheres. They are considered the most primitive representatives of the group of craniate chordates, which - apart from the hagfishes that show no traces of verte- brae -includes all vertebrate animals. Consequently the hagfishes have played and still playa central role in discussions concerning the evolution of the vertebrates. Although most of the focus on hagfishes may be the result of their being primitive, it should not be forgotten that, at the same time, they are specialized animals with a unique way of life that is interesting in its own right. It is now more than 30 years since a comprehensive treatise on hagfishes was published. The Biology of Myxine, edited by Alf Brodal and Ragnar Fange (Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, 1963), provided a wealth of information on the biology of hagfishes, and over the years remained a major source of information and inspiration to students of hagfishes.
Table of Contents
List of contributors. Editors' preface. Introduction.
Part One: Evolution, Taxonomy and Ecology.
Part Two: Development and Pathology.
Part Three: The Integument and Associated Glands.
Part Four: Supporting Tissues.
Part Five: The Muscular System.
Part Six: The Respiratory System.
Part Seven: The Cardiovascular System.
Part Eight: The Blood and Immune System.
Part Nine: The Uro-Genital System.
Part Ten: The Endocrine System.
Part Eleven: The Nervous System.
Part Twelve: Sensory Organs. Index.