The Heligmonellidae is the most speciose family of the Heligmosomoidea, one of the three superfamilies of the Trichostrongylina, nematode parasites of the digestive tract of all groups of terrestrial vertebrates. The family comprises more than 360 species distributed worldwide, mainly parasitic in rodents. Their life-cycles being monoxenous, and their hosts relatively easy to breed in laboratory, these parasites are useful models for researchers addressing a variety of topics such as host-parasite relationships, biology, pathogenicity, and phylogeny. This book is a synthetic overview of our current knowledge of the Heligmonellidae family of nematode parasites.
Since the Middle Ages, the almost-mythical oarfish has both fascinated and terrified fishermen, sailors, and scientists all around the world. This book offers a wealth of information about these long-bodied creatures and their remarkable biology. Quelling debates about the number of species in existence, Tyson R. Roberts demonstrates that there are at least two and presents new information on the oarfish's distribution, food habits, predators, behavior, reproduction, and early life. He also puts forward several fascinating hypotheses about the fish, including one theorizing that the distinctive scar on the body of nearly all large oarfish is the result of self-amputation. The book also includes over seventy paintings and engravings of these charismatic creatures.
A major new reference on fossil, extant glypheid, and litogastrid lobsters, this book offers detailed descriptions of all 120 species alongside photographs and reproductions of historical illustrations when possible. The authors take into account recently added species, as well as progress in the analysis of their history and evolutionary development that has changed our view of the generic and familial classifications of these animals. With almost six hundred drawings, engravings, and photos, this volume is an essential guide to the many types of lobsters.
The recipient of much praise and acclaim, Veterinary Parasitology is widely considered to be the definitive veterinary parasitology reference for practitioners and students alike. This Fourth Edition has been developed and enhanced into a two-part reference to reflect recent advances in the field, modern teaching practice, and updated parasite taxonomic classification systems. Part One contains expanded individual parasite descriptions using current taxonomic status within three new chapters on Helminthology, Protozoology and Entomology. Further updated chapters are provided on: The laboratory diagnosis of parasitism, Antiparasitics, The epidemiology of parasitic diseases, and Host resistance to parasitic diseases. Host species chapters have been retained and expanded and are found in Part Two of the edition. KEY FEATURES Tailored for those directly involved in the diagnosis, treatment and control of parasitic diseases of domestic animals Compatible with the diversity of current parasitology teaching modules – both for teaching parasite systematics and diseases on a host-organ basis Offers the most detailed parasite descriptions available today for teachers, research groups, veterinarians in practice and in government service, and others involved in aspects of parasitic disease Thoroughly revised and restructured to reflect the most up-to-date advancements in the field, Veterinary Parasitology, Fourth Edition, enhances its stellar reputation as the gold standard reference text for the global veterinary profession.
The second installment in a planned three-volume series, this book provides the first substantive review of South American rodents published in over fifty years. Increases in the reach of field research and the variety of field survey methods, the introduction of bioinformatics, and the explosion of molecular-based genetic methodologies have all contributed to the revision of many phylogenetic relationships and to a doubling of the recognized diversity of South American rodents. The largest and most diverse mammalian order on Earth—and an increasingly threatened one—Rodentia is also of great ecological importance, and Rodents is both a timely and exhaustive reference on these ubiquitous creatures. From spiny mice and guinea pigs to the oversized capybara, this book covers all native rodents of South America, the continental islands of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean Netherlands off the Venezuelan coast. It includes identification keys and descriptions of all genera and species; comments on distribution; maps of localities; discussions of subspecies; and summaries of natural, taxonomic, and nomenclatural history. Rodents also contains a detailed list of cited literature and a separate gazetteer based on confirmed identifications from museum vouchers and the published literature.
The long-awaited revision of the industry standard on phylogenetics Since the publication of the first edition of this landmark volume more than twenty-five years ago, phylogenetic systematics has taken its place as the dominant paradigm of systematic biology. It has profoundly influenced the way scientists study evolution, and has seen many theoretical and technical advances as the field has continued to grow. It goes almost without saying that the next twenty-five years of phylogenetic research will prove as fascinating as the first, with many exciting developments yet to come. This new edition of Phylogenetics captures the very essence of this rapidly evolving discipline. Written for the practicing systematist and phylogeneticist, it addresses both the philosophical and technical issues of the field, as well as surveys general practices in taxonomy. Major sections of the book deal with the nature of species and higher taxa, homology and characters, trees and tree graphs, and biogeography—the purpose being to develop biologically relevant species, character, tree, and biogeographic concepts that can be applied fruitfully to phylogenetics. The book then turns its focus to phylogenetic trees, including an in-depth guide to tree-building algorithms. Additional coverage includes: Parsimony and parsimony analysis Parametric phylogenetics including maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches Phylogenetic classification Critiques of evolutionary taxonomy, phenetics, and transformed cladistics Specimen selection, field collecting, and curating Systematic publication and the rules of nomenclature Providing a thorough synthesis of the field, this important update to Phylogenetics is essential for students and researchers in the areas of evolutionary biology, molecular evolution, genetics and evolutionary genetics, paleontology, physical anthropology, and zoology.
