The Experiment LLC Monarchs of the Sea: The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods

"A history spanning from the mollusks that invented swimming to the octopuses and other intelligent cephalopods of today"-- Previously published as Squid Empire, an evolutionary history of cephalopods chronicles the ancient mollusks that invented swimming 500 million years ago through the high-intelligence octopuses and squid of today. Reprint. 10,000 first printing. Illustrations. An epic evolutionary history of cephalopods: from the ancient mollusks that invented swimming five hundred million years ago, to the octopuses, squid, and other inscrutably intelligent animals of today An epic and fun history spanning from the mollusks that invented swimming to the octopuses and other intelligent cephalopods of today Publisher&;s Note: Monarchs of the Sea was previously published in hardcover as Squid Empire. Before mammals, there were dinosaurs. And before dinosaurs, there were cephalopods&;the ancestors of modern squid, octopuses, and more creatures&;Earth&;s first truly substantial animals. Essentially inventing the act of swimming, cephalopods presided over an undersea empire for millions of years&;until fish evolved jaws, and cephalopods had to step up their game or risk being eaten. To keep up, some streamlined their shells and added defensive spines, while others abandoned the shell, opening the gates to a flood of evolutionary innovations: masterful camouflage, fin-supplemented jet propulsion, and intelligence we&;ve yet to fully measure. Monarchs of the Sea is an epic, witty history about these bizarre but beautiful creatures that ruled the seas&;and still captivate us today. Autorid: Danna Staaf