Abstract

Air Breathing Fishes: Evolution, Diversity, and Adaptation is unique in its coverage of the evolution of air-breathing, incongruously because it focuses exclusively on fish. This important and fascinating book, containing nine chapters that present the life history, ecology, and physiology of many air-breathing fishes, provides an exceptional overview of air-breathing biology.
Each chapter provides a historical background, details the present status of knowledge in the field, and defines the questions needing attention in future research. Thoroughly referenced, containing more than 1,000 citations, and well documented with figures and tables, Air-Breathing Fishes is comprehensive in its coverage and will certainly have wide appeal. Researchers in vertebrate biology, paleontology, ichthyology, vertebrate evolution, natural history, comparative physiology, anatomy and many other fields will find something new and intriguing in Air-Breathing Fishes.

• Offers a complete overview of an important and immensely interesting area of research
• Provides a perspective of air-breathing fish that spans 300 million years of vertebrate evolution
• Contains numerous illustrations as well as comprehensive charts
• Provides a synoptic treatment of all the known air-breathing species with important data on their morphological and physiological adaptations

"No one knows more about air-breathing fishes than Jeffrey Graham. Graham makes a heroic effort to examine critically the literature on the 347 species he consider air-breathing fishes. This book contains a wealth of information and will be a tremendous resource for biologists interested in fishes and in the evolution of air-breathing ability. The descriptions of natural history for each species are fascinating. ...a monumental achievement, the work of a mature scientist at the top of his game." --COPEIA

"The book is well illustrated with clear diagrams, good photographs of dissected specimens, tissue sections and some scanning electron micrographs. It is written in a clear style, is well referenced and has a good index. It should have wide appeal for all interested in the anatomy of fishes and their physiology." --NATURE

"Air-Breathing Fishes: Evolution, Diversity, and Adaptation most certainly qualifies as a comprehensive, authoritative source that will be required reading for fish biologists and for biologists studying tropical aquatic ecosystems. Graham's book is easily the most comprehensive treatment of its kind, rich in detail with abundant tabulated data and illustrations. Yet it remains refreshingly readable, entertaining and occasionally even amusing. ...Graham's book is sure to please." --Warren W. Burggren, University of Nevada, SCIENCE

"Forty-nine fish families are now known to contain air-breathing species. The pertinent data about these species have been competently gathered. This handsome, well-illustrated volume will be useful for graduate students and professionals in ichthyology and evolutionary biology, as well as interested general readers." --CHOICE

"A well-organized text aimed at upper university level covering physiology, ecology and evolution, with detailed overviews of the fishy mechanisms for breathing air. Specialized terms make it difficult to dip into later chapters without reading earlier ones, however." --NEW SCIENTIST

"Air Breathing Fishes most certainly qualifies as a comprehensive, authoritative source that will be required reading for fish biologists and for biologists studying tropical aquatic ecosystems. More than this, however, Graham successfully convinces the reader that air-breathing fishes provide a powerful case study with broad implications for evolutionary biologists. Graham's book is easily the most comprehensive treatment of its kind, rich in detail with abundant tabulated data and illustrations. Yet it remains refreshingly readable, entertaining and occasionally even amusing." --SCIENCE

"It holds a wealth of valuable information visually well presented by many cladograms and tables. A must for teleost taxonomists and general fans of phylogenetic systematics." --NATURE

"Graham sets the stage by examining the phylogeny of air-breathing fishes in a comparative approach and maintains this approach throughout the book. Graham's effort has produced a very complete volume that will serve as an unusually good starting point for anyone interested in the topic, as well as a highly valuable resource for those already established in the field. Graham not only reviews and synthesizes past work, but also provides many ideas about future directions. This is an impressive compilation of a large, diverse and very interesting literature." --TREE

"The text is packed with information and there is a valuable reference list. This book will be a staple reference for the career ichthyologist. It will also provide fascinating reading for anglers, aquarists and naturalists." --ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY