Oceanic anglerfishes: extraordinary diversity in the deep sea
Pietsch, T.W. (2009). Oceanic anglerfishes: extraordinary diversity in the deep sea. University of California Press: Berkeley, Los Angeles, London. ISBN 978-0-520-25542-5. xii, 557 pp.
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| Keywords |
Biological phenomena > Evolution
Classification
Distribution > Geographical distribution
Reproduction
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Anglerfishes; morphology; diversity |
| Abstract |
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, the author delivers a comprehensive summary of all that is known about anglerfishes—morphology, diversity, evolution, geographic distribution, bioluminescence, and reproduction. |
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