An introduction to the evolution and adaptation of amphibians and
reptiles, bridging the gulf between the plethora of 'popular' books and
the more advanced texts directed towards the needs of specialist
research workers, thus making it accessible to advanced students
worldwide. Basic principles are explained in non-technical terms, and
the adaptive responses to natural selection which have engendered the
diversity of forms that exist in the fossil record and are found in the
world today are covered. The book also includes the extinct forms such
as dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. In the concluding chapter,
relationships with mankind and the preservation of diversity are
discussed.