分子生物学により、動物とその進化に対する私たちの理解が根本から変わり、今日では動物学に系統発生学的な視点が欠かせなくなっています。動物の生命とその起源、そしてDNA研究から生まれた新しい分類など、現代的な視点でまとめた本書は、一般読者はもとより、生命科学分野を学ぶ学生にとっても最適な概説書です。
   

• Provides a summary of the modern understanding of the animal world and its evolution
• Shows how DNA studies have revolutionized the classification of animals
• Discusses key topics in zoology such as modern evolutionary trees and the origin of animals

 
The animal world is immensely diverse, and our understanding of it has been greatly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study of evolution and development ('evo-devo'). In this Very Short Introduction Peter Holland presents a modern tour of the animal kingdom. Beginning with the definition of animals (not obvious in biological terms), he takes the reader through the high-level groupings of animals (phyla) and new views on their evolutionary relationships based on molecular data, together with an overview of the biology of each group of animals. The phylogenetic view is central to zoology today and the volume will be of great value to all students of the life sciences, as well as providing a concise summary for the interested general reader.