Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology, Third Edition is a succinct, yet comprehensive text devoted to the systematics, evolution, morphology, ecology, physiology, and behavior of marine mammals. . Earlier editions of this valuable work are considered required reading for all marine biologists concerned with marine mammals, and this text continues that tradition of excellence with updated citations and an expansion of nearly every chapter that includes full color photographs and distribution maps.

Part I: EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY

Phylogeny, Taxonomy and Classification

Pinniped Evolution and Systematics

Cetacean Evolution and Systematics

Sirenians and Other Marine Mammals: Evolution and Systematics

Evolution and Geography

Part II: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

Integumentary, Sensory and Urinary Systems

Musculoskeletal System and Locomotion

Energetics

Respiration, diving and breathhold physiology

Sound production for communication, echolocation and prey

Diet, Foraging Structures, and Strategies

Reproductive Structures, Strategies and Patterns

Population Structure and Dynamics

Part III: Exploitation, Conservation, and Management

Exploitation, Conservation, and Management

Appendix: Classification of Marine Mammals

For families of marine mammals: diagnosis, definition, distribution, fossil history, content (species level)

Annalisa Berta is Professor of Biology in the Department of Biology at San Diego State University, San Diego, California and a Research Associate at the San Diego Natural History Museum in San Diego, California and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. She is an evolutionary biologist who for the last 30 years has been studying the anatomy, evolution and systematics of fossil and living marine mammals, especially pinnipeds and whales. She is a past President of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and former Senior Editor of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and Associate Editor of Marine Mammal Science. She has written 100 scientific papers and several books for the specialist as well as non-scientist including Return to the Sea: The Life and Evolutionary Times of Marine Mammals, 2012, (University of California Press) and the forthcoming book (summer, 2015) Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: a natural history and species guide (University of Chicago Press).