Shell, Beak, Tusk: Shared Traits and the Wonders of Adaptation

Assisted by striking nature photography, Heos (Blood, Bullets, and Bones) succinctly explains adaptation and convergent evolution, describing how dissimilar animals have developed common characteristics for survival. The featured animals appear in close-range photographs that highlight the traits being discussed. Both a duck and a duck-billed platypus use their bills to eat ("A bill is for slurping"), even though the duck is a bird and the platypus a mammal. For turtles and snails, "a shell is for hiding," and fireflies and anglerfish use light to draw attention. Heos frequently notes the animals' habitats ("Though they share a spiky defense system, the porcupine and echidna live on opposite sides of the world"), emphasizing the remarkable ways these traits develop across species and in entirely different settings. A somewhat abrupt conclusion is a sole off note in an eye-opening look at evolution. Ages 6-9. (Apr.)

Gr 1-4--Evolution encourages the development of traits that help animals to eat and avoid being eaten. Convergent evolution is the development of the same traits by different species, often located geographically far apart, in order to survive in their specific environment. On facing pages, animals with beaks, shells, or tusks are paired with others that have exhibited similar adaptations. For example, both the shell of a turtle (a reptile) and that of a snail (a mollusk) protect the more tender parts of the animals' bodies from harm. Black-and-white camouflage helps the penguin escape detection from the orca and allows the orca to sneak up on the penguin. A parrot and an octopus both use beaks to get at their food. High-quality, full-color, close-up photographs illustrate the concepts discussed and spotlight some more unusual animals from a variety of geographic regions. Heos suggests the possibility of discovering many other animals that arose through convergent evolution. VERDICT A beautiful presentation of a complicated concept, and a great selection for classroom use.--Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

"A beautiful presentation of a complicated concept, and a great selection for classroom use." -SLJ

"Convergent evolution" sounds like a mouthful for elementary-grade kids, but in this beautifully photo-illustrated volume the concept is clearly explained and entertainingly reinforced..." —Bulletin