View larger image
|
The Cichlid Fishes: Nature's Grand Experiment in Evolution
by: George Barlow, et al. |
|
Features:
|
|
Price: Not available new, get a great deal on a used book!
Used Price: $6.16
Average Rating: 4.5
Stars
Published: 2000-10-25
|
|
Buy Now From Amazon View Cart
|
|
 |
|
Editorial review:
A charming, authoritative look at one of nature's most spectacular animals. PCichlid fishes are amazing creatures. In terms of sheer number of species, they are the most successful of all families of vertebrate animals, and the extent and speed with which they have evolved in some African lakes has made them the darlings of evolutionary biologists. But what truly captivates biologists like George Barlow--not to mention thousands of aquarists the world over--is the complexity of their social lives and their devotion to family (most species of cichlids are monogamous and many pairs share the responsibility of raising offspring). In this wonderful book, Barlow describes the unusually high intelligence of these fishes, their complex mating and parenting rituals, their bizarre feeding and fighting habits, and the unusual adaptations and explosive rate of speciation that have enabled them to proliferate and flourish. A celebration of their diversity, iThe Cichlid Fishes/i is also a marvelous exploration of how these unique animals might help resolve the age-old puzzle of how species arise and evolve.Confined almost without exception to the southern hemisphere, cichlids are perchlike lake- and river-dwelling fish that have long been an important source of food for humans--and that, in places such as Lake Tanganyika, are so overfished that they are in danger of disappearing. Outside the southern hemisphere, the cichlids, which number unknown thousands of species, are known mostly to tropical-fish enthusiasts through a colorful representative, the freshwater angelfish, though tilapia are increasingly farmed as a food source in Asia and North America. Those tilapia can grow to huge size, writes authority George Barlow, as can other cichlids. "Even an angelfish," he notes, "is apt to grow too large for the home aquarium and to devour tidbits like guppies and neon tetras, to the dismay of the aquarist."p In this engaging and often humorous survey of the cichlids, Barlow addresses aspects of the fishes' natural history and behavior, among them their well-known and often advantageous aggressiveness (one species is named for legendary boxer Jack Dempsey), peculiar mating habits, and unusual evolutionary adaptations (among them nearly prehensile internal jaws and the use of vocalizations in displays of hostility and courtship). Barlow also discusses larger issues of speciation, gene flow, and conservation. Detailed yet accessible to general readers, Barlow's book summarizes the work of a distinguished career. I--Gregory McNamee/I
|
| Reviews
from people who have bought this book:
|
5 stars. A Gem of a Reference For Cichlid Keepers
Barlow's in-depth study of the Cichlids is a valuable reference for those who are taken with this species of freshwater fish. They are special fish (go ahead and laugh) as anyone whose ever kept them will attest. Their behavior and disposition make them family pets, though many keepers are inured with them because most are earthmovers and like to rip up plants and rearrange the tank.
br /
br /George Barlow is a Biologist whose dedication to the species as an evolutionary model is well known in his field. His research and findings not only assist the keeper and icthyologist, but while the research and data analysis might bore many, he presents his findings with humor and surprise.
br /
br /I've kept Cichlids for over 40 years, and never have I understood so clearly many of the things I have learned about Chichlids. The social structure, comprehensive parenting and even surrogate parenting that they exhibit, their breeding habits and other behaviors clearly represent a model for evolution, and Barlow enlightens and humors those of us who are interested by these things.
br /
br /Not for the beginner aquarist, but certainly required reading for Chichlid keepers and researchers, zoologists and ichthyologist and even evolutionists. I recommend it whole-heartedly.
|
4 stars. Good Book
This was a good book on Cichlid fish. Not for the Aquarist, for the Biologist. Title is a little misleading, the book is more about behavior than evolution although there is one good chapter of evolution. Of course, the evolutionary implications of the behavioral patterns are there but they are not the main focus of the writing.
|
2 stars. Too Complicated
I have been in this hobby for about 6 years and I still have not found this book helpful for any of my needs. It is too much complicated and not helpful for an aquaristic interest.Especially If you are a beginner, you will not find it helpful. The book is especially written for people who has scientific interest on Cichlid fishes; in detail with very few pictures.
|
5 stars. excellent treatment of cichlid behavior
The Cichlid fishes are one of the most diverse groups of animals in the world, this is partially an artifact of their distribution in rift lakes. This isolation in a diverse environment has led them to evolve to fill a myriad of ecological niches. They are also one of the most popular groups of aquarium fishes and their behavior and diversity is of interest to a large number of people. That is why this book, a scientific treatment of their behavior can be produced for a larger audience. As such this is perhaps the best book, available to the lay reader, on fish behavior.pGeorge Barlow is (was) a fish behaviorist at UC Berkeley. In this volume he explains the complex behaviors of mate selection, territoriality, feeding, and the rearing of offspring in this well studied group. He also discusses their diversity and, sadly, has to address their conservation (as the their home is being lost to several environmental factors). This book is interesting and well written. However, it is probably only of interest to the most serious cichlid hobbyist, or persons with a special interest in fish behavior in general.
|
5 stars. A Grand Narrative
The aquarium lights go out at a certain time every evening, and what's a fishkeeper to do but... read about fish?pCichlidophiles can find many books on their favorite subject. These works, however, seem to go directly from beginner guides to dry, semi-scientific texts, perhaps poorly translated into English, with nothing in between. But publishing, like nature, abhors a vacuum.pDr. George W. Barlow has woven together his own research with that of other scientists into a rich narrative of cichlid family history to fill this void. The Cichlid Fishes does read like a family history-flashy cousins, famous uncles, strange ancestors and the like-and science is their family diary. pNo mistake, this is a serious exploration of Cichlidian evolutionary success. The important research Barlow and his peers have performed over the decades has answered many questions. Experiments and observation have shown that the Cichlids' spectacular rate of speciation arises from the physical characteristics of their jaws, thus increasing dietary options.pThe strength of the research also lies in how many more questions it has raised. For example, the subject of parental care is understandably a dominant theme. The way the Discus feeds its young from secretions in its skin is documented, and the follow on question is, how did mammalian milk production evolve? The body of Cichlid data is a springboard for evolutionary studies everywhere.pThroughout this "serious" work, the reader finds that he or she is studying complex scientific theory painlessly. Barlow writes about his favorite subject with affection and humor, in a way that the hobbyist can enjoy as well as those who make a living in the field of biology. Definitions of scientific terms are seamlessly incorporated into the Cichlid story. After reading this book, you may find yourself spouting off words like "polygynandry" and "trophic" at your next hobbyist club meeting as if you were discussing the weather.pAs in any family history, the story includes speculation on the future. What will happen to the fishes in this unsure world? Barlow gives statistics on the state of the Earth's waters and our affect on them, and presents his own opinions on their significance, based on the biology of Cichlids. Will Cichlids have a chance to continue evolving?pYou, dear reader, are invited to explore Cichlid Fishes for yourself, in order to form your own opinion.pSurfing the web is something else you can do when the tank lights go out. For more information about The Cichlid Fishes, Dr. Barlow and his work, see his web page.
|
Pet Comparison Shopping!
){kind=link}