Invertebrates is a complete, trusted, and engaging textbook whose comprehensive coverage makes it an invaluable resource for both undergraduate and graduate courses and professional researchers.

The 3rd edition has been widely praised for its detailed classifications, high-quality illustrations, and coverage of contemporary debates in the field. The 4th edition will continue to feature recent scholarship and current perspectives, while streamlining the text to improve accessibility for intro-level students. Gonzalo Giribet joins as coauthor, contributing his phylogenomic expertise as an Evolutionary Biologist and Phylogeneticist, and Director of Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology. Features Retains the popular aspects of previous editions, but is substantially shorter in lengthDetailed classifications and taxonomic synopses within each phylum are provided.

These are to be used as a reference to look up taxonomic names, understand the traits that distinguish groups, or get an overall sense of the scope of the higher taxa in a phylum. Invertebrates is the only college textbook on the subject that is in full color. Introductory chapters introduce students to systematics and phylogenetics, reviewing animal body plans, metazoan development, and other fundamentals of zoology. New to this Edition Abundance of new figures and photos, including detailed anatomical diagrams that are suitable for lab courses

The new edition's condensed length and relaxed writing style make this edition easily accessible to students Completely up to date with latest developments in the field of invertebrate biology, including most recent work in genomics, molecular phylogenetics, and evo-devo as well as an up-to-date description of modern phylogenetic systematics in Chapter 2 Gonzalo Giribet lends his expertise as the newest addition to the team (Director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University) Much of the art has been updated; yet the authors have continued to include diagrams that will be useful to students in the laboratory, including for animal dissectionsNew Summary Boxes appear at the end of each chapter.