This work provides the student with a comprehensive review of the animal kingdom. Adopting a comparative theme, the author has structured the book, by detailed accounts of the biology and structure of individual representatives from each group. The introduction explores some of the fundamental differences between animals and plants and the main text is devoted to the biology of the invertebrate groups. The text includes a thorough examination of the vertebrates, and includes three chapters which deal separately with the organization of vertebrate organ systems, animal tissues and early chordate development.