The Flamingo's Smile by Stephen-Jay-Gould

The Flamingo's Smile by Stephen-Jay-Gould

Before Darwinism was generally accepted, the natural world was thought to be structured according to the "chain of being". Evolutionary theories have revolutionized this imperialistic view, and the process we now know as natural selection explains a great many mysteries to us. One such enigma is the flamingo's "smile", which is a perfect example of the way in which function (in this case feeding in saline lakes) and form (the inverted beak that enables the flamingo to feed more successfully) are inseparable. The 31 essays in this collection share the theme of "quirkiness and meaning" and explore the idea that natural oddities - the snail that changes sex, the jellyfish that feeds upside down - are extraordinary for a vital reason: they have found their evolutionary niche.

SKU	GOR001159875
ISBN 13	9780140135541
ISBN 10	0140135545
Title	The Flamingo's Smile
Author	Stephen Jay Gould
Condition	Very Good
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Penguin Books Ltd
Year published	1995-09-28
Number of pages	480
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us