Miniature Vertebrates: The Implications of Small Body Size

This book deals with a wide range of topics relating to the fascinating biology of tiny vertebrates, concentrating on the smallest representatives of the major vertebrate groups, from neon tetras to minute shrews. The first section deals with aspects of vertebrate structure and function in relation to diminishing body size. The second part of the book takes up an ecological perspective, with chapters on small fish, amphibians, hummingbirds, small terrestrial mammals, and on dwarfing in elephants and deer. The volume concludes with a chapter on the psychology of human interest in small vertebrates.