The Snouters: Form and Life of the Rhinogrades

Rating:
Summary: Evolution's twisted path
Review: Besides being a parody of the then-popular academic books telling about wondrous animals from far-off places, Snouters is also a wonderful read. It describes the species of the entirely fictional order of mammals, Rhinogradentia (also known as the Snouters), found only in the Hi-Yay Islands, the distinguishing trait being a remarkably adapted nose. The author follows the projected evolution of the order from the early representatives, whose snout is merely an elongated bill-shaped appendage aiding the animal's rolling method of propulsion, to the most extreme and elaborate species with fully-articulated noses used in a variety of methods of locomotion - springing, sessility, and, in one case, gliding. This excellent study is an amazing read even for the non-biologist. It is also quite useful in portrayal of evolution and adaptation to the surroundings. Vehemently recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Fanciful adaptations with a suggestion for class use.
Review: The Snouters-Form and Life of the Rhinogrades by Harald Stumpke is a wonderful little book that shows fanciful adaptations of the snout of the Rhinogrades. Each species is carefully described and illustrated. This could be used in a highschool biology class. Students could read about a Rhinograde and then add their own creations