I am 56 pages into
Planet of the Bugs, Evolution and the Rise of Insects by Scott Richard Shaw, 2014, and thoroughly enjoying it.
Shaw gives a synopsis of the history of life and discusses the geological timescale and strata associated with different ages and the fossil organisms found therein.
The emergence of the Arthropods early in the Cambrian and the explosion of their incredible species diversity continues right up until today. He compares the Arthropods and other Invertebrates with Vertebrates and notes that the latter have always been superseded by the Arthropods as far as species numbers and diversity. Our backboned ancestors moved out of the oceans many millions of years after the Arthropods. We have marked the ages in the rocks with a vertebrate-centric bias; The Age of Fishes, the Age of Amphibians, and so on as if their appearance in the fossil record are major events, when actually far more significant events were occurring in the evolution of the Invertebrates in the oceans and on land. Once the Insects appeared they rapidly became a major selective force in the rest of the non-marine biosphere.
I have read many books on the history of life over the years, but I have to say this is one of the best, so far.
What if Eleanor Roosevelt had wings? -- Monty PythonOne important characteristic of a theory is that is has survived repeated attempts to falsify it. Contrary to your understanding, all available evidence confirms it. --Subbie
If evolution is shown to be false, it will be at the hands of things that are true, not made up. --percy