Consider the Platypus

Consider the Platypus explores the history and features of more than 50 animals to provide insight into our current understanding of evolution. Using Darwin's theory as a springboard, Maggie Ryan Sandford details scientists' initial understanding of the development of creatures and how that has expanded with the advent of genetic sequencing, including the:

Peppered Moth, which changed colour based on the amount of soot in the London air;

California Two-Spotted Octopus, which has the amazing ability to alter its DNA/RNA not over generations but during its lifetime;

Minuscule tardigrade, which is so hardy it can withstand radiation, lack of water and oxygen, and temperatures as low as -328°F and as high as 304°F;

And, of course, the platypus, which has so many disparate features— from a duck's bill to a venomous spur to mammary patches—that scientists originally thought it was a hoax.

Surprising, witty, and impeccably researched, Sandford describes each animal’s significant features and how these have adapted to its environment, such as the zebra finch's beak shape, observed by Charles Darwin, which is a cornerstone of his Theory of Evolution. With scientifically accurate but charming art by Rodica Prato, Consider the Platypus showcases species as diverse as the sloth, honey bee, cow, brown kiwi, and lungfish, to name a few, to tackle intimidating concepts in an accessible way.