Review by Booklist Review
This entry in the How Nature Works series delves into the intricacies of evolution by giving an overview of some of the world's oldest life-forms the titular extreme survivors who still bear a close resemblance to their ancestors, some of which existed more than 100 million years ago. Though they've still been affected by evolution, as all life is, these creatures' ties to their prehistoric counterparts provide scientists insights into the past, while their survival skills give us new ways of thinking about the future. Some, like the long-nosed goblin shark, have rarely been seen by humans, while others, like the self-sustaining, rather bearlike tardigrade, are microscopic. The oldest of all might be the sea sponge, capable of reassembling themselves when destroyed, which scientists believe to be descended from 600-million-year-old organisms. Detailed photographs of these often bizarre creatures are displayed over dark backgrounds, and the text is clear and concise enough for even non-science-whizzes to follow. An interesting supplementary text for lessons on evolution.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
This book introduces eight sea and two land creatures from the prehistoric past with the tenacity to still survive today. In white text on dark backgrounds and "Extreme Survival Secrets" sidebars, Ridley describes hardy animals that made it to the top of the evolutionary tree and stayed there. Startling close-up photos illustrate each species' biological persistence. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ten creatures that make the dinosaurs look like newcomers.Properly noting that evolution works continuously on all life, Ridley profiles multicelled animals that have nonetheless really withstood the test of time without major alteration. These include the lizardlike tuatara (200 million years), the hardy lungfish (300 million years), sponges (600 million years), and possibly even more ancient comb jellies: "among the earliest animals to havea butt." Winning close-ups of a roly-poly tardigrade (530 million years) and luridly snaggle-toothed goblin sharks (125 million years) lead off a spectacular suite of photos to which the author adds pithy descriptive comments and reflections on evolutionary processes, plus insights into just how these survivalists might have endured when 99 percent of all other life forms have gone extinct. Humans (200,000 years), represented here by a picture of a racially diverse group of children, are a long way from demonstrating similar longevity.Perspective-building intros to some of our most ancient relatives. (timeline, summary facts, glossary, further reading) (Nonfiction. 10-13) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
