Aquagenesis: The Origin and Evolution of Life in the Sea

Aquagenesis is a book that traces the phylogenic origins of aquatic life further and further back of not only the ancestors of the living whales, seals, manatees, sea turtles, sea snakes and penguins that were terrestrial, and their living descendants all returned to the sea, to one degree or another. But, this book is not without opinion and it plays a considerable role, mainly because interpretation is so much a part of this book, opinions of others are relied on via their published works or directly. But, this isnt a book so much about whales, seals and manatees as it is a book about the beginning of life in the sea.

What I found interesting in the book is how the author explains how life and a phenomenon known as sea-floor spreading where cracks or rifts are created in the crust of the Earth are connected. Plate tectonics causes these rifts and minerals spew into the water in clouds known as "Black smokers" that eventually dissolve and disperse into a water columns and life is found where you would think none could exist.

Also, the author takes a look at some of Stephen Jay Goulds work from "Wonderful Life" about the Cambrian Shale deposits known as the Burgess Shale. A review of the fossil biota brings the differences in interpretation and conclusions, but the major battle lines have been drawn. I must say that this book takes the reader on a ride of mystery from the first microbes to jawless and finless creatures to a possible aquatic ape that could be mans ancestor.

Some of the creatures we read about in the book are quite bizzar and the author has supplied detailed drawings that bring these animals to life. Sharks with teeth on their backs and others had teeth as large as your hand, all making for wonderful reading. I liked the authors narrative style in this book as it was straight forward and easily readable. The subject matter of the aquatic ape is covered toward the end of the book and is quite interesting.

Aquagenesis is a book about life in the past, but also how that life shape life today making for some compelling fascinating reding.

Examples: page 2, states that the Dinosaurs "disappeared hundreds of millions of years ago" (65 million years would have been correct.) Page 117 identifies the Mississippian Age Bear Gulch Formation as Devonian Age. Page 51 and 52 and 53 list Horseshoe crabs as dating from 200 million years ago but there are well known horseshoe crabs as old as 370 million years old!
Page 53 also lists Aglaspids as being horseshoe crabs when they are not considered to be.

I teach, and the accuracy of material is important. I dont want to present ideas to my students if they arent right. The book is interesting, but the errors I see at a quick skim make me pause.