'... the chapters are generally authoritative, providing useful overviews of a variety of research topics in vertebrate reproduction. The book is first rate: very broad, readable (including extra explanations provided in many useful footnotes), well illustrated with many useful figures and tables, organized, thorough, clearly written and truly integrative in its coverage of the biology of comparative reproduction. It will work well as a text and as a valuable reference for professionals from a multitude of disciplines.' American Scientist, September/October 1999

• 1: Introduction to Vertebrate Reproductive Biology.- and Overview.- An Interdisciplinary Science.- Reproduction and Vertebrate Diversity.- Limitations of the Literature.- Plesiomorphy and Apomorphy.- Homology, Analogy, and Homoplasy.- Reproduction and Natural Selection.- A Comparative Perspective.- Synopsis of the Living Vertebrate Orders.- 2: Sex and Sexual Differentiation.- and Overview.- Acquiring the Sexual Phenotype.- Genetic Basis of Sex Determination.- Hormonal Influences on Sexual Differentiation.- Environmental Influences.- The Sex Ratio.- Sex Allocation.- 3: Modes of Reproduction.- and Overview.- The Vertebrate Life Cycle.- Sexual Reproduction.- Unisexual Reproduction.- Polyembryony.- 4: Urogenital Structure and Integration.- and Overview.- The Urinary Component.- Urogenital Organization and Integration.- The Cloaca and Its Associations.- 5: Gametes and Their Production.- and Overview.- Male Gametes.- Female Gametes.- 6: Reproductive Regulation.- and Overview.- Modes of Integration and Control.- Endocrine Glands and Their Hormones.- External Regulation of Cyclicity.- 7: Fertilization and Cleavage.- and Overview.- Fertilization.- Cleavage.- 8: Embryogenesis.- and Overview.- Organization of Vertebrate Blastulae.- The Vertebrate Developmental Common Plan.- Gastrulation.- Organogenesis.- Extraembryonic Membranes.- Embryonic Diapause.- 9: Ovuliparity and Modes of Embryo Retention.- and Overview.- Ovuliparity.- Embryo Retention.- Regulation of Embryo Retention and Parturition.- 10: Embryonic Nutrition and Placentation.- and Overview.- Lecithotrophy.- Matrotrophy.- 11: Postpartum Care of Young.- and Overview.- Parental Care.- Postpartum Nutrient Provision.- 12: Life Histories.- and Overview.- Life History Traits.- Evolution of Life Histories.- 13: Mating Systems andReproductive Ecology.- and Overview.- Mating Systems.- Mating Behaviors.- Reproductive Ecology.- References.

'... the chapters are generally authoritative, providing useful overviews of a variety of research topics in vertebrate reproduction. The book is first rate: very broad, readable (including extra explanations provided in many useful footnotes), well illustrated with many useful figures and tables, organized, thorough, clearly written and truly integrative in its coverage of the biology of comparative reproduction. It will work well as a text and as a valuable reference for professionals from a multitude of disciplines.' American Scientist, September/October 1999

• 1: Introduction to Vertebrate Reproductive Biology.- and Overview.- An Interdisciplinary Science.- Reproduction and Vertebrate Diversity.- Limitations of the Literature.- Plesiomorphy and Apomorphy.- Homology, Analogy, and Homoplasy.- Reproduction and Natural Selection.- A Comparative Perspective.- Synopsis of the Living Vertebrate Orders.- 2: Sex and Sexual Differentiation.- and Overview.- Acquiring the Sexual Phenotype.- Genetic Basis of Sex Determination.- Hormonal Influences on Sexual Differentiation.- Environmental Influences.- The Sex Ratio.- Sex Allocation.- 3: Modes of Reproduction.- and Overview.- The Vertebrate Life Cycle.- Sexual Reproduction.- Unisexual Reproduction.- Polyembryony.- 4: Urogenital Structure and Integration.- and Overview.- The Urinary Component.- Urogenital Organization and Integration.- The Cloaca and Its Associations.- 5: Gametes and Their Production.- and Overview.- Male Gametes.- Female Gametes.- 6: Reproductive Regulation.- and Overview.- Modes of Integration and Control.- Endocrine Glands and Their Hormones.- External Regulation of Cyclicity.- 7: Fertilization and Cleavage.- and Overview.- Fertilization.- Cleavage.- 8: Embryogenesis.- and Overview.- Organization of Vertebrate Blastulae.- The Vertebrate Developmental Common Plan.- Gastrulation.- Organogenesis.- Extraembryonic Membranes.- Embryonic Diapause.- 9: Ovuliparity and Modes of Embryo Retention.- and Overview.- Ovuliparity.- Embryo Retention.- Regulation of Embryo Retention and Parturition.- 10: Embryonic Nutrition and Placentation.- and Overview.- Lecithotrophy.- Matrotrophy.- 11: Postpartum Care of Young.- and Overview.- Parental Care.- Postpartum Nutrient Provision.- 12: Life Histories.- and Overview.- Life History Traits.- Evolution of Life Histories.- 13: Mating Systems andReproductive Ecology.- and Overview.- Mating Systems.- Mating Behaviors.- Reproductive Ecology.- References.

'... the chapters are generally authoritative, providing useful overviews of a variety of research topics in vertebrate reproduction. The book is first rate: very broad, readable (including extra explanations provided in many useful footnotes), well illustrated with many useful figures and tables, organized, thorough, clearly written and truly integrative in its coverage of the biology of comparative reproduction. It will work well as a text and as a valuable reference for professionals from a multitude of disciplines.' American Scientist, September/October 1999

• 1: Introduction to Vertebrate Reproductive Biology.- and Overview.- An Interdisciplinary Science.- Reproduction and Vertebrate Diversity.- Limitations of the Literature.- Plesiomorphy and Apomorphy.- Homology, Analogy, and Homoplasy.- Reproduction and Natural Selection.- A Comparative Perspective.- Synopsis of the Living Vertebrate Orders.- 2: Sex and Sexual Differentiation.- and Overview.- Acquiring the Sexual Phenotype.- Genetic Basis of Sex Determination.- Hormonal Influences on Sexual Differentiation.- Environmental Influences.- The Sex Ratio.- Sex Allocation.- 3: Modes of Reproduction.- and Overview.- The Vertebrate Life Cycle.- Sexual Reproduction.- Unisexual Reproduction.- Polyembryony.- 4: Urogenital Structure and Integration.- and Overview.- The Urinary Component.- Urogenital Organization and Integration.- The Cloaca and Its Associations.- 5: Gametes and Their Production.- and Overview.- Male Gametes.- Female Gametes.- 6: Reproductive Regulation.- and Overview.- Modes of Integration and Control.- Endocrine Glands and Their Hormones.- External Regulation of Cyclicity.- 7: Fertilization and Cleavage.- and Overview.- Fertilization.- Cleavage.- 8: Embryogenesis.- and Overview.- Organization of Vertebrate Blastulae.- The Vertebrate Developmental Common Plan.- Gastrulation.- Organogenesis.- Extraembryonic Membranes.- Embryonic Diapause.- 9: Ovuliparity and Modes of Embryo Retention.- and Overview.- Ovuliparity.- Embryo Retention.- Regulation of Embryo Retention and Parturition.- 10: Embryonic Nutrition and Placentation.- and Overview.- Lecithotrophy.- Matrotrophy.- 11: Postpartum Care of Young.- and Overview.- Parental Care.- Postpartum Nutrient Provision.- 12: Life Histories.- and Overview.- Life History Traits.- Evolution of Life Histories.- 13: Mating Systems andReproductive Ecology.- and Overview.- Mating Systems.- Mating Behaviors.- Reproductive Ecology.- References.