Size and shape of Animals on land
Body size is the most obvious and one of the most important characteristics of an animal, impacting many parts of its life and its evolution. Although evolution may guide animals to different sizes, shapes, or ecological niches—as we will see it is the ultimately the laws of physics that limit biological processes of an animal and how that animal interacts with the environment.
In the video above we will explore how size and shape are linked in terrestrial species.
Image credit. Alexey A. Polilov – Polilov AA (2017) Anatomy of adult Megaphragma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), one of the smallest insects, and new insight into insect miniaturization. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0175566. CC BY 4.0
By Rittmeyer EN, Allison A, Gründler MC, Thompson DK, Austin CC – E. N. Rittmeyer et al. (2012). Ecological Guild Evolution and the Discovery of the Worlds Smallest Vertebrate. PLoS ONE 7: e29797. CC BY 2.5,
Life on Land: Ecology, Evolution, Challenges, and Solutions
Life on Land: Ecology, Evolution, Challenges, and Solutions
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