Smart and Spineless: Exploring Invertebrate Intelligence

Reviewed by: kathy george - Gray publlic Library, Gray, me., Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 8, 2016

Review

Ninety percent of animal life consists of invertebrates. These include jelly fish, spiders, octopuses, bees, ants, worms and shrimp. Ann downer has offered the reader a look into the world of invertebrates by introducing studies of these amazing creatures. Scientists studying these various creatures have reported some incredible observations. These creatures have intelligence - memory, learning abilities, and problem solving abilities. Why is this important? What we are seeing can help those of us with spines! Engineers are creating "swarm-bots" based on how bees work together. This will aid in search and rescue. Claw shrimp see light differently and scientists are now using this type of polarized light to fashion cameras in cancer detection. Ms Downer's chapters on each spineless creature are concise, with photographs, an information box and what the studies being done . She has included a glossary, bibliography and pages offering further information in the back of the book. It is a complete package!

Overall Book Score: excellent