Before mammals, there were dinosaurs.
In Monarchs of the Sea , marine biologist Danna Staaf unspools how these otherworldly creatures once ruled the deep--and why they still captivate us today..
Others abandoned their shells entirely, opening the floodgates for a tidal wave of innovation: masterful camouflage, fin-supplemented jet propulsion, and intelligence we\'ve yet to fully measure.
Some evolved defensive spines.
But when fish evolved jaws, cephs had to step up their game (or end up on the menu).
The inventors of swimming, cephs presided over the sea for millions of years.
Cephalopods, Earth\'s first truly substantial animals, are still among us: Their fascinating family tree features squid, octopuses, nautiluses, and more.
Publisher\'s Note: Monarchs of the Sea was previously published in hardcover as Squid Empire.
And before dinosaurs, there were cephalopods.
Before mammals, there were dinosaurs
