Foreword / Steven M. Stanley -- Introduction: The Phenomenon of Living Fossils -- The Advent of Skeletons: The Brachiopods -- Before Modern Predation: The Flat Clams -- The Kraken Wakes: Nautilus and the Rise of the Ammonites -- Death of the Polypi: Nautilus and the Last Ammonites -- Timeless Design: The Horseshoe Crabs -- The First Spring: Plants Invade the Land -- Out of the Ooze: The Lobe-fins -- Envoi
Summary
Examines ancient species which have survived unchanged while others have evolved or been annihilated