The Evolution Underground: Burrows, Bunkers, and the Marvelous Subterranean World Beneath our Feet

Being surface-dwellers, most of us give little thought to what happens underground, but we probably should. This book will open your eyes to all the amazing things that happen or have happened literally beneath our feet. Digging or burrowing, or even borrowing others’ burrows, has been a surprisingly successful survival technique, not only for modern animals (and even people!) but beginning way back in the early eons of prehistory. The Evolution Underground tells this story in a riveting, irresistible narrative that includes tortoises who completely terraform the ecology of their Georgia homes; lungfishes who escaped into burrows as they crossed the land during the early Devonian period; crabs, burrowing owls, naked mole rats; and a host of early ancestors. The writing is wry, dry, and very entertaining, making this fascinating story even more enjoyable. The author links modern observations and prehistoric investigations in clear parallels, making the distant past accessible and even fun. Much rests on what happens below ground; this is a wonderful peek into this huge (and essential) part of our natural world.