About the author and the bookB. F. Sergeev,Doctor of Biological Sciences, is a specialist in the area of evolu­tionary and ecological physiology, he studies the development of living organisms on Earth, from the most primitive forms to man, and how contemporary animals adapted to the most diverse conditions of ex­istence. Many amazing creatures have been studied in his laboratory: sea anemones and planaria, lancelets and bats, crabs, lampreys, lizards, dolphins and chimpanzees. He is particularly interested in amphibians, the first vertebrates to adapt to life on land. This book discusses what interesting creatures they are, and what remarkable adjustments they had to develop in adaptation to the  environment.The book was translated from the Russian by M. Rosenberg and was published by Mir in 1986. Contents An Ode to the Green Toad 6 The Pioneers of Continents 9 Conservatives 12 The Frog Princess 32 Information Service 75 Family Troubles 101 Childhood 132 Limbless Miners 146 The Red Pages 152 Always Vigilant 178