{"product_id":"the-dawn-of-the-deed-john-a-long-9780226143491","title":"The Dawn of the Deed: The Prehistoric Origins of Sex","description":"We all know about the birds and the bees, but what about the ancient placoderm fishes and the dinosaurs? The history of sex is as old as life itself--and as complicated and mysterious. And despite centuries of study there is always more to know. In 2008, paleontologist John A. Long and a team of researchers revealed their discovery of a placoderm fish fossil, known as \"the mother fish,\" which at 380 million years old revealed the oldest vertebrate embryo--the earliest known example of internal fertilization. As Long explains, this find led to the reexamination of countless fish fossils and the discovery of previously undetected embryos. As a result, placoderms are now considered to be the first species to have had intimate sexual reproduction or sex as we know it--sort of. Inspired by this incredible find, Long began a quest to uncover the paleontological and evolutionary history of copulation and insemination. In \u003ci\u003eThe Dawn of the Deed, \u003c\/i\u003ehe takes readers on an entertaining and lively tour through the sex lives of ancient fish and exposes the unusual mating habits of arthropods, tortoises, and even a well-endowed (16.5 inches ) Argentine Duck. Long discusses these significant discoveries alongside what we know about reproductive biology and evolutionary theory, using the fossil record to provide a provocative account of prehistoric sex. \u003ci\u003eThe Dawn of the Deed\u003c\/i\u003e also explores fascinating revelations about animal reproduction, from homosexual penguins to monogamous seahorses to the difficulties of dinosaur romance and how sexual organs in ancient shark-like fishes actually relate to our own sexual anatomy.\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dawn of the Deed \u003c\/i\u003eis Long's own story of what it's like to be a part of a discovery that rewrites evolutionary history as well as an absolutely rollicking guide to sex throughout the ages in the animal kingdom. It's natural history with a naughty wink.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e John a. Long\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 022614349X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780226143491\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Chicago Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/29\/2014\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.78lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.46h x 5.61w x 0.71d","brand":"John a. Long","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43913422373119,"sku":"9780226143491","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_e1275303-be58-4a9e-b516-6d76558765cf.jpg?v=1680620323","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-dawn-of-the-deed-john-a-long-9780226143491","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}