The book "Zoology, Comprehensive Principles" is one of the widely recommended manuals, with 16 continuously improved editions and has been translated into many languages. Its global acceptance is primarily based on the renewal and updating of the material. The rapid evolution of molecular techniques, genetic analyses, bioinformatics, physiology, and other scientific fields has made it necessary to continuously revise many views regarding phylogeny and the classification of animals, which should be incorporated into a work like this. In this way, Greek students come into contact with the latest data in the science of Zoology.
Its use for over ten years by the academic community demonstrates that it serves as a reference work for Greek students of Biology, Veterinary Medicine, Forestry, and agricultural sciences with an animal orientation. Zoology, as a core subject, provides knowledge that forms the foundation for later deepening in many branches of the biological sciences. The utility of the book extends to readers with relevant interests, as the extensive first part presents the principles of biological research and evolutionary theory. The largest section of the book is dedicated to highlighting animal diversity in all its aspects: structure, function, behavior, zoogeography, and ecology, always through the lens of evolution. Its main advantage is the comprehensiveness in analyzing topics in the science of Zoology.
The structure of the book offers many advantages from an educational perspective. Each chapter contains introductory texts, summaries, review questions, and bibliography. Closely linked to the texts are the detailed diagrams and photographs. In special inserts, the main characteristics of animal taxa as well as other interesting information are presented.
The scientific team that worked on the translation of the book into Greek is diverse and multidimensional, consisting of instructors from six higher education institutions in the country: the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Patras, University of Crete, University of Thessaly, and University of Ioannina.
