Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change

A beloved natural historian and biologist explores how climate change is driving evolution.

“Hanson is an affable guide and storyteller., with a knack for analogy, a sense of humor and the natural curiosity of a scientist.” ― New York Times

In Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid , biologist Thor Hanson tells the remarkable story of how plants and animals are responding to climate change: adjusting, evolving, and sometimes dying out. Anole lizards have grown larger toe pads, to grip more tightly in frequent hurricanes. Warm waters cause the development of Humboldt squid to alter so dramatically that fishermen mistake them for different species. Brown pelicans move north, and long-spined sea urchins south, to find cooler homes. And when coral reefs sicken, they leave no territory worth fighting for, so aggressive butterfly fish transform instantly into pacifists.

A story of hope, resilience, and risk, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid is natural history of the highest caliber. It is also a reminder of the unpredictability of climate change as it interacts with the messy lattice of life.