Invertebrates, Third Edition by Richard C. Brusca (2016-01-19)

I have used the first and second editions of Invertebrates in college courses over a decade. Yes, the phylogeny used in these editions needed updating. However, the third edition has devolved into a mess of triviality, contradictions, and opinionatedness. On the scale of lumpers and splitters, the authors definitely come down on the side of splitters, with a dizzying array of "cohorts", "infras", and my favorite, "lesser" taxonomic classifications. The tone of the book is definitely more opinionated; for example, the authors suggest that countries protecting their genetic resources are responsible for inhibiting science. Is this posturing really necessary? Which brings us to the question: who is the audience for this book now? The authors state that this book is ideal for undergraduate zoology courses, while at the same time, serves as a valuable reference for professional systematists and zoologists. The third edition of "Invertebrates" abjectly fails on both accounts.