Odd couples : extraordinary differences between the sexes in the animal kingdom / Daphne J. Fairbairn.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-285) and index.

The roots of sexual differences : why male and female animals differ -- Elephant seals : harems, hierarchies, and giant males -- Great bustards : gorgeous males and choosy females -- Shell-carrying cichlids : protective males and furtive females -- Yellow garden spiders : sedentary females and roving males -- Blanket octopuses : drifting females and dwarf males -- Giant seadevils : fearsome females and parasitic males -- Bone-eating worms : female tubeworms with harems of minuscule males -- Shell-burrowing barnacles : sac-like females with harems of phallic males -- The diversity of sexual differences : differences between males and females across the animal kingdom -- Appendix A: Scientific names corresponding to common names used in the text -- Appendix B: Summary of sexual dimorphisms by animal phylum.

"Introducing readers to important discoveries in animal behavior and evolution, Odd Couples explores some of the most extraordinary sexual differences in the animal world. From the fields of Spain to the deep oceans, evolutionary biologist Daphne Fairbairn uncovers the unique and bizarre characteristics--in size, behavior, ecology, and life history--that exist in these remarkable species and the special strategies they use to maximize reproductive success."--Jacket.