Geologos 26, 3 (2020): 251–252 DOI: 10.2478/logos-2020-0025 Fundamentals of invertebrate palaeontology. Microfossils, by Sreepat Jain, 2020. Springer Nature India, New Delhi. 323 pages. Hardcover: price $129,99, ISBN 9788132239604. Jain’s book comprises a short preface, eleven main chapters, a list of illustrated species and a sub- ject index. Each main chapter deals with a particular microfossil group and consists of subchapters cov- ering several levels; these reflect the overall logic and facilitate any information search. Eleven major microfossil groups are dealt with, namely Chitino- zoa, acritarchs, pollen and spores, dinoflagellates, conodonts, radiolarians, marine diatoms, ostra- cods, benthic foraminifera, calcareous nannofos- sils and calpionellids. The author focuses on their morphology, thereby paying particular attention to tiny details, and also considers their stratigraphical distribution and evolution through geological time. In numerous casea, also notes on classification and palaeobiology are provided. It is worthy of praise that the author combines some obvious, well-known data with novel discoveries in micropalaeontology; for instance, some new information on the cono- The scientific importance of micropalaeontological dont apparatus is provided. There are lots of fig- studies is indisputable. On the one hand, such re- ures illustrating numerous representatives of each search yields data that in themselves are important, major group; thus, this book aptly demonstrates while on the other, the applied usage of microfossils the amazing diversity of microfossils. Important is has permitted to come up with solutions for various the fact that all chapters are organised and styled geological tasks, such as high-precision stratigraph- similarly, and their length is comparable, making ical correlations, the interpretation of depositional this tome really comprehensive. The chapters also environments, hydrocarbon exploration and so on. list the basic literature sources, inclusive of numer- Thus, to study micropalaeontology or, at least, to ous recent papers in specialised journals: this bibli- learn about its basic principles, is of great impor- ographical information in itself is a treasure trove. tance to the majority of earth scientists, who need As to contents, two comments are needed. First, good reference books that can be used for teaching only benthic, not planktonic, foraminifera are con- and self-education. The ‘high-tech’ nature of mod- sidered. Secondly, current achievements in molecu- ern geology, as well as a certain decline in classic lar phylogeny can have a significant impact on the palaeontology, have led to a decline in the number nomenclature of microfossils, as is well known for of synthetic works that are essentially classic in foraminifera (Pillet et al., 2013; Holzmann & Paw- style, yet comprehensive and based on present-day lowski, 2017). This is not to say that the present scientific achievements. Jain’s new book ranks book shows weaknesses in this field; I just wish to amongst the best reference tomes in reviewing cur- recommend readers to keep this issue in mind. rent micropalaeontological knowledge and com- The overall writing is very professional, the text municating this in a highly suitable form, i.e., pro- full of technical terms. However, both clarity and fessionally, without oversimplifications and briefly. brevity of explanations make this book an easy read The present volume matches the previous tome by for a wider audience, including those people who the same author and devoted to macrofossils (Jain, have only very elementary knowledge of microfos- 2017) in character. sils, or none at all. However, some basic geological 252 Book reviews education is mandatory for a proper understanding who need general, microfossil-related advice or a of these texts. Of special importance are the illustra- deepening of their knowledge. In my opinion, this tions; these are numerous and accurate. The author book is also suitable for elementary micropalaeon- is to be praised for coming up with three solutions. tological self-education. It does hint at the increas- First, he is right in preferring drawings over pho- ing importance of classic-style palaeontological ref- tographs. In the real world, representatives of the erence books in a modern, ‘high-tech’ geoscientific same taxon may look different as a result of some world. morphological variations or taphonomic patterns. A schematic drawing communicates an abstract idea of a taxon, i.e., it reflects its characteristic fea- References tures, irrespective of its appearance in any given sample from anywhere. Secondly, many geological Holzmann, M. & Pawlowski, J., 2017. An updated clas- time tables, representing biozonations, are includ- sification of rotaliid foraminifera based on ribosomal ed. This is very important for demonstrating the DNA phylogeny. Marine Micropaleontology 132, 18–34. Jain, S., 2017. Fundamentals of invertebrate palaeontology. stratigraphical utility of microfossils. Thirdly, sev- Macrofossils. Springer, New Delhi, 405 pp. eral illustrations depict diversity changes within Pillet, L., Voltski, I., Korsun, S. & Pawlowski, J., 2013. Mo- key microfossil groups. Undoubtedly, these figures lecular phylogeny of Elphidiidae (Foraminifera). Ma- make this volume of interest from a palaeobiologi- rine Micropaleontology 103, 1–14. cal point of view. Finally, it should be noted that, despite the large amount of graphical elements, Dmitry A. Ruban these are well balanced with the text. Southern Federal University, Rostov na Donu, The present tome is highly recommended to (mi- Russia cro)palaeontology educators and students, as well e-mail: [email protected] as to all those academic and industrial geologists .