Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs: Origins, Evolution, and Structure

Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska; Richard Cifelli; Zhe-Xi Luo

Published by Columbia University Press 2004

Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs

Origins, Evolution, and Structure

Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska , Richard Cifelli and Zhe-Xi Luo

https://doi.org/10.7312/kiel11918

Overview
Contents

About this book

Early mammals were significant and fast-evolving elements of the terrestrial biota for much of the Mesozoic, and they have played an increasingly important role in studies of paleoecology, faunal turnover, and historical biogeography. This book thoroughly covers all aspects of the anatomy, paleobiology, and systematics of early mammalian groups, in addition to the extant lineages with long history extending back into Mesozoic. Numerous detailed maps and line drawings enhance the text.

The fossil record on Mesozoic mammals has expanded by orders of magnitude over the past quarter century. New specimens, some of them breathtakingly complete, have been found in nearly all parts of the globe at a rapid pace. Coupled with the application of new scientific approaches and techniques, these exciting discoveries have led to profound changes in our interpretation of early mammal history.

Mesozoic mammals have come into their own as a rich source of information for evolutionary biology. Their record of episodic, successive radiations speaks to the pace and mode of evolution. Early mammals were small, but they provide key information on the morphological transformations that led to modern mammals, including our own lineage of Placentalia. Significant and fast-evolving elements of the terrestrial biota for much of the Mesozoic, early mammals have played an increasingly important role in studies of paleoecology, faunal turnover, and historical biogeography. The record of early mammals occupies center stage for testing molecular evolutionary hypotheses on the timing and sequence of mammalian radiations.

Organized according to phylogeny, this book covers all aspects of the anatomy, paleobiology, and systematics of all early mammalian groups, in addition to the extant mammalian lineages extending back into the Mesozoic.

Author / Editor information

Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska is professor emeritus at the Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw and the University of Oslo. She was the leader of the Polish-Mongolian expedition to the Gobi Desert (1963–1971) that discovered spectacular dinosaurs and mammals. She has devoted most of her scientific life to the studies of the Mesozoic mammals.

Richard L. Cifelli is curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and professor of zoology at the University of Oklahoma. He has led extensive field explorations of fossil vertebrates in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic of North and South Americas and studied the biogeographical and faunal evolution of early mammals.

Zhe-Xi Luo is curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. He has actively explored fossil mammals and dinosaurs in China and in the United States and studied evolutionary morphology and phylogenetic relationships of early mammals and fossil whales.

Reviews

Douglas Palmer:
This is a volume that any self-respecting zoological or paleontological library should have on its shelves.

A valuable synthesis of what is known about early mammals... It will undoubtedly become the classic reference on the subject.

Lynne M. Clos:
Quite interesting... every species of Mesozoic mammal currently known can be found between these covers.

Timothy Rowe:
I am glad to own two copies... I expect to wear out both copies long before a comparable work emerges.

Pam Gill:
This book is a triumph... An essential reference

A fantastic book on the new collections of Mesozoic mammals.

Only once in a decade, if then, is a milestone book such as this one published...Essential.

Hans Sues:
Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs provides a solid foundation for the continuing quest to shed light on the extensive Mesozoic history of mammals.

Jason A. Lillegraven & William A. Clemens (foreword):
A greatly needed summary and updating of new knowledge about early mammalian history.... both a milestone marking current progress in our understanding of these wonderful beasts and a starting line of challenges for future research.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	v
FOREWORD Jason A. Lillegraven and William A. Clemens Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
PREFACE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xi
1. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. Distribution: Mesozoic Mammals in Space and Time Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	19
3. Origin of Mammals Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
4. The Earliest-Known Stem Mammals Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	161
5. Docodontans Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	187
6. Australosphenidans and Shuotherium Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	202
7. Eutriconodontans Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	216
8. Allotherians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	249
9. “Symmetrodontans” Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	343
10. “Eupantotherians” (Stem Cladotherians) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	371
11. “Tribotherians” (Stem Boreosphenidans) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	408
12. Metatherians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	425
13. Eutherians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	463
14. Gondwanatherians Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	517
15. Interrelationships of Mesozoic Mammals Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	520
APPENDIX Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	539
REFERENCES Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	557
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	607
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	609
INDEX Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	611

Language: English
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 700
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 239
- Other: 239 illus.

eBook

Published: November 24, 2004
ISBN: 9780231509275