Megafauna: Giant Beasts of Pleistocene South AmericaIndiana University Press, 2013 M05 22 - 833 páginas “An enjoyable read that provides a substantial amount of detail on the biology, ecology, and distribution of these fantastic animals . . . Highly recommended.” —Choice More than 10,000 years ago spectacularly large mammals roamed the pampas and jungles of South America. This book tells the story of these great beasts during and just after the Pleistocene, the geological epoch marked by the great ice ages. Megafauna describes the history and way of life of these animals, their comings and goings, and what befell them at the beginning of the modern era and the arrival of humans. It places these giants within the context of the other mammals then alive, describing their paleobiology—how they walked; how much they weighed; their diets, behavior, biomechanics; and the interactions among them and with their environment. It also tells the stories of the scientists who contributed to our discovery and knowledge of these transcendent creatures and the environment they inhabited. The episode known as the Great American Biotic Interchange, perhaps the most important of all natural history “experiments,” is also an important theme of the book, tracing the biotic events of both North and South America that led to the fauna and the ecosystems discussed in this book. “Collectively, this book brings attention to the discovery and natural history of ancient beasts in South America while providing a broader temporal and geographic background that allows readers to understand their evolution and potential immigration to South America.” —Quarterly Review of Biology “An excellent volume . . . This book is likely to facilitate progress in the understanding of fossil mammals from the Americas.” —Priscum |
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Contenido
3 | |
2 Distinguished Paleomammalogists | 31 |
3 Geological and Ecological History of South America during the Cenozoic Era | 73 |
4 North American Late Cenozoic Faunas | 103 |
5 The Great American Biotic Interchange and Pleistocene Habitats in South America | 135 |
6 Bestiary | 171 |
7 Physics of the Giants | 235 |
8 General Paleoecology | 275 |
Lessons from the Deep Past | 351 |
Appendix 1 A Primer on Skeletal Anatomy | 355 |
Appendix 2 Skeletal Anatomy of Xenarthrans | 383 |
Appendix 3 Equations Used to Estimate Body Masses Based on Dental and Skeletal Measurements and Their Respective Sources | 393 |
Appendix 4 Calculations | 397 |
401 | |
423 | |
9 Extinction | 317 |
Otras ediciones - Ver todas
Megafauna: Giant Beasts of Pleistocene South America Richard A. Fariña,Sergio F. Vizcaíno,Gerry De Iuliis Sin vista previa disponible - 2013 |
Megafauna: Giant Beasts of Pleistocene South America Richard A. Fariña,Sergio F. Vizcaíno,Gerardo De Iuliis Sin vista previa disponible - 2013 |
Términos y frases comunes
America americanum animals appearance Appendix Argentina armadillos authors bear body bones carnivores Chapter climate closely collected compared considered continents described diversity early elements equations estimated et al evidence example extinct Farina fauna first fossil genera genus giant given glyptodonts ground sloths herbivores horses humans ideas important indicates known larger late later least length less limb living log mass lower mainly mammals mass means Megatherium muscle natural North noted occurred ofthe organisms origin Owen paleontology particularly pattern perhaps plants Plata Pleistocene possible present probably produced proposed reason recent referred region relationships relatively remains represented researchers result scientists similar skull South American species structure suggested surface teeth termed tooth ungulates units usually values vertebrae Vizcaino xenarthrans