The Origin and Evolution of MammalsMammals are the dominant large animals of today, occurring in virtually every environment. This book is an account of the remarkable 320 million year long fossil record that documents their origin, their long spell as no more than small, nocturnal creatures, and their explosive radiation since the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Tom Kemp also unveils the exciting molecular evidence, which, coupled with important new fossils, is presently challenging current thinking on the interrelationships and historical biogeography of mammals. The Origin and Evolution of Mammals will be of interest to advanced undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers in vertebrate palaeontology, biogeography, mammalian systematics and molecular taxonomy. It will also be welcomed by vertebrate fossil enthusiasts and evolutionary biologists of all levels with an interest in macroevolutionary problems. |
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adapted adductor Africa Afrotheria amniote ancestral Assemblage Zone basal body bones canines carnivorous characters Cifelli cladistic cladogram condylarths Crompton cynodonts dentary dentition dicynodonts dinocephalians dorsal Early Palaeocene endothermy enlarged Eocene eucynodont evolution evolved extinction fauna femur forelimb fossil record function genera genus gorgonopsians herbivorous hindlimb Hopson humerus hypothesis incisors increase indicates jaw articulation Jurassic Kemp Kielan-Jaworowska Kuehneotherium Late Cretaceous lateral view limbs lineages lower jaw lower molars mammalian mammals marsupials medial Mesozoic mammals Miocene modern molar teeth molecular monophyletic Morganucodon multituberculates muscle musculature North America occlusal view occurred Oligocene Palaeocene pelycosaurs perissodactyls Permian placental postcanine postcanine teeth postcranial skeleton posterior premolar Presacral length primitive Procynosuchus quadrate radiation relationship relatively sister group Skull length approx South specialised species specimens structure synapsid talonid taxa taxon temporal fenestra tetrapods therapsids therocephalian Thrinaxodon tion tooth Triassic tritylodontids ungulate upper and lower upper molars ventral vertebral