Paleontology of Vertebrates [electronic resource] / by Jean Chaline

Author: Chaline, Jean
Published: Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1990.
Physical Description: XIV, 186 pages 55 illustrations : online resource
Additional Creators: SpringerLink (Online service)

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Contents

1 Concepts, Methods, and Techniques -- 1.1 Fossils and Fossilization -- 1.2 Species and Classification of Populations -- 1.3 Analysis of Characteristics and Classifications -- 1.4 The Search for a Mechanism of Evolutionary Change: Heterochrony -- 2 The Vertebrates -- 2.1 The Vertebrate Organization Plan -- 2.2 Origin of Vertebrates -- 2.3 Diversity of Vertebrates -- 2.4 Temporal Distribution of Vertebrates -- 2.5 Spatial Distribution of Vertebrates -- 2.6 An Attempt at Vertebrate Classification -- 3 The Conquest of the Aquatic Environment -- 3.1 The First Vertebrates -- 3.2 Relationships of Agnatha -- 3.3 Myxines -- 3.4 Conodonts -- 3.5 Pteraspidomorpha -- 3.6 Lampreys (Petromyzontidae) and Cephalaspidomorpha -- 3.7 Gnathostomata -- 3.8 Teleostomi -- 4 From the Aquatic to the Terrestrial Environment: The Tetrapoda -- 4.1 Problems of Adaptation -- 4.2 Adaptations -- 4.3 Paleontological History of the First Tetrapoda -- 4.4 Developmental Heterochronies -- 5 The Conquest of the Terrestrial Environment: The Amniota -- 5.1 Characteristics and Phylogenetic Relationships -- 5.2 The First Amniota -- 5.3 Turtles -- 5.4 Lepidosauromorpha -- 5.5 Archosauromorpha -- 5.6 Ichthyosaurs -- 5.7 Plesiosaurs -- 5.8 Placodontia -- 6 The Conquest of the Aerial Environment -- 6.1 The Constraints of Flight -- 6.2 Pterosaurs -- 6.3 Birds -- 6.4 Chiroptera -- 7 The Radiations of Mammals -- 7.1 From Pelycosaurs to Mammals -- 7.2 Acquisition of Mammalian Characteristics -- 7.3 Mesozoic Mammals -- 7.4 Marsupials -- 7.5 Placentals -- 8 The Primates and Hominization -- 8.1 Characteristics and Phylogenetic Relationships -- 8.2 Strepsirhini -- 8.3 Haplorhini -- 8.4 Relationships Between Pongidae and Hominidae -- 9 From Fossils to Explanatory Theories -- 9.1 Paleontology, the Science of Time -- 9.2 The Lessons of the Fossils -- 9.3 From Fossils to Theories -- 9.4 Towards a Unifying Theory of Evolution -- 10 Applied Paleontology -- 10.1 Biostratigraphy -- 10.2 Reconstruction of Paleoenvironments and Climates -- 10.3 Contributions of Paleontology to Global Tectonics -- References.

Summary

Paleontology of Vertebrates is an introductory text for students in Earth Sciences. It offers the basic knowledge and describes the evolution of vertebrate groups, successfully applying the cladistic approach. The reader will learn how vertebrate paleontology can contribute to solve problems in various fields of geosciences, such as biostratigraphy, paleoenvironmental reconstructions and geophysical modes.

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ISBN

9783642751035

Digital File Characteristics

text file PDF

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AVAILABLE ONLINE TO AUTHORIZED PSU USERS.

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Springer eBooks

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