FOREWORD, by J. A. Lillegraven and W. A. Clemens PROLOGUE 1. Introduction 2. Distribution: Mesozoic Mammals in Space and Time 3. Origin of Mammals 4. The Earliest-Known Stem Mammals 5. Docodontans 6. Australosphenida and Shotherium 7. Eutriconodontans 8. Allotherians 9. "Symmetrodontans" (Stem Trechnotherians) 10. "Eupantotherians" (Stem Cladotherians) 11. "Tribotherians" (Stem Boreosphenidans) 12. Metatherians 13. Eutherians 14. Gondwanatherians 15. Interrelationships of Mesozoic Mammals
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.
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.
"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." -- Jason A. Lillegraven & William A. Clemens (foreword) " Mammals from the Age of Dinosaurs provides a solid foundation for the continuing quest to shed light on the extensive Mesozoic history of mammals. " -- Hans Sues, Science "Only once in a decade, if then, is a milestone book such as this one published...Essential." -- Choice "A fantastic book on the new collections of Mesozoic mammals." -- Journal of the AMerican Association of Forensic Dentists "I am glad to own two copies... I expect to wear out both copies long before a comparable work emerges." -- Timothy Rowe, Nature "Quite interesting... every species of Mesozoic mammal currently known can be found between these covers." -- Lynne M. Clos, Fossil News "A valuable synthesis of what is known about early mammals... It will undoubtedly become the classic reference on the subject." -- Southeastern Naturalist "This is a volume that any self-respecting zoological or paleontological library should have on its shelves." -- Douglas Palmer, Mammalian Biology
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