Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Schoch, Robert M.

Description

1. ix, 311 pages : illustrations; 29 cm

Summary

1. "Using an approach based on cladistics, the authors consider both living and extinct ungulates. Included in their discussion are the stories of rhinos, whose ancestors include dinosaur-sized hornless species and hippo-like river waders; elephants, whose earliest ancestors had neither tusks nor trunks; and whales, whose descent from hoofed mesonychids has never properly been described for the lay audience.
2. Prothero and Schoch also update the evolutionary history of the horse, correcting the frequent errors made in textbooks and popular works, and they make available to the general public new evidence about the evolution of camels, horned antelopes, and cattle. In addition, they raise important conservation issues and relate anecdotes of significant fossil finds.".
3. "Scientifically accurate, generously illustrated, and clearly written, Horns Tusks, and Flippers is a much-needed resource for specialists in the fields of paleontology, zoology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, as well as for general readers interested in learning more about the story of life on earth."--BOOK JACKET.

Alternative title

1. Horns, tusks, & flippers

Subject

1. Ungulates > Evolution
2. Ungulates, Fossil
3. Elephants > Evolution
4. Cetacea > Evolution

Contents

1. 1. Introduction -- 2. Cloven hooves -- 3. Tylopods -- 4. Where the deer and the antelope play -- 5. Hollow horns -- 6. A whale's tale -- 7. Out of Africa -- 8. The origin of Jumbo -- 9. Kingdom of ivory -- 10. A horse of a different color (and shape) -- 11. Equus -- 12. Thunder beasts -- 13. Proboscises and claws -- 14. Rhinoceroses without horns -- 15. Thundering to extinction.

Owning institution

1. Columbia University Libraries

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references (p. [297]-307) and index.