In Pursuit of Early Mammals (Life of the Past)

"Mesozoic mammal fossils are the focus of this fascinating book, which reviews both the fossils themselves and the history of their discovery." —Choice In Pursuit of Early Mammals presents the history of the mammals that lived during the Mesozoic era, the time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, and describes their origins, anatomy, systematics, paleobiology, and distribution. It also tells the story of the author, a world-renowned specialist on these animals, and the other prominent paleontologists who have studied them. Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska was the first woman to lead large-scale paleontological expeditions, including eight to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, which brought back important collections of dinosaur, early mammal, and other fossils. She shares the difficulties and pleasures encountered in finding rare fossils and describes the changing views on early mammals made possible by these discoveries. "A thorough review of the current state of early mammalian paleontology presented through the unique historical filter of someone who was at the foremost of the field for over half a century." — The Quarterly Review of Biology "Whether she's talking about how mammals evolved their distinctive ear bones, or how she built a cabin out of plywood during a particularly cold field season in the Gobi, you know that a remarkable, passionate person is telling a story of science and adventure in her own words." —Priscum "A fascinating window into the development of the field . . . The perspective of an individual at the center of these developments is captivating, informative, and has never before been published." —Gregory P. Wilson, University of Washington Cover Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments List of Institutional Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Methods: Collecting Materials and Establishing Relationships 3. Paleontological Exploration of Mongolia by American, Japanese, Soviet, and Russian Expeditions, including the Mongolian Academy/ American Museum and Mongolia/Japan Joint Expeditions 4. The Polish-Mongolian Paleontological Expeditions, 1963–1971, and the Nomadic Expedition, 2002 5. Origins of Mammals and the Earliest Representatives of Mammaliaforms and Mammals 6. Haramiyidans and Probable Related Forms 7. Docodontans 8. Eutriconodontans 9. Monotremes and the Issue of Australosphenida and Tribosphenida 10. Multituberculates and Gondwanatherians 11. “Symmetrodontans” 12. “Eupantotherians” and the Origin of Tribosphenic and Pseudotribosphenic Molars 13. Tribotheria, Metatheria, and the Issue of the Deltatheroida 14. Eutherian and Placental Mammals 15. Aspects of Paleobiology of Mammaliaforms and Early Mammals 16. Diversification of Mammaliaforms and Mesozoic Mammals: A Summary References Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z In Pursuit of Early Mammals presents the history of the mammals that lived during the Mesozoic era, the time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, and describes their origins, anatomy, systematics, paleobiology, and distribution. It also tells the story of the author, a world-renowned specialist on these animals, and the other prominent paleontologists who have studied them. Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska was the first woman to lead large-scale paleontological expeditions, including eight to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, which brought back important collections of dinosaur, early mammal, and other fossils. She shares the difficulties and pleasures encountered in finding rare fossils and describes the changing views on early mammals made possible by these discoveries. Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska, Professor Emerita at the Institute of Paıleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, is a world-renowned specialist on Mesozoic mammals.--Résumé de l'éditeur Hunters of Early Mammals presents the history of the mammals that lived during the Mesozoic era, when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, describes their origins, anatomy, systematics, paleobiology, and distribution. It also tells the story of the author, a world-renowned specialist on these animals, and the other prominent paleontologists who have studied them. Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska was the first woman to lead large-scale paleontological expeditions, including eight to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, which brought back important collections of dinosaurs, early mammals, and other fossils. She shares the difficulties and pleasures encountered in finding rare fossils and describes the changing views on early mammals made possible by these discoveries. This book presents the history of the mammals that lived during the Mesozoic era - the time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth - and describes their origins, anatomy, systematics, paleobiology, and distribution. It also tells the story of the author, a world-renowned specialist on these animals, and the other prominent paleontologists who have studied them. The author was the first woman to lead large-scale paleontological expeditions, including eight to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, which brought back important collections of dinosaur, early mammal, and other fossils. In this book, she shares the difficulties and pleasures encountered in finding rare fossils and describes the changing views on early mammals made possible by these discoveries