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 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 Preface1. Introduction2. Methods: Collecting Materials and Establishing Relationships3. Paleontological Exploration of Mongolia by American, Japanese, Soviet and Russian Expeditions4. Polish-Mongolian Expeditions, and the Nomadic Expedition, 20025. Origins of Mammals and the Earliest Representatives of Mammaliaforms and Mammals6. Haramiyidans and Probable Related Forms7. Docodontans8. Eutriconodontans9. Monotremes and the Issue of Australosphenida and Boreosphenida10. Multituberculates and Gondwanatherians11. "Symmetrodontans"12. "Eupantotherians" and the Origin of Pseudotribosphenic Molars13. Tribotheria, Matatheria, and the Issue of Deltatheroida14. Eutherian and Placental Mammals15. Paleobiology of Mammaliaforms and Early Mammals 16. Diversification of Mammaliaforms and Mesozoic Mammals: A SummaryBibliographyIndex 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