THE PREHISTORIC EARTH #3) March Onto Land - The Silurian Period to the Middle Triassic Epoch

Explores early prehistoric life from the Silurian period through the Middle Triassic epoch, including tetrapods, amphibians, reptiles, and land plants. TOC......Page 6 PREFACE......Page 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 10 FOREWORD......Page 12 INTRODUCTION......Page 15 SectIon One:THE GREENING OF THE PALEOZOIC WORLD......Page 20 CH1: PALEOZOIC TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS......Page 22 CH2: THE FIRST LAND PLANTS......Page 35 CH3: THE FIRST LAND ANIMALS......Page 58 CH 4: GOING ASHORE: BECOMING A LAND ANIMAL......Page 86 CH5: THE DIVERSITY OF EARLY TETRAPODS......Page 103 CH 6: TAKING OVER THE LAND:REPTILES AND THEIR KIN......Page 126 CH 7: VERTEBRATES BRANCH OUT......Page 137 CONCLUSION......Page 161 APPENDIX TWO: ANATOMICAL DIRECTIONS......Page 166 GLOSSARY......Page 168 CHAPTER BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 174 FURTHER READING......Page 182 INDEX......Page 186 ABOUT THE AUTHOR......Page 193 TOC 6 PREFACE 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 10 FOREWORD 12 INTRODUCTION 15 SectIon One:THE GREENING OF THE PALEOZOIC WORLD 20 CH1: PALEOZOIC TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS 22 CH2: THE FIRST LAND PLANTS 35 CH3: THE FIRST LAND ANIMALS 58 Section Two: VERTEBRATES ON LAND 86 CH 4: GOING ASHORE: BECOMING A LAND ANIMAL 86 CH5: THE DIVERSITY OF EARLY TETRAPODS 103 Section Three:THE EVOLUTION OF EARLY AMNIOTES 126 CH 6: TAKING OVER THE LAND:REPTILES AND THEIR KIN 126 CH 7: VERTEBRATES BRANCH OUT 137 CONCLUSION 161 APPENDIX ONE: GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE 166 APPENDIX TWO: ANATOMICAL DIRECTIONS 166 GLOSSARY 168 CHAPTER BIBLIOGRAPHY 174 FURTHER READING 182 PICTURE CREDITS 186 INDEX 186 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 193 Depicts life's migration from the sea to the land and the rise of the first terrestrial organisms. Following the appearance of the first land plants and terrestrial invertebrates, some animals with backbones ventured out of the water. This volume explores vertebrate groups such as early tetrapods, amphibians, and reptiles Each title in this comprehensive reference series highlights fundamental principles of scientific inquiry and provides insight into dinosaurs and other fascinating prehistoric creatures, including mammals, birds, flying reptiles, ocean life, and human ancestors. Looks at the world as it was during the Cretaceous period, from 145 million to 65 million years ago, when new birds and mammals appeared, and ending with the disappearance of the dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and large marine reptiles. Discusses the evoution of plant and animal life from the Silurian period to the middle Triassic epoch, from the migration of life from the sea to the land, to the appearance of large-bodied mammals and dinosaurs. March Onto Land depicts life's migration from the sea to the land and the rise of the first terrestrial organisms