The Evolution of North American Rhinoceroses
First appearing about 40 million years ago in North America, rhinoceroses diversified into an incredible array of taxa, with a variety of ecologies that don't resemble any of the five living species. They ranged from delicate long-legged dog-sized forms, to huge hippo-like forms that apparently lived in rivers and lakes. Including a complete systematic review, and discussions of biogeography, evolution and paleoecology, this book summarizes our current knowledge of North American rhinos and constitutes the most complete reference available.
- Offers the first complete review of the subject for a century
- Fully illustrated with descriptions of all bones
- Set in context with discussions of biogeography, evolution, and the significance for North American paleoecology
Reviews & endorsements
"This book is the culmination of a monumental effort to study all known fossils of North American representatives of the mammalian family RhinocerotidaeThe books well-rendered photographs and line drawings illustrate the details of rhinoceros skeletal anatomy, and the reconstructions of articulated skeletons and models provide a feeling for how these animals must have appeared in life." Choice
"It is not often that you get to see a book that contains more than 20 years of work...Given the nature of vertebrate paleontology as a historical science, both the nature of what we do as well how we do it, I am quite sure that my grandchildren will be citing this work in their studies...The book is professionally done (what would you expect from Cambridge University Press) with excellent copy editing...good binding, and numerous photos that are by and large well reproduced...this book is bound to become THE reference for North American rhinos...Prothero's book will remain the state of the art on North American rhinos for years to come, and it will be well used on my shelf during that time." - The Paleontological Society, David Froehlich, Austin Community College
"This well-illustrated book is the first modern synthesis of the American Rhinocerotidae. It will leave a lasting impression more for the clarity of its style, its beautiful presentation, and its excellent illustrations, making for very pleasant reading."
Claude Guerin in Geobios 38
"Within 218 richly-illustrated pages Donald R. Prothero achieves the amazing feat of encapsulating the 35 million years of the North American history of one of the most successful groups of Cenozoic ungulates, the rhinoceroses. Prothero's work already constitutes the essential reference for paleomammalogists specializing in rhinos, and more broadly those interested in the Tertiary of North America.
P.O. Antoine in Geochronique: Magazine des Geosciences
Product details
March 2018Paperback
9781108457200
228 pages
280 × 220 × 13 mm
0.63kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Methods
- 3. Systematics
- 4. Postcranial osteology
- 5. Biogeography
- 6. Paleoecology and evolutionary patterns
- 7. Conclusions
- Bibliography.