Mammoths, Mastodonts, and Elephants
Mammoths, Mastodonts, and Elephants
$65.99
USDThe diminishing populations of African and Asian elephants call to mind the extinctions of other elephantlike species, such as mammoths and mastodons, that occurred more than 10000 years ago. The purpose of this book is to examine the ecology and behaviour of modern elephants to create models for reconstructing the lives and deaths of extinct mammoths and mastodons. The sources for these models are long-term continuing studies of elephants in Zimbabwe, Africa. These models are clearly described with respect to the anatomical, behavioural, and ecological similarities between past and present proboscideans. The implications of these similarities for the lives and deaths of mammoths and mastodons are explored in detail. The importance of this book is primarily its unifying perspective on living and extinct proboscideans: The fossil record is as carefully examined as is the natural history of surviving elephants. Dr Haynes's studies of the situations in which African elephants die (sometimes in great numbers) are unique and can provide crucial insights into ancient proboscidean bone collections.
- ' … an enthralling book which anyone interested in elephants will enjoy.' Times Higher Education Supplement
- The studies of elephant burial grounds are unique
Reviews & endorsements
'The book is well written, with illusions and tables provided to support important conclusions.' Science
'Of greatest value for paleontologists and archaeologists, but advanced undergraduates interested in the techniques of historical sciences could read it profitably.' Choice
' … an enthralling book which anyone interested in elephants or mammoths will enjoy.' The Times Higher Education Supplement
'The scholarly title obscures the real topic. In fact, this volume is a brilliant murder mystery.' Scientific American
Product details
August 1993Paperback
9780521456913
428 pages
227 × 152 × 20 mm
0.57kg
107 b/w illus. 50 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Part I. Proboscidean Flesh and Bones:
- 1. Taxonomy: classification of fossil and living forms
- 2. Physical appearance: mammoths, mastodonts, and modern elephants
- 3. A referential model for understanding mammoths and mastodonts: social structure and habit use by modern elephants
- Part II. Actualistic Studies of Proboscidean Mortality:
- 4. Actualistic studies of mass deaths
- 5. Actualistic studies of mass kills
- Part III. The Fossil Record:
- 6. Finding meaning in proboscidean sites: the world fossil record
- 7. Extinction in North America at the end of the Pleistocene
- Appendix
- References
- Index.
