Description
Taylor and Francis Ltd Evolution and Fossil Record of African Proboscidea 1st Edition 2022 Hardbound by Sanders, William J.
This book details the long, diverse, and complex phylogenetic history of elephants and their fossil relatives (the Proboscidea), whose origin is deeply embedded some 60 million years ago in Africa. Most of the major evolutionary events of proboscideans occurred in Africa, and these are examined in their geological, paleoecological, geographic, and faunal contexts. Updated information about feeding adaptations, taxonomy and systematics, genetics, and site occurrences is included and summarized in tables, figures, and charts. This is the first comprehensive review of African proboscideans and illustrates the need to more actively protect elephants and ensure their survival in modern ecosystems.Key FeaturesProvides a comprehensive systematic review of the African proboscidean fossil recordIncludes a summary of taxonomy, geochronology, biogeography and morphologyDocuments major faunal events including those associated with hominin originsSynthesizes new data from genomic, isotopic and microware analysesEmphasizes the role of elephants in ecosystems and the importance of conservation Introduction: Desiderata1-Context of African Proboscidean Evolution2-Early Paleogene: Origin and Evolution of the First Proboscideans3-Late Paleogene: First Major Diversification and Adaptive Radiation of Proboscideans 4-Early to Middle Miocene: Diversification of Proboscideans and Dominance of Elephantimorphs5-Late Miocene: The Rise of Elephants6-Early Pliocene: Proboscidean Relay Interval7-Late Pliocene to Holocene: The Rise and Fall of the Elephas recki complex