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Paleogene Fossil Birds

  • Book
  • © 2009

Overview

Authors:
  1. Gerald Mayr
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  • Up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the Paleogene avian fossil record for vertebrate paleontologists and ornithologists interested in the evolutionary history of birds
  • First study which is exclusively devoted to the Paleogene fossil record of birds on a worldwide scale

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 1-3

  3. Stratigraphy and major fossil localities

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 5-11

  4. Higher-level phylogeny of extant birds

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 13-18

  5. Mesozoic Neornithes

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 19-23

  6. Palaeognathous birds

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 25-33

  7. Galloanseres

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 35-59

  8. Aquatic and semiaquatic taxa

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 61-86

  9. Charadriiformes (shorebirds and allies)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 87-91

  10. “Core-Gruiformes” (Rails, Cranes, and Allies)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 93-103

  11. Phoenicopteriformes (flamingos) and Podicipediformes (grebes)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 105-109

  12. Columbiformes (doves and sandgrouse), Cuculiformes (cuckoos), and other neoavian taxa of uncertain affinities

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 111-117

  13. “Caprimulgiformes” and Apodiformes (Nightjars and Allies, Swifts, and Hummingbirds)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 119-138

  14. Cariamae (seriemas and allies)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 139-152

  15. “Falconiformes” (Diurnal Birds of Prey)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 153-161

  16. Strigiformes (owls)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 163-168

  17. Arboreal birds

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 169-204

  18. Paleogene avifaunas – synopsis of general aspects

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 205-219

  19. Back Matter

    Pages 221-262
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Keywords

About this book

In the present book the Paleogene fossil record of birds is detailed for the first time on a worldwide scale. I have developed the idea for such a project for several years, and think that it is an appropriate moment to present a summary of our c- rent knowledge of the early evolution of modern birds. Meanwhile not only is there a confusing diversity of fossil taxa, but also significant progress has been made concerning an understanding of the higher-level phylogeny of extant birds. Hypotheses which were not considered even a decade ago are now well supported by independent analyses of different data. In several cases these group together morphologically very different avian groups and allow a better understanding of the mosaic character distribution found in Paleogene fossil birds. The book aims at bringing some of this information together, and many of the following data are based on first-hand examination of fossil specimens.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"This book presents the first detailed review of the Paleogene avian fossil record on a worldwide scale. Included in the book are several black-and-white photos of the actual fossil specimens. Anyone with an interest in avian or Paleogene paleontology will want this book!" (GrrlScientist, Birdbooker Report 75: Living the Scientific Life, July, 2009)

“The volume is largely made up of commentaries on the skeletal material … and includes biogeographic and paleoecologic assessments of faunas. … The book contains photographs of many of the systematically important materials … . References to previous publications are exhaustively numerous. This is a book for specialists. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and above.” (D. Bardack, Choice, Vol. 47 (3), November, 2009)

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