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Paleogene Fossil Birds

  • Book
  • © 2022

Overview

Authors:
  1. Gerald Mayr

    1. Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

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  • Detailed review of the Paleogene fossil record of birds with numerous color illustrations of relevant fossils
  • A key reference for paleornithologists and other researchers interested in the evolutionary history of modern birds
  • General sections that set the avian fossil record in a broader evolutionary context

Part of the book series: Fascinating Life Sciences (FLS)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 1-2

  3. Basic Terminology and the Broader Phylogenetic and Geological Framework

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 3-27

  4. Palaeognathous Birds

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 29-42

  5. Pelagornithidae, Gastornithidae, and Crown Group Galloanseres

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 43-72

  6. Mirandornithes (Grebes and Flamingos), Charadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies), and Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 73-92

  7. Opisthocomiformes (Hoatzins), “Columbaves” (Doves, Cuckoos, Bustards, and Allies), and Strisores (Nightjars, Swifts, Hummingbirds, and Allies)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 93-116

  8. Phaethontiformes and Aequornithes: The Aquatic and Semi-aquatic Neaovian Taxa

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 117-152

  9. Accipitriformes (New World Vultures, Hawks, and Allies), Falconiformes (Falcons), and Cariamiformes (Seriemas and Allies)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 153-176

  10. Psittacopasseres: Psittaciformes (Parrots) and Passeriformes (Passerines)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 177-195

  11. Strigiformes (Owls), Coliiformes (Mousebirds), and Cavitaves (Trogons, Rollers, Woodpeckers, and Allies)

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 197-225

  12. Paleogene Avifaunas: A Synopsis of General Biogeographic and Paleoecological Aspects

    • Gerald Mayr
    Pages 227-239
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Keywords

About this book

This second, completely revised edition of “Paleogene fossil birds” gives a comprehensive, updated overview of the avian fossil record from a geological period that lasted from the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event (66 million years ago) to the end of the Oligocene epoch (23 mya). Paleogene avifaunas are highly diversified and not only feature unusual archaic groups without close living relatives but also offer unique insights into the evolution and biogeographic history of extant birds.


The main body of the book constitutes an in-depth survey of the known diversity of Paleogene avifaunas. The reader is introduced into basic skeletal features of extinct avian taxa, with these fossil forms being placed into a phylogenetic context in the light of current hypotheses on the interrelationships of extant birds. The geographical and temporal occurrences of the various fossil groups are outlined and their evolutionary significance is discussed. Concluding sections inform more general aspects of Paleogene avifaunas, such as possible causes of major faunal changes.


In addition to being a reference work for the early evolution of modern birds from a paleornithological perspective, the present work also enables researchers in other fields of vertebrate paleontology to gain an improved understanding of Paleogene ecosystems. Numerous color photos of representative specimens furthermore make the new edition attractive to a wider audience interested in the avian fossil record.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Senckenberg Research Institute, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Gerald Mayr

About the author

Gerald Mayr is a German zoologist, who is head of the Ornithological Section of the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt am Main, Hesse. He published widely on fossil avifaunas, particularly from the Paleogene of Europe, North America, and New Zealand. His research interests also comprise the phylogenetic relationships, skeletal morphology, and evolutionary history of extant birds.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Paleogene Fossil Birds

  • Authors: Gerald Mayr

  • Series Title: Fascinating Life Sciences

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87645-6

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life Sciences, Biomedical and Life Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-87644-9Published: 12 February 2022

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-87647-0Published: 12 February 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-87645-6Published: 12 February 2022

  • Series ISSN: 2509-6745

  • Series E-ISSN: 2509-6753

  • Edition Number: 2

  • Number of Pages: XII, 239

  • Number of Illustrations: 6 b/w illustrations, 100 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Zoology, Evolutionary Biology, Animal Anatomy / Morphology / Histology

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