Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary HistoryXiaoming Wang and Richard H. Tedford have spent the past 20 years studying the evolutionary history of the family Canidae. Both are well known for having established the modern framework for the evolutionary relationship of canids. Combining their research with Mauricio Antón's impeccable reconstructions of both extinct and extant species, Wang and Tedford present a remarkably detailed and nuanced portrait of the origin and evolution of canids over the past 40 million years. The authors cull their history from the most recent scientific research conducted on the vast collections of the American Museum of Natural History and other leading institutions. The fossil record of the Canidae, particularly those from their birth place in North America, are the strongest of their kind among known groups of carnivorans. Such a wonderfully detailed evolutionary history provides access to a natural history that is not possible with many other groups of carnivorans. With their rich fossil record, diverse adaptations to various environments, and different predatory specializations, canids are an ideal model organism for the mapping of predator behavior and morphological specializations. They also offer an excellent contrast to felids, which remain entrenched in extreme predatory specializations. The innovative illustrated approach in this book is the perfect accompaniment to an extremely important branch of animal and fossil study. It transforms the science of paleontology into a thrilling visual experience and provides an unprecedented reference for anyone fascinated by dogs. |
Other editions - View all
Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives & Evolutionary History Xiaoming Wang,Richard H. Tedford Limited preview - 2008 |
Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History Xiaoming Wang,Richard H. Tedford Limited preview - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptation Aelurodon Africa amphicyonids ancestral animals Archaeocyon arctic Asia behavior bones bony borophagines Borophagus bulla canids canines Canis lupus carnassial carnivorans carnivores cats Cenozoic Cerdocyon claws continent Cynarctoides Cynarctus cyon dental dentition diet dimorphism dingoes dire wolf dirus diversity domestic dogs early Pliocene Ecology Enhydrocyon Eocene Epicyon Eucyon Eurasia evolutionary extant extinct fauna felids figure fossil record fox Vulpes genetic genus Geologic gray wolf herbivores hesperocyonines humans hunting dog hyaenids hyaenodonts hyenas hypercarnivorous larger late Miocene length of skull Leptocyon lineage living Lycaon Mammalian Species mammals mandible Mesocyon miacids middle Miocene Miocene modern molars morphological muscles Natural History neck North America Nyctereutes Oligo Oligocene order Carnivora Osbornodon paleontologists Phlaocyon Pleist Pleist-R Pleistocene Plio Pliocene predators premolars prey raccoon dog reconstructed head Reconstructed shoulder height relationship relatively rostrum skeleton South subfamily Caninae Taylor Tedford Tomarctus Urocyon Valkenburgh vertebrate Vulpes Wang wolf Canis wolves