Evolution of Herbivory in Terrestrial Vertebrates: Perspectives from the Fossil Record

by Hans-Dieter Sues

Overview

Although herbivory probably first appeared over 300 million years ago, it only became established as a common feeding strategy during Late Permian times. Subsequently, herbivory evolved in numerous lineages of terrestrial vertebrates, and the acquisition of this mode of feeding was frequently associated with considerable evolutionary diversification in those lineages. This book represents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of herbivory in land-dwelling amniote tetrapods in recent years. In Evolution of Herbivory in Terrestrial Vertebrates, leading experts review the evolutionary history and structural adaptations required for feeding on plants in the major groups of land-dwelling vertebrates, especially dinosaurs and ungulate mammals. As such, this volume will be the definitive reference source on this topic for evolutionary biologists and vertebrate paleontologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521021197
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/13/2005
Pages:	268
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.47(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Herbivory in terrestrial vertebrates Hans-Dieter Sues; 2. Herbivory in late Paleozoic and Triassic terrestrial vertebrates Robert R. Reisz and Hans-Dieter Sues; 3. Prosauropod dinosaurs and iguanas: speculations on the diets of extinct reptiles Paul M. Barrett; 4. The evolution of sauropod feeding mechanisms Paul Upchurch and Paul M. Barrett; 5. Plant-eaters and ghost lineages: dinosaurian herbivory revisited David B. Weishampel and Coralia-Maria Jianu; 6. Dental constraints in the early evolution of mammalian herbivory John M. Rensberger; 7. Patterns in the evolution of herbivory in large terrestrial mammals: the Paleogene of North America Christine M. Janis; 8. Origin and evolution of the grazing guild in Cenozoic New World terrestrial mammals Bruce J. MacFadden.

Editorial Reviews

"Provocative" Priscum

"It is impossible to do justice here to the richness of information and ideas presented in this book...Sues' book is handsomely produced, with attractive, informative illustrations. I found the cover art, which depicts two radically different synapsid herbivores, particularly appealing." Historical Biology

"This is a good book...For many mammalogists, this book will provide a concise review of this area of mammalian (as well dinosaurian) evolution." Journal of Mammalogy

From the Publisher