Evolution of the Ammonoids

About this book

Ammonites are an extinct and charismatic lineage that persisted for over 300 million years. They were used, with other fossils, to corroborate the principle of faunal succession and launch the field of biostratigraphy. Despite intense research, many important questions remain unanswered. Furthermore, outdated hypotheses persist. Many new findings include a better understanding of their appearance in life, their locomotion, and their role in long-gone ecosystems. And, of course, there are still controversies; e.g. why did shell complexity increase during evolutionary history? This richly illustrated book describes the full range of ammonoids and their fascinating evolutionary history.

Key features:
- Documents the early history of palaeontology and the role played by ammonoids
- Describes the basic anatomy of a diverse and long-persisting lineage
- Summarizes the classification and diversity of ammonoids
- Lavishly illustrated with beautiful reconstructions
- Highlights recent findings and outstanding controversies

Contents

1. Mmon's Horns And Serpent Stones
2. Natomy, Growth, And Geometry
3. Spirals And Squiggles: The Math Of Ammonites
4. The First Cephalopod: A Snail Who Dared To Fly
5. Colonizing The Wild Blue Beyond: The First Ammonoids In The Age Of Fish
6. Survivors: Prolecanitids, Ceratitids, And The Origin Of Ammonites
7. Jurassic Seapark
8. The Cretaceous Period: The Golden Autumn Of Ammonites
9. Ncyloceratina: The Heteromorphs
10. Extinction Of The Ammonoids: What Humans Can Learn
11. Glossary

Customer Reviews

Biography

Kate LoMedico Marriott is a graduate researcher in palaeontology. She trained in sculpture at the State University of New York at Purchase, then earned an interdisciplinary B.A. at the State University of New York at New Paltz, and an M.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Brooklyn College in New York in 2021. She is the former in-house palaeontologist at Astro Gallery of Gems on Fifth Avenue in New York City and the author or co-author of several publications on ammonites, including one systematizing the palaeoart theory of heteromorph ammonites and a new method for fractal analysis of ammonite sutures. She has also submitted research in fossil mammals for publication in the near future. Kate was a Special Mention Finalist in the International Award on Scientific Illustration in Madrid, Spain for her work on heteromorphs. In 2020, Kate became the second palaeoartist to be inducted into the Ocean Artists Society. She is also the co-founder of The Society of Invertebrate Paleoartists.

Donald R. Prothero is a Research Associate in Vertebrate Paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. He taught college geology and palaeontology for over 43 years, at such places as Caltech, Columbia University, Vassar College, Occidental College, Knox College, and Pierce College, and currently at Cal Poly Pomona He earned his M.A., M.Phil., and PhD degrees in geological sciences from Columbia University, and a B.A. in geology and biology (highest honours, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of California, Riverside. He is currently the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of over 48 books and over 333 scientific papers, including 8 leading geology textbooks and 18 trade books as well as edited symposium volumes and other technical works.

Alexander Bartholomew is an Associate Professor at the State University of New York at New Paltz in the Department of Geology, having taught Stratigraphy and Paleontology for over 15 years. He earned his M.S. and PhD in Geology from the University of Cincinnati and his B.S. in Geology from Union College. Alex's area of expertise is in Upper Silurian and Lower-Middle Devonian stratigraphy and palaeoecology, spanning marine, marginal marine, and terrestrial environments in eastern North America. Alex is a Corresponding Member of the International Subcommission on Devonian Stratigraphy (SDS), is an organizer/field excursion leader for the upcoming SDS meeting and field excursion in New York State in 2022, and is co/lead author on several papers in the New York State Museum monograph on Devonian Stratigraphy in New York State.