United States
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Language: English
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 to 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 palaeo-ornithological perspective, the present work also enables researchers in other fields of vertebrate palaeontology to gain an improved understanding of Paleogene ecosystems. Numerous colour photos of representative specimens furthermore make the new edition attractive to a wider audience interested in the avian fossil record.
- Stratigraphy and major fossil localities
- Higher-level phylogeny of extant birds
- Mesozoic Neornithes
- Palaeognathous birds
- Galloanseres
- Aquatic and semiaquatic taxa
- Charadriiformes (shorebirds and allies)
- "Core-Gruiformes" (Rails, Cranes, and Allies)
- Phoenicopteriformes (flamingos) and Podicipediformes (grebes)
- Columbiformes (doves and sandgrouse), Cuculiformes (cuckoos), and other neoavian taxa of uncertain affinities
- "Caprimulgiformes" and Apodiformes (Nightjars and Allies, Swifts, and Hummingbirds)
- Cariamae (seriemas and allies)
- "Falconiformes" (Diurnal Birds of Prey)
- Strigiformes (owls)
- Arboreal birds
- Paleogene avifaunas a synopsis of general aspects
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.
Reviews of the first edition:
"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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