Containing individual chapters devoted to a particular family or order - each discussing anatomical features, systematics, and palaeobiology - this book is a unique compendium and synthesis of more than 100 years of discovery. It is intended to serve as a starting point and reference for continuing studies in faunal diversification and change, and for questions such as how changing biogeography and climates influenced the evolution of mammalian communities. It also contains a valuable uniform summary of the distribution in time and space of each species at fossil localities.
Contents: Section 1: Overview of the context for the evolution of North American Tertiary Mammals; Section 2: Carnivorous mammals: Section 3: Archaic ungulates and ungulatelike mammals; Section 4: Artiodactyla; Section 5: Perissodactyla and proboscidae; Section 6: Eutheria incertae sedis; Appendix I: Tertiary mammal localities; Appendix II: References for locality listings.
Preface Christine M. Janis; Introduction Christine M. Janis; Section 1. Overview of Context for the Evolution of North American Tertiary Mammals: 1. The chronological, climatic, and paleogeographic background to North American mammalian evolution Donald R. Prothero; 2. Tertiary vegetation of North America as a context for mammalian evolution Scott L. Wing; 3. The pleistocene terrestrial mammal fauna of North America Russell Wm Graham; Section 2. Carnivorous Mammals: 4. Carnivorous mammals Christine M. Janis, Jon A. Baskin, Annalisa Berta, John J. Flynn, Gregg F. Gunnell, Robert M. Hunt Jr, Larry D. Martin, and Kathleen Munthe; 5. Creodonta Gregg F. Gunnell; 6. Early cenozoic carnivora ('Miacoidea') John J. Flynn; 7. Canidae Kathleen Munthe; 8. Procyonidae Jon A. Baskin; 9: Mustelidae Jon A. Baskin; 10. Ursidae Robert M. Hunt Jr; 11. Amphicyonidae Robert M. Hunt Jr; 12. Nimravidae Larry D. Martin; 13. Felidae Larry D. Martin; 14. Hyaenidae Annalisa Berta; Section 3. Archaic Ungulates and Ungulatelike Mammals: 15. Archaic ungulates and ungulatelike mammals Christine M. Janis, J. David Archibald, Richard L. Cifelli, Spencer G. Lucas, Charles R. Schaff, Robert M. Schoch, and Thomas E. Williamson; 16. Taeniodonta Spencer G. Lucas, Robert M. Schoch, and Thomas E. Williamson; 17. Tillodonta Spencer G. Lucas, and Robert M. Schoch; 18. Pantodonta Spencer G. Lucas; 19. Dinocerata Spencer G. Lucas, Robert M. Schoch; 20. Archaicungulates ('Condylarthra') J. David Archibald; 21. Arctostylopida Richard L. Cifelli, and Charles R. Schaff; Section 4. Artiodactyla: 22. Artiodactyla Christine M. Janis, Mary Ellen Ahearn, James A. Effinger, Jessica A. Harrison, James G. Honey, Donald G. Kron, Bruce Lander, Earl Manning, Donald R. Prothero, Margaret S. Stevens, Richard K. Stucky, S. David Webb, and David B. Wright; 23. Eocene bunodont and Bunoselenodont artiodactyla/('Dichobunids') Richard K. Stucky; 24. Entelodontidae James A. Effinger; 25. Anthracotheriidae Donald G. Kron, and Earl Manning; 26. Tayassuidae David B. Wright; 27. Oreodontoidea Bruce Lander; 28. Oromerycidae Donald R. Prothero; 29. Protoceratidae Donald R. Prothero; 30. Camelidae J. G. Honey, J. A. Harrison, D. R. Prothero, and M. S. Stevens; 31. Hornless ruminants S. David Webb; 32. Dromomerycidae Christine M. Janis, and Earl Manning; 33. Antilocapridae Christine M. Janis, Earl Manning, Mary Ellen Ahearn; 34. Cervidae and bovidae S. David Webb; Section 5. Perissodactyla and proboscidea: 35. Perissodactyla and proboscidea Christine M. Janis, Matthew W. Colbert, Margery C. Coombs, W. David Lambert, Bruce J. Macfadden, Bryn J. Mader, Donald R. Prothero, Robert M. Schoch, Jeheskel Shoshani, and William P. Wall; 36. Brontotheriidae Bryn J. Mader; 37. Equidae Bruce J. Macfadden; 38. Chalicotherioidea Margery C. Coombs; 39. Tapiroidea and other moropomorphs M. W. Colbert, and Robert M. Schoch; 40. Amynodontidae William P. Wall; 41. Hyracodontidae Donald R. Prothero; 42. Rhinocerotidae Donald R. Prothero; 43. Proboscidea W. David Lambert, and Jeheskel Shoshani; Section 6. Eutheria Incertae Sedis: 44. Eutheria incertae sedis: Mingotherium and Idiogenomys, with editor's appendix on other problematical taxa Spencer G. Lucas, and Robert M. Schoch; Appendix I. Tertiary mammal localities; Appendix II. References for locality listings; Appendix III. References for locality listings; Index.
'The 'Overview' consists of three concise chapters covering the basics of the Tertiary world with respect to its chronology, climate, geography and vegetation and the subsequent fauna of the Pleistocene. It is my opinion that these chapters should be required reading for any new graduate student undertaking research on North American Tertiary mammals. Context is essential to understanding the importance of our work, and you cannot go wrong with such a concise but detailed look at these three essential aspects of the setting. ... As someone whom has actively and regularly used this book (usually copies owned by libraries or by others) ever since it was first published (when I was an undergraduate just beginning serious regular research), I can honestly say that this re-issue will prove to be a wise move on the part of the publishers and a much-needed opportunity for students and all of us to get our hands on this wonderfully organised resource.' B. L. Beatty, www.PalArch.nl