{"product_id":"avian-evolution-9781119020769","title":"Avian Evolution","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eKnowledge of the evolutionary history of birds has much improved in recent decades. Fossils from critical time periods are being described at unprecedented rates and modern phylogenetic analyses have provided a framework for the interrelationships of the extant groups. This book gives an overview of the avian fossil record and its paleobiological significance, and it is the only up-to-date textbook that covers both Mesozoic and more modern-type Cenozoic birds in some detail. The reader is introduced to key features of basal avians and the morphological transformations that have occurred in the evolution towards modern birds. An account of the Cenozoic fossil record sheds light on the biogeographic history of the extant avian groups and discusses fossils in the context of current phylogenetic hypotheses. This review of the evolutionary history of birds not only addresses students and established researchers, but it may also be a useful source of information for anyone else with an in\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Of all the works on the evolution of birds, it is the most modern, complete summary, with just enough fossil figures (no reconstructions), including 16 central color pencils, morphological descriptions and of genealogical trees. A mine of reflections that illuminate our current settlements\" \u003cb\u003eOrnithos, 24:5 (2017)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eForeword ix\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreface xi\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments xiii\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 1 An Introduction to Birds, the Geological Settings of Their Evolution, and the Avian Skeleton 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBirds Are Evolutionarily Nested within Theropod Dinosaurs 2\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Geological Settings of Avian Evolution in a Nutshell 4\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacteristics of the Avian Skeleton 6\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 2 The Origin of Birds 18\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eArchaeopteryx: The German “Urvogel” and Its Bearing on Avian Evolution 19\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Closest Maniraptoran Relatives of Birds 22\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeather Evolution 32\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Origin of Avian Flight 37\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 3 The Mesozoic Flight Way towards Modern Birds 43\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eJeholornithids: Early Cretaceous Long-Tailed Birds 44\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConfuciusornis, Sapeornis, and Kin: Basal Birds with a Pygostyle 45\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOrnithothoraces and the Origin of Sustained Flapping Flight Capabilities 50\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Ornithuromorpha: Refinement of Modern Characteristics 55\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOrnithurae and the Origin of Modern Birds 59\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 4 Mesozoic Birds: Interrelationships and Character Evolution 64\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Interrelationships of Mesozoic Birds: Controversial Phylogenetic Placements and Well-Supported Clades 65\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacter Evolution in Mesozoic Birds 68\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOntogenetic Development of Mesozoic Birds 81\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 5 The Interrelationships and Origin of Crown Group Birds (Neornithes) 84\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhylogenetic Interrelationships of Neornithine Birds 85\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Mesozoic Fossil Record of Neornithine-Like and Neornithine Birds 88\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 6 Palaeognathous Birds (Ostriches, Tinamous, and Allies) 94\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Interrelationships of Extant Palaeognathae 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarly Cenozoic Palaeognathous Birds of the Northern Hemisphere 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLong-Winged Ostriches, Rheas, and Tinamous 97\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eShort-Winged Palaeognathous Birds 101\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBiogeography: A Textbook Example of Gondwanan Vicariance Has Been Dismantled 105\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 7 Galloanseres: “Fowl” and Kin 107\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGalliformes: From Herbivorous Forest Dwellers to Seed Eaters of Open Landscapes 108\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Waterfowl 113\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGastornithids: Giant Herbivorous Birds in the Early Paleogene of the Northern Hemisphere 118\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDromornithids (Mihirungs or Thunderbirds): Gastornis-Like Birds from Australia 120\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePelagornithids: Bony-Toothed Birds 121\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 8 The “Difficult-to-Place Groups”: Biogeographic Surprises and Aerial Specialists 125\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Columbiform Birds: Doves, Sandgrouse, … and Mesites? 126\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Hoatzin: A South American Relict Species 127\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTuracos and Cuckoos 129\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBustards 131\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe “Wonderful” Mirandornithes, or How Different Can Sister Taxa Be? 132\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrisores: The Early Diversification of Nocturnal Avian Insectivores 136\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 9 Shorebirds, Cranes, and Relatives 147\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharadriiformes: One of the Most Diverse Groups of Extant Birds 148\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom Rail to Crane 156\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 10 Aequornithes: Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Carnivores 161\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLoons: Foot-Propelled Divers of the Northern Hemisphere 162\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePelagic Tubenoses and Albatrosses 164\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePenguins: More Than 60 Million Years of Flightlessness 168\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Polyphyletic “Pelecaniformes” and “Ciconiiformes” 174\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLate Cenozoic Turnovers in Marine Avifaunas 187\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 11 Cariamiforms and Diurnal Birds of Prey 189\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeriemas and Allies: Two Species Now, Many More in the Past 190\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiurnal Birds of Prey: Multiple Cases of Convergence among Raptorial Birds 197\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 12 The Cenozoic Radiation of Small Arboreal Birds 204\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Courol and Mousebirds: Two African Relict Groups 205\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Long Evolutionary History of Owls 210\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParrots and Passerines: An Unexpected Sister Group Relationship and Its Potential Evolutionary Implications 212\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTrogons, Rollers, and Woodpeckers: Cavity-Nesters with Diverse Foot Morphologies 223\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter 13 Insular Avifaunas Now and Then, on Various Scales 233\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIslands and Isolated Continents as Refugia 234\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Evolution of Flightlessness in Predator-Free Environments 235\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInsular Gigantism and Islands as Cradles of Unusual Morphologies 241\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlossary 245\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReferences 248\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 289\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"John Wiley and Sons Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49406967742807,"sku":"9781119020769","price":999.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781119020769.jpg?v=1730497726","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/avian-evolution-9781119020769","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}