Description
Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive examination of amphibian evolution ever produced, The Rise of Amphibians is an essential resource for paleontologists, herpetologists, geologists, and evolutionary biologists.
Trade ReviewI highly recommend The Rise of Amphibians to anyone interested not only in amphibians but also in the evolutionary history of vertebrates in general. -- Hans-Dieter Sues Integrative and Comparative Biology 2009 A high-quality production, with finely illustrated drawings of skulls, vertebrae, ribs, teeth, and long bones of more amphibians, past and present, than most of us imagined even existed. -- Whit Gibbons Tuscaloosa News 2009 The Rise of Amphibians should be on the bookshelf of anyone involved in vertebrate evolution... an excellent source of information... It is a first-choice reference book that stimulates further studies and research. -- Axel Janke Systematic Biology 2010 Provides a wealth of valuable information about this fascinating history in a clear, easily readable style. -- Robert R. Reisz Quarterly Review of Biology 2010 I enjoyed reading this fascinating book. It will become a landmark and standard reference in early amphibian evolution for years to come. -- Miguel Vences Bioscience 2010 A useful reference catalog for the professional or well-read amateur. -- Richard Kissel American Paleontologist 2010
Table of ContentsPreface
Acknowledgments
1. History of the Earth and Life
2. Advanced Metazoans and the Ancestry of Vertebrates
3. The Origin of Amphibians
4. The Radiation of Carboniferous Amphibians
5. Adaptation, Radiation, and Relationships
6. The Zenith of Amphibian Diversity
7. The Origin of Amniotes: Escape from the Water
8. Stereospondyls: Escape from the Land
9. The Enigma of Modern Amphibian Origins
10. The Ancestry of Frogs
11. The Ancestry of Salamanders
12. Eocaecilia and the Origin of Caecilians
13. The Success of Modern Amphibians
14. The Future of Amphibians
Abbreviations Used in Illustrations
Glossary
References
Index
