Naslov
Paleobiology of Giant Flightless Birds

Autori
Samardžija, Marko

Izvornik
Veterinarska stanica (0350-7149) 49 (2018), 3; 222-222

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, osvrt, ostalo

Ključne riječi
evolution ; paleobiology ; giant flightless birds

Sažetak
The fossil record of giant flightless birds extends back to the Late Cretaceous, more than 70 million years ago, but our understanding of these extinct birds is still incomplete. This is partly because the number of specimens available is sometimes limited, but also because widely different approaches have been used to study them, with sometimes contradictory results. This book summarizes the current knowledge of the paleobiology of seven groups of giant flightless birds: Dinornithiformes, Aepyornithiformes, Dromornithidae, Phorusrhacidae, Brontornithidae, Gastornithidae and Gargantuavis. The first chapter presents the global diversity of these birds and reviews the tools and methods used to study their paleobiology. Chapters 2 to 8 are each dedicated to one of the seven groups of extinct birds. Finally, a conclusion offers a global synthesis of the information presented in the book in an attempt to define a common evolutionary model. This valuable book focuses on the giant flightless birds that evolved independently in different parts of the world since the Cretaceous period. Also, it covers a number of different families with different evolutionary histories, providing a source of interesting comparisons and provides emphasis on the palaeobiology of these birds, including their evolution, adaptations, mode of life, ecology and reasons for their extinction. The book contains 281 pages with 7 tables and 89 figures and will realize the exceptional value of this contribution to life sciences, particularly in evolution of flightless birds which have only a few species that survived. The book is intended for students, professional researchers, and teachers in biology, ornithology and veterinary sciences. The book is also readable for all persons that are interested in paleobiology of birds.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA