A comprehensive treatment of primate paleontology. Profusely illustrated and up to date, it captures the complete history of the discovery and interpretation of primate fossils. The chapters range from primate origins to the advent of anatomically modern humans. Each emphasizes three key components of the record of primate evolution: history of discovery, taxonomy of the fossils, and evolution of the adaptive radiations they represent. The Primate Fossil Record summarizes objectively the many intellectual debates surrounding the fossil record and provides a foundation of reference information on the last two decades of astounding discoveries and worldwide field research for physical anthropologists, paleontologists and evolutionary biologists.
• First comprehensive treatment of primate and human paleontology in two decades • Profusely illustrated and up to date • Essential reference work for anyone working on primate evolution and paleoanthropology
Contents
Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction to the primate fossil record Walter Carl Hartwig; 2. The origin of primates David Tab Rasmussen; Part I. The Earliest Primates and the Fossil Record of Prosimians: 3. The earliest fossil primates and the evolution of prosimians Herbert H. Covert; 4. Adapiformes: phylogeny and adaptation Daniel L. Gebo; 5. Tarsiiformes: evolutionary history and adaptation Gregg F. Gunnell and Kenneth D. Rose; 6. Fossil lorisoids Erica Phillips and Alan C. Walker; 7. Quaternary fossil lemurs Laurie R. Godfrey and William L. Jungers; Part II. The Origin and Diversification of Anthropoid Primates: 8. The origin and diversification of anthropoid primates - introduction Marian Dagosto; 9. Basal anthropoids K. Christopher Beard; 10. Platyrrhine paleontology and systematics: the paradigm shifts Alfred L. Rosenberger; 11. Early platyrrhines of southern South America John G. Fleagle and Marcelo F. Tejedor; 12. Miocene platyrrhines of the northern neotropics Walter Carl Hartwig and D. Jeffrey Meldrum; 13. Extinct Quaternary platyrrhines of the Greater Antilles and Brazil Ross D. E. MacPhee and Ines Horovitz; Part III. The Fossil Record of the Early Catarrhines and Old World Monkeys: 14. Early catarrhines of the African Eocene and Oligocene David Tab Rasmussen; 15. The Pliopithecoidea David Begun; 16. The Victoriapithecidae, Cercopithecoidea Brenda Benefit and Monte L. McCrossin; 17. Fossil Old World monkeys: the Late Neogene radiation Nina G. Jablonski; Part IV. The Fossil Record of Hominoid Primates: 18. Perspectives on the Miocene Hominoidea David R. Pilbeam; 19. Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene catarrhines from Afro-Arabia Terry Harrison; 20. European hominoids David Begun; 21. The hominoid radiation in Asia Jay Kelley; 22. Middle and Late Miocene African hominoids Steven C. Ward and Dana Duren; Part V. The Fossil Record of Human Ancestry: 23. Introduction to the fossil record of human ancestry Henry M. McHenry; 24. Earliest hominids Tim D. White; 25. Early genus Homo Holly Dunsworth and Alan C. Walker; 26. Migrations, radiations and continuity: patterns in the evolution of Middle and Late Pleistocene humans Fred Smith; References cited; Index.
Reviews
'An essential reference for any university library.' New Scientist
'… a treasure-trove of up-to-date descriptive and interpretative summaries … this will be a must for any paleoanthropologist or paleontologist working on fossil primates. The editor and Cambridge deserve kudos for this product.' The Human Nature Review
'I can recommend The Primate Fossil Record to students and professionals alike. Besides aiding in their research, it will also, in particular thanks to its History of Discovery and Debate and Evolution sections, be a great resource to those who teach primate evolution.' PalAss Newsletter
'…[an] essential reference work for the foreseeable future.' TRENDS in Ecology & Evolution
'… a magnificent contribution to the literature on primate evolution … anyone teaching or researching on primate evolution will want a copy.' Journal of Human Evolution
'… an impressively clear compilation and synthesis of knowledge and interpretations of the primate fossil record … a key reference text for both the specialist primate palaeontologist and others in primatology with an interest in the evolutionary record.' Primate Eye
'… [an achievement] that is unlikely to be equalled for some considerable time.' Folia Primatologica
'… this volume succeeds brilliantly as a reference source. It will be a welcome companion for paleo-primatologists for the next two decades … another very positive element of this volume are the numerous high-quality photographs and line drawings of fossil material.' Journal of Paleontology
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