Dogs : their fossil relatives and evolutionary history / Xiaoming Wang, Richard H. Tedford ; illustrations by Mauricio Antón.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Xiaoming Wang and Richard H. Tedford have spent the past 20 years studying the evolutionary history of the family Canidae. Both are well known for having established the modern framework for the evolutionary relationship of canids. Combining their research with Mauricio Antón's impeccable reconstructions of both extinct and extant species, Wang and Tedford present a remarkably detailed and nuanced portrait of the origin and evolution of canids over the past 40 million years.

The authors cull their history from the most recent scientific research conducted on the vast collections of the American Museum of Natural History and other leading institutions. The fossil record of the Canidae, particularly those from their birth place in North America, are the strongest of their kind among known groups of carnivorans. Such a wonderfully detailed evolutionary history provides access to a natural history that is not possible with many other groups of carnivorans.

With their rich fossil record, diverse adaptations to various environments, and different predatory specializations, canids are an ideal model organism for the mapping of predator behavior and morphological specializations. They also offer an excellent contrast to felids, which remain entrenched in extreme predatory specializations. The innovative illustrated approach in this book is the perfect accompaniment to an extremely important branch of animal and fossil study. It transforms the science of paleontology into a thrilling visual experience and provides an unprecedented reference for anyone fascinated by dogs.

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

Read chapter 4, Anatomy and Function: How the Parts Work . Excerpted from Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History by Xiaoming Wang, Richard H. Tedford, Mauricio Antón All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

"Man's best friends" occur in many varieties today, but they also have a long evolutionary history: more than 200 species of the family Canidae are known since the earliest forms existed 40 million years ago. Wang (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) and Tedford (emer., American Museum of Natural History), paleontologists who have studied dogs and their relatives around the world, review their complex past in an easy-to-read text, accompanied by Anton's marvelous illustrations. Two short introductory chapters place dogs within the mammalian order Carnivora, which also includes cats, hyenas, bears, and their living and extinct relatives. Chapter 3 examines numerous species and genera (evolutionary groups of species) of canids; many are illustrated with drawings of the skull or skeleton, often with life reconstructions (a few in color) where muscles, skin, and fur are placed by analogy with modern forms. Later chapters examine the way canid teeth, jaws, and limbs function; how social hunting evolved as a canid characteristic; the interactions between dogs, their prey, and changing climates through time; and intercontinental dispersal patterns. A section on the domestication of dogs and their modern varieties closes the text, followed by a list of all fossil species, an evolutionary tree, and a glossary. Summing Up: Recommended. General and all undergraduate audiences. E. Delson CUNY Herbert H. Lehman College