"South America is home to some of the most distinctive mammals on Earth-giant armadillos, tiny anteaters, the world's largest rodent, and its smallest deer. But the continent once supported a variety of other equally intriguing mammals that have no close living relatives: armored mammals with tail clubs, saber-toothed marsupials, and even a swimming sloth. We know of the existence of these peculiar species thanks to South America's rich fossil record, which provides many glimpses of prehistoric mammals and the ecosystems in which they lived. Organized as a ""walk through time"" and featuring species from 15 important fossil sites, this book is the most extensive and richly illustrated volume devoted exclusively to the Cenozoic mammals of South America. The text is supported by 75 life reconstructions of extinct species in their native habitats, as well as photographs of fossil specimens and the sites highlighted in the book. An annotated bibliography is included for those interested in delving into the scientific literature."
By:
Darin A. Croft
Illustrated by:
Velizar Simeonovski
Imprint: Indiana University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: annotated edition
Dimensions:
Height: 254mm,
Width: 178mm,
Spine: 28mm
Weight: 1.370kg
ISBN: 9780253020840
ISBN 10: 0253020840
Series: Life of the Past
Pages: 324
Publication Date: 29 August 2016
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
"Preface Acknowledgments 1. Time and Geography 2. Introduction to Mammals Part I. Early South American Phase and the Trans-Atlantic Dispersal Interval (TADI) 3. Tiupampa, Bolivia 3.1 Pucadelphys andinus 3.2 Mayulestes ferox 3.3 Molinodus suarezi 3.4 Alcidedorbignya inopinata 4. Itaboraí, Brazil 4.1 Epidolops ameghinoi 4.2 Colbertia magellanica 4.3 Protolipterna ellipsodontoides 4.4 Carodnia vieirai 5. Gran Barranca, Argentina 5.1 Sebecus icaeorhinus 5.2 Niolamia argentina and Caroloameghinia mater 5.3 Utaetus buccatus 5.4 Thomashuxleya rostrata 5.5 Notopithecus adapinus 6. La Gran Hondonada, Argentina 6.1 Otronia muhlbergi 6.2 Pseudhyrax eutrachytheroides 6.3 Puelia plicata 6.4 Trigonostylops wortmani Part II. Late South American Phase 7. Tinguiririca, Chile 7.1 Klohnia charrieri 7.2 Pseudoglyptodon chilensis 7.3 Andemys termasi 7.4 Santiagorothia chiliensis 8. Salla, Bolivia 8.1 Paraborhyaena boliviana 8.2 Branisella boliviana 8.3 Anayatherium fortis 8.4 Trachytherus alloxus 8.5 Pyrotherium romeroi 9. Chucal, Chile 9.1 Parapropalaehoplophorus septentrionalis 9.2 Peltephilus ferox 9.3 Theosodon lallemanti 9.4 Nesodon imbricatus 9.5 Altitypotherium chucalensis 10. Santa Cruz, Argentina 10.1 Necrolestes patagonensis 10.2 Borhyaena tuberata 10.3 Hapalops indifferens 10.4 Steiromys duplicatus 10.5 Thoatherium minusculum 10.6 Interatherium robustum 11. La Venta, Colombia 11.1 Neotamandua borealis 11.2 Cebupithecia sarmientoi 11.3 Megadolodus molariformis and Purussaurus neivensis 11.4 Miocochilius anamopodus 11.5 Granastrapotherium snorki 12. Quebrada Honda, Bolivia 12.1 Acyon myctoderos 12.2 Hondalagus altiplanensis 12.3 Guiomys unica 12.4 Hemihegetotherium trilobus 13. Arroyo Chasicó, Argentina 13.1 Protomegalonyx chasicoensis 13.2 Prolagostomus and Lycopsis viverensis 13.3 Neobrachytherium ullumense 13.4 Chasicotherium rothi 13.5 Typotheriopsis chasicoensis Part III. The Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) and the Interamerican Phase 14. Acre, Brazil 14.1 Neoglyptatelus originalis 14.2 Thalassocnus natans 14.3 Phoberomys burmeisteri 14.4 Trigodon 15. Catamarca, Argentina 15.1 Andalgalornis steulleti 15.2 Thylacosmilus atrox 15.3 Vassallia maxima and Argentavis magnificens 15.4 Pronothrotherium typicum 15.5 Cyonasua brevirostris 16. Chapadmalal, Argentina 16.1 Sparassocynus derivatus 16.2 Macroeuphractus outesi 16.3 Scelidotherium parodii 16.4 Platygonus marplatensis 16.5 Paedotherium typicum 17. Tarija, Bolivia 17.1 Cuvieronius hyodon 17.2 Glyptodon reticulatus 17.3 Doedicurus clavicaudatus 17.4 Megatherium americanum 17.5 Protocyon tarijensis and Glossotherium tarijense 17.6 Smilodon populator 17.7 Onohippidium devillei 17.8 Macrauchenia patachonica 17.9 Toxodon platensis Further Reading Appendix 1. Alphabetical List of Species Appendix 2. List of Families and Higher Taxonomic Groups Appendix 3. Mammals of Tiupampa, Bolivia Appendix 4. Mammals of Itaboraí, Brazil Appendix 5. Middle Eocene (""Barrancan"") Mammals of Gran Barranca, Argentina Appendix 6. Mammals of La Gran Hondonada, Argentina Appendix 7. Mammals of Tinguiririca, Chile Appendix 8. Mammals of Salla, Bolivia Appendix 9. Mammals of Chucal, Chile Appendix 10. Mammals of Costal Santa Cruz, Argentina Appendix 11. Mammals of La Venta, Colombia Appendix 12. Mammals of Quebrada Honda, Bolivia Appendix 13. Mammals of Arroyo Chasicó, Argentina Appendix 14. Mammals of Acre (Brazil and Peru) Appendix 15. Mammals of Catamarca, Argentina Appendix 16. Mammals of Chapadmalal, Argentina Appendix 17. Mammals of Tarija, Bolivia Glossary Index"
Darin A. Croft is Associate Professor of Anatomy at Case Western Reserve University and a research associate at several museums, including the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. He is an authority on the extinct mammals of South America and has active field programs in the Andes of Chile and Bolivia. Velizar Simeonovski is an artist based in Chicago who specializes in life reconstructions of extinct species and visualizations of ancient landscapes. His works have been featured in scientific journals and magazines, in the book Extinct Madagascar: Picturing the Island's Past, and in museum exhibits in the US and in his home country of Bulgaria.
Reviews for Horned Armadillos and Rafting Monkeys: The Fascinating Fossil Mammals of South America
Organized as a 'walk through time' and featuring species from 15 important fossil sites, this book is the most extensive and richly illustrated volume devoted exclusively to the Cenozoic mammals of South America. * BirdBooker Report * Given the wealth of unfamiliar animals the volume presents, even readers well versed in vertebrate biodiversity willnd it rewarding. * The Quarterly Review of Biology * This handsome book, written by a leading expert in South American paleontology, is profusely illustrated with maps, time charts, color photographs of fossils, and exquisite life reconstructions. The book is accessible to the general reader, and it will appeal to any individual, young and old alike, interested in the fossil record, as well as to students and scholars of paleontology who work in other parts of the globe. * Choice * An expert in fossil mammals from South America, this is Croft's magnum opus on his life's passion. * Twilight Beasts * It is by far the best and most satisfying book-sized work that looks at South America's extinct fauna so far, and it is unique in its depth of coverage and quality of content. I encourage you to get hold of a copy yourself. * Scientific American Blog Network * All these considerations make this book a great source of information for the non-specialist, and a nice summary for those researchers looking for a synthesis of Cenozoic South American fossil sites. * J Mammal Evol * Horned Armadillos and Rafting Monkeys is an excellent work that will be of interest to anyone that appreciates the extraordinary world of extinct and living mammals, extinction processes, and the loss of biodiversity, and the unique natural history of South America. The combination of scientific information and vivid paleoart reconstructions makes this book a valuable source for an appreciation of these ancient beasts and the ecosystems in which they lived. * Oxford University Press Journals *
- Winner of Gold Medal, Science, 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards.
