This beautifully illustrated 2007 volume describes the entire flora and fauna of the famous Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil - one of the world's most important fossil deposits, exhibiting exceptional preservation. A wide range of invertebrates and vertebrates are covered, including extended sections on pterosaurs and insects. Two chapters are devoted to plants. Many of the chapters include descriptions of new species and re-descriptions and appraisals of taxa published in obscure places, rendering them available to a wider audience. Fossil descriptions are supported by detailed explanations of the geological history of the deposit and its tectonic setting. Drawing on expertise from around the world and specimens from the most important museum collections, this book forms an essential reference for researchers and enthusiasts with an interest in Mesozoic fossils.
Part I. The Crato Formation Konservat Lagerstätte: 1. Introduction to the Crato Formation David M. Martill; 2. The geology of the crato formation David M. Martill; 3. Stratigraphy of the Crato Formation David M. Martill and Ulrich Heimhofer; 4. The sedimentology and depositional environment of the Crato Formation Ulrich Heimhofer and David M. Martill; 5. Commercial exploitation of the Crato Formation Artur Andrade; Part II. The invertebrate fauna: 6. Preparation techniques for Crato Formation fossils Michael Schwickert; 7. Taphonomy and preservation of Crato Formation arthropods Federica Menon and David M. Martill; 8. Chilopoda - centipedes David M. Martill; 9. Arachnida - spiders, scorpions and allies Jason A. Dunlop, Paul Selden and Federica Menon; 10. Crustacea of the Crato Formation Gunter Schweigert, David M. Martill and Mark Williams; 11. Insects of the Crato Formation Günter Bechly, Arnold Staniczek, Rainer Willman, Fabian Haas, David A. Grimaldi, Sam W. Heads, Rafael Gioia Martins-Neto, Federica Menon, Sam W. Heads, Jacek Szwedo, Yuri A. Popov, Karin Wolf-Schwenninger, Wolfgang Schawaller, Till Osten and Jana Willkommen; Part III. The vertebrate fauna: 12. The Crato Formation fish fauna Paulo M. Brito; 13. Anurans of the Crato Formation Maria Eduarda Leal, David M. Martill and Paulo M. Brito; 14. Turtles of the Crato Formation Darren Naish; 15. Lizards of the Crato Formation David M. Martill; 16. Crocodilians of the Crato Formation: evidence for enigmatic species Eberhard 'Dino' Frey and Steven Walter Salisbury; 17. Pterosaurs of the Crato Formation David M. Unwin and David M. Martill; 18. Birds of the crato formation Darren Naish, David M. Martill and Ian Merrick; Part IV. The Flora: 19. Flora Barbara A. R. Mohr, Mary E. C. Bernardes-de-Oliveira and Robert F. Loveridge; 20. Spores and pollen from the Crato Formation: biostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental implications David J. Batten; Part V. Miscellanea: 21. Miscellaneous biota David M. Martill; Appendix: Species list for the crato formation; Systematic index.
Reviews for The Crato Fossil Beds of Brazil: Window into an Ancient World
Review of the hardback: '... beautifully illustrated ... this book provides the most up-to-date information and a comprehensive treatise on the Crato Formation.' Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology Review of the hardback: 'This book shows a complete and very detailed review of one of the most important Mesozoic deposit exhibiting exceptional preservations. ... very detailed and sumptuously illustrated ...' Geobios Review of the hardback: 'Preservation here is so good that even the detailed colour patterning on its outstretched wings is still evident. The editors of this Window into an Ancient World (along with the publishers Cambridge University Press) are to be congratulated on producing such an attractive and useful work which will, no doubt, join OUP's Messel book, the Smithsonian's book on Florissant, etc., on our library shelves for years to come.' Geological Magazine ... beautifully illustrated ... this book provides the most up-to-date information and a comprehensive treatise on the Crato Formation. - Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology This book shows a complete and very detailed review of one of the most important Mesozoic deposit exhibiting exceptional preservations. ... very detailed and sumptuously illustrated ... - Geobios
