Carnivoran Evolution New Views on Phylogeny, Form and Function

Carnivoran Evolution: New Views on Phylogeny, Form and Function by Anjali Goswami, published by Cambridge University Press on July 29, 2010, is a comprehensive exploration of the mammalian clade Carnivora. Spanning 506 pages, this edition delves into the ecological, morphological, and taxonomic diversity of carnivorans, which include a wide range of species from bamboo-eating pandas to flesh-eating sabre-toothed cats. The book presents a collection of contributions from leading international scientists, addressing significant evolutionary questions through the lens of carnivoran relationships and their fossil record, which extends over sixty million years.

Readers will find a detailed examination of various topics, including the palaeoecology of early fossil carnivorans and the factors influencing their diversity and biogeographic distributions. The volume discusses ecomorphological convergences among carnivorans and other mammals, utilizing morphometric and Finite Element analyses. Additionally, it highlights how recent molecular and palaeontological data have reshaped our understanding of carnivoran phylogeny. This work illustrates the diverse methodologies and inquiries present in the fields of evolutionary biology and palaeontology, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the complexities of life sciences and evolution.