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Extinct Animals An Encyclopedia of Species that Have Disappeared during Human History

Ross Piper

Book Code: GR4987

ISBN: 0-313-34987-8

ISBN-13: 978-0-313-34987-4

DOI:

Greenwood Press

Publication: 3/30/2009

List Price: $85.00 (UK Sterling Price: £47.95)

Availability: Not yet published. (Estimated publication date, 3/30/2009)

Media Type: Hardcover

Trim Size: 7 x 10

Subjects:

Description: Everyone is familiar with the dodo and the wooly mammoth, but how many people have heard of the scimitar cat and the Falkland Island fox? Extinct Animals portrays over 60 remarkable animals that have been lost forever during the relatively recent geological past. Each entry provides a concise discussion of the history of the animal - how and where it lived, and how it became extinct - as well as the scientific discovery and analysis of the creature. In addition, this work examines what led to extinction - from the role of cyclical swings in the Earth's climate to the spread of humans and their activities. Many scientists believe that we are in the middle of a mass extinction right now, caused by the human undermining of the earth's complex systems that support life. Understanding what caused the extinction of animals in the past may help us understand and prevent the extinction of species in the future. Extinct Animals examines the biology and history of some of the most interesting creatures that have ever lived:

The American Terror Bird, which probably became extinct over 1 million years ago, were massive predators, some of which were almost 10 feet tall

The Rocky Mountain Locust, last seen in 1902, formed the most immense animal aggregations ever known, with swarms estimated to include over 10 trillion insects.

The Giant Ground Sloth, which was as large as an elephant
and

Neandertals, the first Europeans, which co-existed with prehistoric Homo sapiens
Extinct Animals includes illustrations - many created for the work - that help the reader visualize the extinct creature, and each entry concludes with a list of resources for those who wish to do further research.

Table of Contents:

PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
1. LESS THAN 100 YEARS AGO
GOLDEN TOAD
GASTRIC-BROODING FROG
ESKIMO CURLEW
CARIBBEAN MONK SEAL
THYLACINE
CAROLINA PARAKEET
PASSENGER PIGEON
EXTINCTION INSIGHT 1: THE LOTTERY OF FOSSILIZATION
2. LESS THAN 200 YEARS AGO
ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUST
PIG-FOOTED BANDICOOT
QUELILI
STEPHENS ISLAND WREN
TARPAN
QUAGGA
WARRAH
GREAT AUK
EXTINCTION INSIGHT 2: THE GREAT AMERICAN INTERCHANGE
3. LESS THAN 500 YEARS AGO
ELEPHANT BIRDS
STELLERS SEA COW
DODO
AUROCHS
MOA
HAASTS EAGLE
MARCANO'S SOLENODON
EXTINCTION INSIGHT 3: HUMAN DISCOVERY AND EXTINCTION
4. LESS THAN 10000 YEARS AGO
MOA-NALO
DU
HORNED TURTLE
GIANT LEMUR
WOOLY MAMMOTH
SIVATHERE
GIANT DEER
GIANT GROUND SLOTH
CUBAN GIANT OWL
EXTINCTION INSIGHT 4: ENTOMBED IN TAR: THE RANCHO LA BREA ASPHALT DEPOSITS
5. 10000-12500 YEARS AGO
GLYPTODONTS
SABER TOOTH CAT
SCIMITAR CAT
AMERICAN MASTODON
GIANT BEAVER
AMERICAN CHEETAH
AMERICAN LION
WOOLY RHINOCEROS
LITOPTERN
DIRE WOLF
CAVE BEAR
SICILIAN DWARF ELEPHANT
MERRIAMS TERATORN
EXTINCTION INSIGHT 5: ICE AGES
6. MORE THAN 12500 YEARS AGO
GIANT SHORT-FACED BEAR
FLORES HUMAN
GIANT BISON
HOMO ERECTUS
NEANDERTAL
MARSUPIAL LION
DIPROTODON
AUSTRALIAN THUNDER BIRDS
GIANT MONITOR LIZARD
QUINKANA
GIANT SHORT-FACED KANGAROO
GIANT ECHIDNA
WONAMBI
EXTINCTION INSIGHT 6: A HOLE IN THE DESERT: THE NULLARBOR PLAIN CAVES
7. MORE THAN 50000 YEARS AGO
GIANT RHINOCEROS
MEGATOOTH SHARK
MAGNIFICENT TERATORN
POUCH-KNIFE
TERROR BIRDS
GIANT HYENA
GIANT APES
GIANT CAMEL
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

LC Card Number: 2008050409

LCC Class: QL83

Dewey Class: 591


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