Paleontology of Vertebrates (Paperback)

1 Concepts, Methods, and Techniques.- 1.1 Fossils and Fossilization.- 1.1.1 Fossils.- 1.1.2 Fossilization.- 1.1.3 Paleontological Deposits.- 1.1.4 Paleontological Techniques.- 1.2 Species and Classification of Populations.- 1.2.1 The Concept of Species.- 1.2.2 Paleontological and Biological Species.- 1.2.3 Biometrical Analyses.- 1.3 Analysis of Characteristics and Classifications.- 1.3.1 Classical Systematics.- 1.3.2 Evolutionary Systematics.- 1.3.3 Phylogenetic Systematics or Cladism.- 1.3.4 Phenetic Taxonomy.- 1.3.5 The Choice of a Phylogenetic Systematics and Evolutionary Mechanisms Analysis.- 1.4 The Search for a Mechanism of Evolutionary Change: Heterochrony.- 2 The Vertebrates.- 2.1 The Vertebrate Organization Plan.- 2.2 Origin of Vertebrates.- 2.2.1 The Chordata.- 2.2.2 Scenario and Phyletic Relationships among the Chordata.- 2.3 Diversity of Vertebrates.- 2.4 Temporal Distribution of Vertebrates.- 2.5 Spatial Distribution of Vertebrates.- 2.6 An Attempt at Vertebrate Classification.- 3 The Conquest of the Aquatic Environment.- 3.1 The First Vertebrates.- 3.2 Relationships of Agnatha.- 3.3 Myxines.- 3.4 Conodonts.- 3.5 Pteraspidomorpha.- 3.5.1 Characteristics.- 3.5.2 Heterostraci.- 3.5.3 Thelodontia.- 3.6 Lampreys (Petromyzontidae) and Cephalaspidomorpha.- 3.6.1 Characteristics.- 3.6.2 Lampreys.- 3.6.3 Osteostraci.- 3.6.4 Anaspidae.- 3.6.5 Galeaspidae.- 3.6.6 Modes of Life.- 3.7 Gnathostomata.- 3.7.1 Jaws and Fins.- 3.7.2 Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of the First Gnathostomata.- 3.7.3 Placoderms.- 3.7.4 Chondrichthyes.- 3.8 Teleostomi.- 3.8.1 Characteristics and Phylogenetic Relationships.- 3.8.2 Acanthodia.- 3.8.3 Osteichthyes.- 4 From the Aquatic to the Terrestrial Environment: The Tetrapoda.- 4.1 Problems of Adaptation.- 4.1.1 Respiration.- 4.1.2 Thermoregulation.- 4.1.3 Locomotion.- 4.1.4 Reproduction.- 4.2 Adaptations.- 4.2.1 Skeleton.- 4.2.2 Reproduction.- 4.3 Paleontological History of the First Tetrapoda.- 4.3.1 Ichthyostegidae.- 4.3.2 Loxommatidae and Crassigyrinus.- 4.3.3 Temnospondyli.- 4.3.4 Lissamphibia.- 4.3.5 Primitive Amniota or "Anthracosauria".- 4.4 Developmental Heterochronies.- 4.4.1 Neoteny.- 4.4.2 Progenesis.- 5 The Conquest of the Terrestrial Environment: The Amniota.- 5.1 Characteristics and Phylogenetic Relationships.- 5.1.1 Reproduction.- 5.1.2 Thermoregulation.- 5.1.3 Phylogenetic Relationships.- 5.1.4 Cranial Structures.- 5.2 The First Amniota.- 5.2.1 Captorhinomorphs.- 5.2.2 Procolophonia and Others.- 5.3 Turtles.- 5.4 Lepidosauromorpha.- 5.4.1 Younginiformes.- 5.4.2 Sphenodontia.- 5.4.3 Lizards.- 5.4.4 Snakes.- 5.5 Archosauromorpha.- 5.5.1 Rhynchosauria.- 5.5.2 Archosauria.- 5.5.3 Dinosaurs.- 5.5.4 Birds.- 5.5.5 Pterosaurs.- 5.5.6 Diapsids incertae sedis: Kuehneosaurids.- 5.5.7 Crocodiles.- 5.6 Ichthyosaurs.- 5.7 Plesiosaurs.- 5.8 Placodontia.- 6 The Conquest of the Aerial Environment.- 6.1 The Constraints of Flight.- 6.2 Pterosaurs.- 6.3 Birds.- 6.3.1 Archaeopteryx.- 6.3.2 Landmarks in the History of the Birds.- 6.4 Chiroptera.- 7 The Radiations of Mammals.- 7.1 From Pelycosaurs to Mammals.- 7.1.1 Pelycosaurs.- 7.1.2 Therapsidae.- 7.2 Acquisition of Mammalian Characteristics.- 7.2.1 From the Therapsid to Mammalian Articulation.- 7.2.2 Structure of the Middle Ear in Mammals.- 7.2.3 Other Mammalian Characteristics.- 7.3 Mesozoic Mammals.- 7.3.1 Prototheria.- 7.3.2 Theria.- 7.4 Marsupials.- 7.5 Placentals.- 7.5.1 Mesozoic Placentals.- 7.5.2 Radiations of the Placentals.- 7.5.3 Insectivora and Dermoptera.- 7.5.4 Pantodonta.- 7.5.5 Taeniodonta and Amblypoda.- 7.5.6 Condylarthra.- 7.5.7 Ungulata of South America.- 7.5.8 Perissodactyli.- 7.5.9 Artiodactyli.- 7.5.10 Proboscidea.- 7.5.11 Carnivora.- 7.5.12 Cetacea.- 7.5.13 Xenarthra.- 7.5.14 Lagomorpha.- 7.5.15 Rodents.- 8 The Primates and Hominization.- 8.1 Characteristics and Phylogenetic Relationships.- 8.1.1 Characteristics.- 8.1.2 Phylogenetic Relationships.- 8.2 Strepsirhini.- 8.2.1 Plesiadapiformes, Adapiformes and Omomyids.-