rdf-syntax-grammar
mods:
  schema location: http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
  title info:
    title: Paleogene Fossil Birds
  name:
    name part: Mayr, Gerald.
    role:
      role term: creator
    role:
      role term: author.
  name:
    name part: SpringerLink (Online service)
  type of resource: text
  origin info:
    place:
      place term: gw
    date issued: 2009
    issuance: monographic
  language:
    language term: eng
  physical description:
    form: electronic
    form: electronic resource
    reformatting quality: access
    form: remote
    extent: XIII, 262 p. online resource.
  abstract: The present book is the first detailed review of the Paleogene avian fossil record on a worldwide scale. Numerous well-preserved fossil bird remains from this geological period, which covers the time span from the end of the Mesozoic era to the beginning of the Miocene, have been described in the past two decades. Some of these not only provide information on morphological transformations in the evolutionary history of the extant avian taxa, but are also of great significance for an understanding of their historical biogeography. Others represent extinct taxa which sometimes show a bizarre morphology not found in modern birds, such as the giant pseudo-toothed birds which reached wingspans up to six meters. The reader is introduced to basic morphological features of the various groups which, as far as possible, are placed into a phylogenetic context in the light of current hypotheses on the interrelationships of extant birds. In a concluding chapter the biogeographical significance of Paleogene fossil birds and possible reasons for faunal changes during the Paleogene are detailed. As such, the book not only aims at providing an overview for specialists, but may also help students of other fields of vertebrate paleontology to better understand Paleogene ecosystems.
  table of contents: Stratigraphy and major fossil localities -- Higher-level phylogeny of extant birds -- Mesozoic Neornithes -- Palaeognathous birds -- Galloanseres -- Aquatic and semiaquatic taxa -- Charadriiformes (shorebirds and allies) -- “Core-Gruiformes” (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) -- Phoenicopteriformes (flamingos) and Podicipediformes (grebes) -- Columbiformes (doves and sandgrouse), Cuculiformes (cuckoos), and other neoavian taxa of uncertain affinities -- “Caprimulgiformes” and Apodiformes (Nightjars and Allies, Swifts, and Hummingbirds) -- Cariamae (seriemas and allies) -- “Falconiformes” (Diurnal Birds of Prey) -- Strigiformes (owls) -- Arboreal birds -- Paleogene avifaunas â€“ synopsis of general aspects.
  note: by Gerald Mayr.
  subject:
    topic: Life sciences
  subject:
    topic: Paleontology
  subject:
    topic: Evolutionary biology
  subject:
    topic: Zoology
  subject:
    topic: Vertebrates
  subject:
    topic: Life Sciences
  subject:
    topic: Evolutionary Biology
  subject:
    topic: Paleontology
  subject:
    topic: Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
  subject:
    topic: Zoology
  subject:
    topic: Vertebrates
  classification: QH359-425
  classification: 576.8
  related item:
    title info:
      title: Springer eBooks
  identifier: 9783540896289
  identifier: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-89628-9
  record info:
    record creation date: 100301
    record change date: 20151125161759.0
    record identifier: 978-3-540-89628-9