Carnivoran Evolution (eBook)

Canivoran Evolution focuses on current advances in our understanding of carnivoran phylogeny, ecomorphology and macroevolutionary patterns. This volume highlights a collection of cutting-edge methodologies currently used in studies of Carnivora which help to address fundamental issues in evolutionary biology and palaeontology. Chapters include studies addressing the issues of morphological and molecular derived phylogenies, community ecology, allometry, morphometrics (using both traditional methods) and Finite Element Analysis. Written for academic researchers, graduates and professionals Canivoran Evolution provides essential information and understanding on current advances in the areas of evolutionary biology, palaeobiology and organism biology.

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Members of the mammalian clade Carnivora have invaded nearly every continent and ocean, evolving into bamboo-eating pandas, clam-eating walruses and of course, flesh-eating sabre-toothed cats. With this ecological, morphological and taxonomic diversity and a fossil record spanning over sixty million years, Carnivora has proven to be a model clade for addressing questions of broad evolutionary significance. This volume brings together top international scientists with contributions that focus on current advances in our understanding of carnivoran relationships, ecomorphology and macroevolutionary patterns. Topics range from the palaeoecology of the earliest fossil carnivorans to the influences of competition and constraint on diversity and biogeographic distributions. Several studies address ecomorphological convergences among carnivorans and other mammals with morphometric and Finite Element analyses, while others consider how new molecular and palaeontological data have changed our understanding of carnivoran phylogeny. Combined, these studies also illustrate the diverse suite of approaches and questions in evolutionary biology and palaeontology.