Major Topics in Primate and Human Evolution

This volume provides a valuable synthesis of the thinking about primate and human palaeontology in light of the interpretation of fossil evidence.

Bernard A. Wood (Edited by), Lawrence B. Martin (Edited by), Peter Andrews (Edited by)

9780521113380, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 18 June 2009

376 pages
24.4 x 17 x 2 cm, 0.6 kg

The fragmentary fossil record of primates and hominids has generated fundamental, and often well publicised, differences of opinion about their evolution. The objective of this book, based upon a joint symposium of the Anatomical Society and Primate Society of Great Britain, is to present a review of the major problem areas, emphasising both neontology and palaeontology and aimed specifically to meet the requirements of students. For some issues, leading proponents of 'rival' schools present their viewpoint; for others, distinguished contributors have reviewed a particularly important or controversial problem, presenting non-partisan objective analysis. By including papers that adopt contrasting opinions towards the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships and by incorporating the interpretations of the fossil evidence, this volume provides a valuable synthesis of the thinking about primate and human palaeontology.

List of contributors
Preface
1. Primates: a definition R. D. Martin
2. Plesiadapis and the delineation of the order Primates P. D. Gingerich
3. The relationships of the Tarssiiformes: a review of the case for the Haplorhini L. C. Aiello
4. Platyrrhines, catarrhines and the anthropoid transition A. L. Rosenberger
5. Problems of dental evolution in the higher primates P. M. Butler
6. Molecular evidence for catarrhine evolution P. Andrews
7. The fossil record of early catarrhine evolution J. G. Fleagle
8. Molecular sequences and hominoid phylogeny M. J. Bishop and A. E. Friday
9. Hominoid evolution: molecular and palaeontological patterns M. Ruvolo and D. Pilbeam
10. Relationships among extant and extinct great apes and humans L. Martin
11. Bipedalism: pressures, origins and modes M. H. Day
12. Dental trends in the australopithecones: the allometry of mandibular molar dimensions W. L. Jungers and F. E. Grine
13. Australopithecus: grade or clade? B. A. Wood and A. T. Chamberlain
14. Homo and Paranthropus: similarities in the cranial base and developing dentition M. C. Dean
15. The credibility of Homo habilis C. B. Stringer
16. The origin and fate of Homo erectus A. Bilsborough and B. A. Wood
17. The origin of Homo sapiens: the genetic evidence J. S. Jones
18. The origin of Homo sapiens: the fossil evidence D. R. Pilbeam
Author index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Biology, life sciences [PS]