A Brief History of South American Metatherians: Evolutionary Contexts and Intercontinental Dispersals Contributor(s): Goin, Francisco (Author), Woodburne, Michael (Author), Zimicz, Ana Natalia (Author) |
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ISBN: 9401774188 ISBN-13: 9789401774185 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $104.49 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: October 2015 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Science | Paleontology - Science | Life Sciences - Evolution - Science | Earth Sciences - Geology |
Dewey: 569.2 |
Series: Springerbriefs in Earth System Sciences |
Physical Information: 0.84" H x 6.22" W x 9.48" (1.56 lbs) 237 pages |
Themes: - Chronological Period - Prehistoric - Cultural Region - Latin America - Topical - Ecology |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: This book summarizes major aspects of the evolution of South American metatherians, including their epistemologic, phylogenetic, biogeographic, faunal, tectonic, paleoclimatic, and metabolic contexts. A brief overview of the evolution of each major South American lineage ("Ameridelphia", Sparassodonta, Didelphimorphia, Paucituberculata, Microbiotheria, and Polydolopimorphia) is provided. It is argued that due to physiological constraints, metatherian evolution closely followed the conditions imposed by global temperatures. In general terms, during the Paleocene and the early Eocene multiple radiations of metatherian lineages occurred, with many adaptive types exploiting insectivorous, frugivorous, and omnivorous adaptive zones. In turn, a mixture of generalized and specialized types, the latter mainly exploiting carnivorous and granivorous-folivorous adaptive zones, characterized the second half of the Cenozoic. In both periods, climate was the critical driver of their radiation and turnovers. |