Friday, January 27, 2012

Wild-eyed forerunners


Among the new books received today is this research monograph, with a strong emphasis on understanding evolution of the earliest non-mammalian therapsids through understanding their bone microstructure. Sixteen specialists contributed to the volume, edited by Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan (who also co-authored six of the book's eleven chapters).  

Detailed research findings on cranial microstructure, bone and dental histology, bone degradation, and vascularized bone tissue patterns fill most of the chapters, within the context of relating those minute observations to new understandings of how the earliest land vertebrates evolved into modern day mammals.  Fascinating stuff, evolution!  See the OBIS record for table of contents and contributors.

Other new books received today cover a wide range of subjects, from anthropology to geophysics, as well as polar bears facing extinction, a birdwatching guide controversy, bioconstitutionalism and genomics, mountains in Antarctica and beaches worldwide, plus an impressively chunky dictionary of entomology.  See the new book list.

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