Book Review: The Rise of Mammals in Africa by Emmanuel Gheerbrant
“For more than 80 million years, ‘Island Africa’ was a vast, isolated landmass…. Despite this isolation, waves of pioneering mammals crossed the sea, sparking remarkable evolutionary success stories that include the ancestors of elephants, primates, aardvarks and more.”
Emmanuel Gheerbrant’s new book is a comprehensive overview of the origins and adaptations of some of our most iconic mammals. The author, a world-renowned expert in mammalian evolution, brings together paleontology and molecular research to tell this fascinating history. He explores the fossil evidence and provides beautiful art work to describe many extraordinary creatures while explaining the environmental and climatic forces that shaped their evolutionary journey.
As the publisher notes “Whether you’re a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, or a curious reader captivated by Africa’s natural wonders, this book is a gorgeously illustrated resource for understanding the origins of life as we know it.” And so I cannot imagine any mammalwatcher not enjoying the book.
Meanwhile, forget thermal scopes and small mammal traps, when can we get a time machine to go look for some of these fabulous beasts?!
The Rise of Mammals in Africa is available from Johns Hopkins University Press and elsewhere.
Jon
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