The Rise of Birds: 225 Million Years of Evolution

Description:

A fascinating and important account of the evolution of birds, tracing their origins from the Triassic world through the age of dinosaurs and into the modern era. Renowned palaeontologist Sankar Chatterjee examines the fossil evidence, anatomy and competing theories surrounding the emergence of flight and the early evolution of birds.

Particularly notable is Chatterjee's controversial interpretation of Protoavis, which he argued represented a very early bird from the Late Triassic, predating Archaeopteryx by some 75 million years. The hypothesis has remained disputed, making this first edition especially interesting as a record of the state of the debate at the time.

Illustrated with drawings by Michael W. Nickell, the book combines accessible exposition with detailed palaeontological discussion. The first edition remains of interest for its original presentation of Chatterjee's ideas and its place in the history of research into the origin and early evolution of birds.

Condition

4to (272x214mm), orig. cloth. As new in d/w.