Forerunners of Mammals

An in-depth look at the origin and evolutionary radiation of the synapsids.About 320 million years ago a group of reptiles known as the synapsids emerged and forever changed Earth's ecological landscapes. This book discusses the origin and radiation of the synapsids from their sail-backed pelycosaur ancestor to their diverse descendants, the therapsids or mammal-like reptiles, that eventually gave rise to mammals. It further showcases the remarkable evolutionary history of the synapsids in the Karoo Basin of South Africa and the environments that existed at the time. By highlighting studies of synapsid bone microstructure, it offers a unique perspective of how such studies are utilized to reconstruct various aspects of biology, such as growth dynamics, biomechanical function, and the attainment of sexual and skeletal maturity. A series of chapters outline the radiation and phylogenetic relationships of major synapsid lineages and provide direct insight into how bone histological analyses have led to an appreciation of these enigmatic animals as once-living creatures. The penultimate chapter examines the early radiation of mammals from their nonmammalian cynodont ancestors, and the book concludes by engaging the intriguing question of when and where endothermy evolved among the therapsids."Ever since Nick Hotton's book from the 1980s we have needed an update on the biology of therapsids, and it has been Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan and her students and associates who through their bone histological work have made the greatest progress in this field." -Martin Sander, Steinmann Institute, University of Bonn"Forerunners of Mammals is full of meticulous detail... [I]t also contains a number of excellently rendered illustrations of some of the animals covered in the book, and the final chapter is a discussion of the evolution of endothermy that anyone with a background in biology might find of interest.... Recommended." -Choice"Forerunners of Mammals will take interested readers beyond the classic jaw-to-ear appreciation of therapsids, towards a deeper appreciation of the ancestry of mammals." -Journal of Mammalian Evolution"This volume represents a state-of-the-art contribution to our understanding of the paleobiology of how mammals arose, and what factors contributed to their evolutionary radiation and eventual success. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in these topics, and will be accessible to readers with minimal background in bone histology and synapsid paleontology." -Quarterly Review of Biology

About 320 million years ago a group of reptiles known as the synapsids emerged and forever changed Earth's ecological landscapes. This book discusses the origin and radiation of the synapsids from their sail-backed pelycosaur ancestor to their diverse descendants, the therapsids or mammal-like reptiles, that eventually gave rise to mammals. It further showcases the remarkable evolutionary history of the synapsids in the Karoo Basin of South Africa and the environments that existed at the time. By highlighting studies of synapsid bone microstructure, it offers a unique perspective of how such studies are utilized to reconstruct various aspects of biology, such as growth dynamics, biomechanical function, and the attainment of sexual and skeletal maturity. A series of chapters outline the radiation and phylogenetic relationships of major synapsid lineages and provide direct insight into how bone histological analyses have led to an appreciation of these enigmatic animals as once-living creatures. The penultimate chapter examines the early radiation of mammals from their nonmammalian cynodont ancestors, and the book concludes by engaging the intriguing question of when and where endothermy evolved among the therapsids.

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsList of Contributors1. The Origin and Radiation of Therapsids Tom S. Kemp2. Therapsid Biodiversity Patterns and Paleoenvironments of the Karoo Basin, South Africa Roger Smith, Bruce Rubidge, and Merrill van der Walt3. The Microstructure of Bones and Teeth of Nonmammalian Therapsids Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan4. The Paleobiology and Bone Microstructure of Pelycosaurian-Grade Synapsids Adam K. Huttenlocker and Elizabeth Rega5. Dicynodont Growth Dynamics and Lifestyle Adaptations Sanghamitra Ray, Jennifer Botha-Brink, and Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan6. Biological Inferences of the Cranial Microstructure of the Dicynodonts Oudenodon and Lystrosaurus Sandra C. Jasinoski and Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan7. Bone and Dental Histology of Late Triassic Dicynodonts from North America Jeremy L. Green8. Bone Histology of Some Therocephalians and Gorgonopsians, and Evidence of Bone Degradation by Fungi Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan and Sanghamitra Ray9. The Radiation and Osteohistology of Nonmammaliaform Cynodonts Jennifer Botha-Brink, Fernando Abdala, and Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan10. The Radiation, Bone Histology, and Biology of Early Mammals Jørn H. Hurum and Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan11. The Evolution of Mammalian Endothermy John A. Ruben, Willem J. Hillenius, Tom S. Kemp, and Devon E. QuickReferencesIndex