A Guide to Fossils
Translation by D. Dineley and G. Windsor
Published on 15. December 1996
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-691-02922-1 (ISBN)
Description
Anyone interested in collecting fossils or in learning more about the previous life of these animals and plants will find a wealth of information in this lavishly illustrated guide. Here Helmut Mayr brings together over five hundred color photographs with concise and lively descriptions of both common and unusual fossils. Intended to aid amateurs in specimen identification and classification, this book offers an encyclopedic breadth of coverage that many specialists too will find useful. In his introduction Mayr discusses the most important genera of animals and plants, the origins of fossils and the forms of their preservation, tips on collecting and on recovery and storing, technical terminology, and insights into scientific research. The main section contains illustrations and descriptions of the fossils themselves, with an emphasis on ammonites, but also including corals, mollusks, snails, echinoderms and brachiopods, vertebrates, and plants. Each illustrated example is accompanied by information on distinguishing marks, geographical distribution, period of existence, and the habits and ecology of the important representatives of the individual genera.
Reviews / Votes
"The hundreds of color photographs are extremely well done in this handsome, hand-size fossil guide."--Geotimes "[This book] combines extensive taxonomic coverage with quality color illustrations to provide a valuable resource for paleontology students and amateur fossil collectors alike... The translators have done an admirable job preserving the liveliness and personal tone of Mayr's original text... The combined quality and taxonomic breadth of its illustrations far surpasses that available in any college-level text on evolution and the fossil record."--Joseph G. Carter, American Scientist "A number of fossil identification guides grace the Science/Nature shelf at the local bookstore, but [this] book shines a little brighter than most. [It] tackles a tough topic with style... The author includes a well-chosen representative sample of fossils covering 44 commonly collected groups. Each group contains a number of orders or families that a field collector is likely to encounter... A treat for anyone who appreciates the beauty of fossils."--Scott Stepanski, Lapidary Journal "This book will appeal to all those who appreciate the superb photographic exposition of fossil diversity and the beauty of the natural world."--Susan Rigby, Geological MagazineMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
508 Farbfotos bzw. farbige Rasterbilder, 6 Fotos bzw. Rasterbilder, 8 Zeichnungen, 19 Tabellen
508 color photos 6 halftones 8 line drawings 19 tables
Dimensions
Height: 178 mm
Width: 127 mm
Weight
369 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-02922-1 (9780691029221)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Helmut Mayr is Assistant Professor affiliated with the Bayrische Staatssammulung fuer Palaeontologie und Historische Geographie, Munich.
Content
Foreword7Introduction8Palaeontology8Branches of palaeontology8Fossils9The formation of fossils11The emplacement of fossils (taphonomy)13The preservation of fossils13Systematic survey of the main groups17Fossil animals17Fossil plants22The history of life on Earth22The origins of life and its first primitive forms22The development of life from the Cambrian to the Quaternary24Time-chart of the principal groups of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates26Some tips about fossil collecting as a hobby28Animal fossils32Unicellular organisms32Archaeocyathids36Sponges36Cnidaria46Corals46Bivalves60Scaphopods76Snails76Cephalopods88Nautiloids92Ammonoids94Squids and cuttlefish120Belemnites120Segmented worms126Trilobites128King crabs138Sea scorpions138Crustaceans140Insects140Bryozoans142Brachiopods144Echinoderms156Sea lilies156Brittle stars162Sea urchins164Graptolites170Agnatha (jawless fishes)172Primitive fishes172Cartilaginous fishes174Bony fishes176Amphibians184Reptiles186Birds194Mammals196Trace fossils210Plant fossils212Algae212Mosses214Fungi216Primitive ferns216Club mosses216Horsetails218Ferns224Gymnosperms228Angiosperms238Forms resembling fossils246Further reading248Glossary249Index253