Vertebrate palaeontology - Michael Benton

Vertebrate Palaeontology is a complete, up–to–date history of the evolution of vertebrates. The third edition of this popular text has been extensively revised to incorporate the latest research, including new material from North and South America, Australia, Europe, China, Africa and Russia.

The third edition:

highlights astonishing new discoveries including new dinosaurs and Mesozoic birds from China

features an expanded chapter on how to study fossil vertebrates

provides an increased emphasis on the cladistic framework, with cladograms set apart from the body of the text and full lists of diagnostic characters

includes new molecular evidence on early mammal diversification

presents new features to aid study, including new functional and developmental feature spreads, key questions and extensive references to useful web sites

The book has a strong phylogenetic focus making it an up–to–date source of the latest broad–scale systematic data on vertebrate evolution. This book will be essential reading for vertebrate palaeontology students in earth science and biology departments.