The Proboscidea: Evolution and Palaeoecology of Elephants and Their Relatives

Though only two elephant species remain alive today, the Proboscidea were one of the great mammalian orders of the Cenozoic. Their success through the ages is reflected by their morphological and taxonomic diversity, their nearly worldwide distribution, and their persistence through nearly fifty million years. Their great ability to migrate and to adapt to changing climatic conditions and interspecific competition provides a unique insight into evolution. Written by leading experts, this is the first complete treatise on the evolution and palaeoecology of this group in fifty years. It reviews their classification and phylogeny, the early differentiation of proboscideans, major adaptive radiations and their evolutionary patterns, and the origins and current status of extant elephant species. Students, researchers, and professionals in zoology, palaeontology, evolutionary biology, and ecology as well as curatorial staff at natural history museums will want to read this book.