Theropithecus: The Rise and Fall of a Primate Genus

by Nina G. Jablonski (Editor)

This unique volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date examination of all aspects of the biology of the Old World monkey genus, Theropithecus, which evolved alongside our human ancestors. This genus is represented today by only one rare species. The authors explore the fossil history and evolution of the genus, its biogeography, comparative evolutionary biology and anatomy, and the behavior and socioecology of the living and extinct representatives of the genus. The parallels between the evolution of Theropithecus and early hominids are discussed. There are also two chapters of particular significance that describe how an innovative and exciting approach to the modeling of the causes of species extinction can be used with great success. This highly multidisciplinary approach provides a rare and insightful account of the evolutionary biology of this fascinating and once highly successful group of primates.

Genres: Evolution

556 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Nina G. Jablonski is Professor and Head of the Department of Anthropology at the Pennsylvania State University. She edited The First Americans: The Pleistocene Colonization of the New World and The Origin and Diversification of Language (both UC Press), among other books. Her research on human skin has been featured in National Geographic, Scientific American, and other publications.

Reviews

[João · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing! We need more books like this for other important taxa that coexisted in the landscape of human evolution, like the Metridiochoerus.