Bird Evolution

[Rebecca]

Wow! If the devil is in the details, this book is a survey of proto-avian paleontology. The classification of the fossils abandons the Linnaean classification for phylogenetic classification of fossilized fragments to the rare partial intact skeletons (some complete with a last meal) this reviews the state of the art in terms of speciation from Caenagnathiforms (the avian link with the crocodile-like relative) to the Basal Euorintheans (proto-bird ancestors). Along the way we meet my favorite Archaeopteryx lithographica and encounter one of the largest proto-birds (Gigantoraptor erlianesis at 23 feet) to the tiny Iberomesnis romerali (3.5 inches). Along the way, we meet some interesting birds: Las Hoyas Dawn Bastard-wing Bird, Ostrom’s Menace-from-the Clouds Bird and the Counter-balanced Terrible Claw.