Major Topics in Primate and Human Evolution [Paperback]

This volume provides a valuable synthesis of the thinking about primate and human palaeontology in light of the interpretation of fossil evidence.The objective of this book, based upon a joint symposium of the Anatomical Society and Primate Society of Great Britain, is to present a review of the major problem areas of fragmentary fossil records, emphasising both neontology and palaeontology and aimed specifically to meet the requirements of students.The objective of this book, based upon a joint symposium of the Anatomical Society and Primate Society of Great Britain, is to present a review of the major problem areas of fragmentary fossil records, emphasising both neontology and palaeontology and aimed specifically to meet the requirements of students.The fragmentary fossil record of primates and hominids has generated fundamental, and often well publicised, differences of opinion about their evolution. The objective of this book, based upon a joint symposium of the Anatomical Society and Primate Society of Great Britain, is to present a review of the major problem areas, emphasising both neontology and palaeontology and aimed specifically to meet the requirements of students. For some issues, leading proponents of 'rival' schools present their viewpoint; for others, distinguished contributors have reviewed a particularly important or controversial problem, presenting non-partisan objective analysis. By including papers that adopt contrasting opinions towards the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships and by incorporating the interpretations of the fossil evidence, this volume provides a valuable synthesis of the thinking about primate and human palaeontology.List of contributors; Preface; 1. Primates: a definition R. D. Martin; 2. Plesiadapis and the delineation of the order Primates P. D. Gingerich; 3. The relationships of the Tarssiiformes: a review of the case for the Haplorhini L. C. Aiello; 4. Platyrrhines, catarrhines and the anthropoid transition A. L.lƒ$