Where Did They Come from? : the Origins of South American Fauna / Lee E. Harding.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Harding, Lee E., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Zoology.

Zoology--History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (390 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Singapore : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., [2023]

Summary:

Where Did They Come From? The Origins of South American Fauna offers a fascinating journey into the origins of South American flora and fauna. Exploring life on the continent before and after the breakup of Gondwana, it delves into how creatures arrived in South America, be it through drifting across oceans or traversing land bridges. From birds and reptiles to mammals and fish, this book provides a comprehensive compendium of biological diversity, discussing their origins and evolutionary paths. Readers will gain insights into the mechanisms of animal dispersal, evolution, and the impact of the Great Biotic Interchange. The book also lists references for further exploration of the subject. The book is structured into five parts: Building South America: Covers tectonic movements, climate changes, and breaching isolation. Shaping South America: Explores the landforms and diverse biomes across the continent. Vertebrates within South America: Discusses unique amphibians, reptiles, fish, mammals, and birds that evolved on the continent. Vertebrates immigrating to South America: Examines exotic reptiles, birds, and mammals that found their way to the continent. The author also lists the families of almost all genera of South American animals, while giving knowledge of their origins. Recent Arrivals - the Great Biotic Interchange: Explores the significant interchange of various species that occurred later. Ideal for students, biologists, and anyone curious about the natural world, this book is a captivating read that uncovers the incredible history of South American fauna and its evolutionary tapestry.

Contents:

Cover

Title

Copyright

End User License Agreement

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Part 1 - Building South America

Tectonic Plate Movements

INTRODUCTION

SOUTH AMERICA SPLITS FROM AFRICA

ISTHMUS OF PANAMA CONNECTS THE CONTINENTS CONTINENTS CONTINENTS

THE CARIBBEAN

SOUTH AMERICA-ANTARCTICA-AUSTRALIA

REFERENCES

Changing Sea Levels

AFTER GONDWANA'S BREAKUP

ANTARCTICA FREEZES

ZEALANDIA SINKS

ICE AGES

NOTES

Breaching the Isolation

CROSSING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

CROSSING THE CARIBBEAN

CROSSING THE SOUTHERN OCEAN

Mechanisms of Dispersal

RAFTING

ISLAND-HOPPING

FLYING

SWIMMING

Biological Explorations

FÉLIX DE AZARA

ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT

JUAN IGNAZIO MOLÍNA

SPIX AND MARTIUS

ALCIDE D'ORBIGNY

CHARLES DARWIN

ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE

HENRY WALTER BATES

THE AMEGHINOS

Part 2 - Ecosystem Diversity

Creating the Landforms

CHANGING SHAPE OF SOUTH AMERICA

Biomes and Ecoregions

BIOMES

ECOREGIONS

NORTHWESTERN SOUTH AMERICA

Caribbean Coast

Northern and Cenral Andes

Llanos

Guiana Shield

THE AMAZON BASIN

ATLANTIC ECOREGIONS

Cerrado

Caatinga

The Atlantic Forest

Araucaria Moist Forests

The Paraná River Basin and the Pantanal

THE SOUTHERN CONE

The Atacama Desert

Chilean Matorral

The Southern Andes

Cloud Forests

Chaco

Pampas

Patagonia

Valdivian Temperate Forest

Magellanic Subpolar Forest

Part 3 - Endemic Vertebrates

Endemic Amphibians

AN ANCIENT LINEAGE

Endemic Reptiles

DINOSAURS

THEROPODS

ANTARCTIC DINOSAURS

TURTLES

CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS

SNAKES

LIZARDS

Endemic Fish.

INTRODUCTION

Endemic Mammals

MONOTREMES

ARCHAIC MAMMALS

DRYOLESTOIDS

MULTITUBERCULATES

DIDOLODONTIDAE AND MIOCLAENIDAE

SOUTH AMERICAN NATIVE "UNGULATES"

Notoungulata

Astrapotheres

Pyrotheres

Xenungulata

Litopterns

MARSUPIALS AND SPARASSODONTS

Origin of Marsupials

Sparassodonts

True Marsupials

XENARTHRANS

RIVER DOLPHINS

Endemic Birds

EVOLUTION OF BIRDS

The Ratites: Rheas and Tinamous

GUANS, CURASSOWS AND CHACHALACAS

TERROR BIRDS

SCREAMERS

DUCKS AND GEESE

Tree ducks

Stiff-tailed Ducks

Swans

Torrent Ducks

Dabbling Ducks

CONDORS AND NEW WORLD VULTURES

TERATORNITHIDAE

CARACARAS

GALBULIFORMES: PUFFBIRDS AND JACAMARS

OSCINE BIRDS

SUBOSCINE BIRDS

OVENBIRDS AND ALLIES (SUBORDER TYRANNI)

Earthcreepers, Woodcreepers and Allies

Antbirds and Allies

Antthrushes, Antpittas and Allies

Tapaculos

Flycatchers, Tyrants, Tyrannulets and Allies

Sharpbills

Tityridae

Cotingas: Cotingidae

Manakins

SHEATHBILLS

MOTMOTS

PENGUINS

Part 4 - Exotic Vertebrates

Exotic Reptiles

Exotic Birds

HOATZINS

HUMMINGBIRDS

TROGONS

PARROTS

TOUCANS AND BARBETS

GALLIFORMES

Quail

Quail-Partridge

Turkeys

CHARADRIIFORMES

Seedsnipes, Painted-snipes and Jacanas

Thick-knees

POTOOS AND NIGHTHAWKS

FLAMINGOS

MIMIDS: MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS

PARULIDAE

Tanagers

Cardinal-tanagers

Exotic Mammals

AFROTHERIA

Elephants

Manatees and Dugongs

DEER AND THEIR RELATIVES

CAVIOMORPH RODENTS

Cavoidea

Paca: Family Cuniculidae

Caviidae

Dasyproctidae

Chinchilloidea.

Pacarana: Family Dynomyidae

Octodontoidea

Echimyidae

Hutias

Porcupines

Sigmodontine Rodents

CARNIVORES

Raccoons and Skunks

MARSUPIALS

Monito del Monte

NEW WORLD MONKEYS

Cebidae

Night Monkeys

Pithecididae

Atelidae

SORICOMORPHA: SHREWS AND MOLES

BATS

Part 5 - Recent Arrivals

Rodents and Rabbits

RODENTS

Squirrels

Pocket gophers

Cricetid Rodents

Pocket Mice

Anthropogenic Dispersals

New Discoveries

RABBITS AND HARES

Deer, Pigs and Camels

JAVELINAS

CAMELS

DEER

Horses and Tapirs

HORSES

TAPIRS

Carnivores

RACCOONS

MUSTELIDS

Tyra

Patagonian Weasel and Grison

Otters

FELIDS

Small Cats

Puma and Jaguarundi

Jaguar

CANIDS

BEARS

Humans

AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS

ANTIQUITY OF AMERICANS

AMERICAN GENES

ROUTES FROM SIBERIA

AUSTRALASIAN CONNECTIONS

Part 6 - Conclusion

Subject Index

Back Cover.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789815124873

9815124870

OCLC:

1414110425