The heart of the book consists of detailed systematic accounts of the known fossil snakes of North America and the localities where they occur. Extinct fossil taxa are discussed and illustrated and many are redescribed on the basis of new information. Illustrations of diagnostic vertebrae and criteria for the identification of presently living fossil snake taxa are given as well as the modern characteristics and ranges of these species.
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"Knowledge of fossils provides helpful information about evolution and diversification of groups of animals. Holman (emer., Michigan State Univ.) looks at one such group that gets little attention in the media. But it is only through study of all fossils that a strong picture of the environmental history of vertebrates may be learned. Holman has devoted his career to studying, describing, and placing in a broad paleontologic perspective fossil snakes and their respective recent descendants. Although many snakes are small, they often leave a large number of bones to fossilize, especially vertebrae. This comprehensive review is the first effort to bring together a large literature on North American snakes. Most of the book is focused on snake systematics, providing modified descriptions, locality data, generic and specific diagnoses, and notes on adaptation, relationships, etc. Another chapter presents in geologic sequence and within each sequence, geographic distribution of the localities at which North American snakes have been found. A final section concerns evolutionary and ecological patterns, with greatest emphasis on development of Pleistocene and Recent distributions. Nearly 20 pages of references; general and site index; nearly 50 color plates of living snakes represented as fossils. An essential tool for paleontologists and herpetologists. Faculty; professionals." —D. Bardack, emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago, Choice, November 2000
(D. Bardack, emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago Choice 2000)About the Author
J. Alan Holman (1931-2006) was Professor and Curator Emeritus at Michigan State University. Holman wrote seven books and authored more than 260 publications in paleoherpetology, herpetology, and vertebrate paleontology. He was awarded an Honorary Lifetime membership in the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and was considered the leading authority on new World fossil snakes.
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Fossil snakes appear later in the geological record than any other reptile group. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
hemal keel, subcentral ridges, trunk vertebra, zygosphenal articular facets, round condyle, zygantral articular facets, holotype vertebra, colubrine genera, higher neural spine, vaulted neural arch, neural spine length, other fossil localities, posterior overhang, referred vertebrae, right prezygapophysis, fossil snakes, paratype vertebrae, propeltis triangulum, vomerine process, propeltis getula, centrum length, haemal keel, left postzygapophysis, zygapophyseal articular facets, vertebral form Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Late Pleistocene, Early Holocene, North America, New Mexico, South Dakota, Middle Pliocene, Middle Eocene, Identification of Fossil Remains, Late Barstovian, Late Pliocene, Medial Barstovian, Early Oligocene, West Virginia, Early Eocene, Middle Pleistocene, Late Middle, Late Hemphillian, Van Devender, Early Barstovian, Middle Hemphillian, Late Arikareean, Early Arikareean, Late Oligocene, Late Eocene, New Jersey New!
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Fossil snakes appear later in the geological record than any other reptile group. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
hemal keel, subcentral ridges, trunk vertebra, zygosphenal articular facets, round condyle, zygantral articular facets, holotype vertebra, colubrine genera, higher neural spine, vaulted neural arch, neural spine length, other fossil localities, posterior overhang, referred vertebrae, right prezygapophysis, fossil snakes, paratype vertebrae, propeltis triangulum, vomerine process, propeltis getula, centrum length, haemal keel, left postzygapophysis, zygapophyseal articular facets, vertebral form Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Late Pleistocene, Early Holocene, North America, New Mexico, South Dakota, Middle Pliocene, Middle Eocene, Identification of Fossil Remains, Late Barstovian, Late Pliocene, Medial Barstovian, Early Oligocene, West Virginia, Early Eocene, Middle Pleistocene, Late Middle, Late Hemphillian, Van Devender, Early Barstovian, Middle Hemphillian, Late Arikareean, Early Arikareean, Late Oligocene, Late Eocene, New Jersey New!
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 39
books:
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- San Bernardino County by Automobile Club of Southern California on 6 pages
- West Virginia (The States and the Nation series) by J.A. Williams on 4 pages
- Kern County by Automobile Club of Southern California on 4 pages
- South Dakota (Portraits of the States) by Jonatha A. Brown on 4 pages
- Quaternary Extinctions: A Prehistoric Revolution by Paul S. Martin in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
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