The bare bones: an unconventional evolutionary history of the skeleton

Description

Setting the stage. Introduction: How vertebrates and cars are (and are not) similar ; Evolution to deep time, pedigree to anatomy -- The origin and early evolution of the vertebrate chassis. Inferring the basic vertebrate chassis ; Evolution of a bony chassis -- The evolution of the jawed vertebrate chassis and something fishy. The jawed vertebrate chassis : a primer ; Placoderms and cartilaginous fishes ; The fishlike Osteichthyes. Part 1 ; The fishlike Osteichthyes. Part 2 -- The vertebrate chassis moves to land. The tetrapod chassis : a primer ; The tetrapod chassis in transition ; The amphibian chassis ; The amniote chassis : a primer and the lead-up to true amniotes -- Deep scaly I : reptilian chassis from early reptiles to sea monsters. Modern lizards and the tuatara as an introduction ; Early reptiles and turtles ; Snakes and sea dragons -- Deep scaly II : the archosaur chassis, those ruling reptiles. The archosaur chassis, Part 1: Modern archosaurs ; The archosaur chassis, Part 2: A primer on archosaur posture and diversity ; The archosaur chassis, Part 3: Pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and the origins of birds -- Overcome by fur : the mammalian chassis. The mammalian chassis : a primer ; The evolution of the mammal chassis ; Brains, milk, and the modern radiations of mammals -- Appendix: The cards of time.;"Highlighting the fascinating twists and turns of evolution across more than 540 million years, paleobiologist Matthew Bonnan uses everyday objects to explain the emergence and adaptation of the vertebrate skeleton. What can camera lenses tell us about the eyes of marine reptiles? How does understanding what prevents a coffee mug from spilling help us understand the posture of dinosaurs? The answers to these and other intriguing questions illustrate how scientists have pieced together the history of vertebrates from their bare bones. With its engaging and informative text, plus more than 200 illustrative diagrams created by the author, The Bare Bones is an unconventional and reader-friendly introduction to the skeleton as an evolving machine."--Provided by publisher. Setting the stage. Introduction: How vertebrates and cars are (and are not) similar Evolution to deep time, pedigree to anatomy -- The origin and early evolution of the vertebrate chassis. Inferring the basic vertebrate chassis Evolution of a bony chassis -- The evolution of the jawed vertebrate chassis and something fishy. The jawed vertebrate chassis : a primer Placoderms and cartilaginous fishes The fishlike Osteichthyes. Part 1 The fishlike Osteichthyes. Part 2 -- The vertebrate chassis moves to land. The tetrapod chassis : a primer The tetrapod chassis in transition The amphibian chassis The amniote chassis : a primer and the lead-up to true amniotes -- Deep scaly I : reptilian chassis from early reptiles to sea monsters. Modern lizards and the tuatara as an introduction Early reptiles and turtles Snakes and sea dragons -- Deep scaly II : the archosaur chassis, those ruling reptiles. The archosaur chassis, Part 1: Modern archosaurs The archosaur chassis, Part 2: A primer on archosaur posture and diversity The archosaur chassis, Part 3: Pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and the origins of birds -- Overcome by fur : the mammalian chassis. The mammalian chassis : a primer The evolution of the mammal chassis Brains, milk, and the modern radiations of mammals -- Appendix: The cards of time.