The heart of this book consists of detailed systematic accounts of the known fossil frogs and toads (anurans) of North America and their localities. Extinct fossil frogs and toads are fully discussed and illustrated, and in some cases are re-diagnosed and re-described. For fossil taxa still living, the book gives the modern characteristics, ecological attributes, and modern ranges, and includes illustrations of diagnostic skeletal elements. The volume begins with an overview of the anurans and anuran studies, a general account of the skeleton and bones, and a discussion of the early evolution of the Anura, along with the formal classification of anuran taxonomic groups found in the North American fossil record. The third part of the book presents an epoch-by-epoch discussion of Mesozoic, Tertiary, and Pleistocene anurans, the classification and phylogeny of the anurans, and a comprehensive list of references.
- ISBN10 0253342805
- ISBN13 9780253342805
- Publish Date 25 December 2003
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 10 February 2017
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Indiana University Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 264
- Language English