The Garden of Eden as the ideal and untouched site of life's
creation persists in popular thought, even as we have uncovered a
lengthy fossil record and developed a scientific understanding of
evolution. The continent of Africa is a good candidate for Eden:
its generally warm climate, rich vegetation, and variety of animal
species lend themselves easily to such a comparison. Yet in the
time since the first primates appeared millions of years ago,
Africa has undergone profound alterations in physical geography,
climate, and biota.
Linking the evidence of the past with that of the present, this
exquisitely illustrated guide examines the evolution of the
mammalian fauna of Africa within the context of dramatic changes
over the course of more than 30 million years of primate presence.
The book covers such topics as dating, continental drift, and
global climate change and the likely motors of evolution as well as
the physical evolution of the African continent, including present
and past climates, and the major determinants of plant and mammal
distributions. The authors discuss human evolution as a part of the
larger pattern of mammalian evolution while responding to the
unique interest that we have in our own past.
The meticulous reconstructions of fossil mammals in this book
are the result of detailed anatomical research. Restorations of
mammalian musculature and appearance take into account the
affinities between fossil forms and extant species in order to make
well-founded inferences about unpreserved animal attributes.
Environmental reconstructions benefit from the authors' visits to
more than a dozen wildlife preserves in five African countries as
well as the use of an extensive database of published studies on
the evolution of landscapes on the continent. A fascinating read
and a visual feast, "Evolving Eden" lays the foundation for a
deeper appreciation of contemporary African wildlife.
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