Human beings' unique friendship with dogs has been a subject of symbolic and poetic interest for centuries, from Homer's portrayal of the faithful Argos in the Odyssey to John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley and the recent New York Times best seller Marley & Me. Now readers can enjoy a scientific portrait of the long and complex history of this interesting group of carnivores and how they became our best friends through a long line of descent. Dogs: Their Fossil Ancestors and Evolutionary History is a comprehensive, vivid account of the origin and evolution of canids-including wolves, foxes, coyotes, and wild dogs-from their common ancestors more than 40 million years ago. Xiaoming Wang, who has spent the past twenty years studying the evolutionary history of the family Canidae, and Richard H. Tedford, who laid down the modern framework of the evolutionary relationship of canids, pore over a wealth of fossil and molecular evidence to rebuild a fascinating history of adaptation, succession, and domestication.The authors capture the excitement of these recent discoveries and explain canids' complex social behaviors, diverse adaptations to various environments, and predatory specializations over time.
Mauricio Anton's exceptional reconstructions of both extinct and extant species are unparalleled in their anatomical detail and turn the science of paleontology into an exciting visual experience. Accessibly written while scientifically rich, this book is an unprecedented reference for anyone who has a deep fascination with man's best friend.