Mammoths, Mastodonts, and Elephants by Gary Haynes

Mammoths, Mastodonts, and Elephants by Gary Haynes

The diminishing populations of African and Asian elephants call to mind the extinctions of other elephantlike species, such as mammoths and mastodons, that occurred more than 10000 years ago. The purpose of this book is to examine the ecology and behaviour of modern elephants to create models for reconstructing the lives and deaths of extinct mammoths and mastodons. The sources for these models are long-term continuing studies of elephants in Zimbabwe, Africa. These models are clearly described with respect to the anatomical, behavioural, and ecological similarities between past and present proboscideans. The implications of these similarities for the lives and deaths of mammoths and mastodons are explored in detail. The importance of this book is primarily its unifying perspective on living and extinct proboscideans: The fossil record is as carefully examined as is the natural history of surviving elephants. Dr Haynes's studies of the situations in which African elephants die (sometimes in great numbers) are unique and can provide crucial insights into ancient proboscidean bone collections.

'The book is well written, with illusions and tables provided to support important conclusions' Science
'Of greatest value for paleontologists and archaeologists, but advanced undergraduates interested in the techniques of historical sciences could read it profitably.' Choice
' … an enthralling book which anyone interested in elephants or mammoths will enjoy.' The Times Higher Education Supplement
'The scholarly title obscures the real topic. In fact, this volume is a brilliant murder mystery.' Scientific American

Gary Haynes is Foundation Professor of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno. For eight years (2003–2011) he was President of the Commission on Palaeoecology and Human Evolution in INQUA (the International Union for Quaternary Research). He has done fieldwork research on free-roaming elephants in southern Africa for over 30 years, and has also specialized in the study of earliest American Paleoindian cultures. Current research is focused on Zimbabwean prehistory and paleoenvironments.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521456913
ISBN 10	0521456916
Title	Mammoths, Mastodonts, and Elephants
Author	Gary Haynes
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	1993-05-28
Number of pages	428
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.