The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives

Here's a book for cat lovers, but those who prefer good hard science to the warm and fuzzy feline tomes. While very readable, not to mention beautifully and lavishly illustrated, The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives is a serious and intelligent look at how today's lions, tigers, and other cat species are linked to their ancient and extinct ancestors. The way cats have evolved over 25 million years, and the descriptions of feline behavior, both ancient and present, will intrigue animal lovers in general, and not just cat people.
From Library Journal
Paleontologist Turner and scientific illustrator Anton provide a unique and eye-catching account of living and extinct big cats. Following the introduction discussing their evolution, Turner offers detailed descriptions and differentiation of individual species. A close look at anatomy and its expression in the behavior of living big cats is used to make inferences about functions and behaviors in extinct species. Finally, Turner sets the evolutionary history of the big cats in a global context, discussing factors influencing their evolution and extinction. Although the author does not footnote his information, he does provide a lengthy list of sources for further reading in each chapter. The excellent illustrations illuminate and expand on many of Turner's points. The book remains fairly technical, especially regarding taxonomy and anatomy. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries.?Jeanne Davidson, Oregon State Univ. Lib., Corvallis
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.