Basic Paleontology

by Michael J. Benton, David A.T. Harper

A comprehensive introduction to all aspects of palaeontology. It starts with a discussion of the basic principles of the subject and goes on to describe the principal features of all the main fossil groups including plants, invertebrates, vertebrates, trace fossils and microfossils. Written by two leading palaentologists, the text includes many modern ideas resulting from an improved understanding of evolution and the fossil record, palaeobiology and palaeoecology. The final chapter summarises the history of life, introducing large-scale evolution and extinctions.

Paperback

First published August 21, 1997

About the author

Michael J. Benton FRS is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Bristol. He is particularly interested in early reptiles, Triassic dinosaurs, and macroevolution, and has published over 50 books and 300 scientific articles. He leads one of the most successful palaeontology research groups at the University of Bristol, and has supervised over 60 PhD students.