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Fires of Life: Endothermy in Birds and Mammals
A groundbreaking argument on how endothermy—arguably the most important innovation in vertebrate evolution—developed in birds and mammals
This pioneering work investigates why endothermy, or “warm-bloodedness,” evolved in birds and mammals, despite its enormous energetic costs. Arguing that single-cause hypotheses to explain the origins of endothermy have stalled research since the 1970s, Barry Gordon Lovegrove advances a novel conceptual framework that considers multiple potential causes and integrates data from the southern as well as the northern hemisphere. Drawing on paleontological data; research on extant species in places like the Karoo, Namaqualand, Madagascar, and Borneo; and novel physiological models, Lovegrove builds a compelling new explanation for the evolution of endothermy. Vividly narrated and illustrated, this book stages a groundbreaking argument that should prove provocative and fascinating for specialists and lay readers alike.
This pioneering work investigates why endothermy, or “warm-bloodedness,” evolved in birds and mammals, despite its enormous energetic costs. Arguing that single-cause hypotheses to explain the origins of endothermy have stalled research since the 1970s, Barry Gordon Lovegrove advances a novel conceptual framework that considers multiple potential causes and integrates data from the southern as well as the northern hemisphere. Drawing on paleontological data; research on extant species in places like the Karoo, Namaqualand, Madagascar, and Borneo; and novel physiological models, Lovegrove builds a compelling new explanation for the evolution of endothermy. Vividly narrated and illustrated, this book stages a groundbreaking argument that should prove provocative and fascinating for specialists and lay readers alike.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 23, 2020
Very accessibly written, Fires of Life is a superbly fascinating overview of our thinking on the evolution of warm-bloodedness. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2019...
June 16, 2022
This is not a casual read, but to the inquisitive, a beautiful work answering so much more than just the standard question of why animals run hot.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews