Review by Choice Review
The modern fauna of Madagascar reflects the country's long history of isolation from Africa (and Eurasia), despite its relatively close proximity. All its primates, for example, are in the broad "lemur" category, found nowhere else today. Its mammalian fossil record is very short, almost all within the last 5,000 years. But the diversity is high, with 17 species of extinct "lemur," including many far larger in size than their extant cousins. In this volume, zoologist Goodman (Field Museum) and paleoanthropologist Jungers (Stony Brook Univ.) present these past denizens of Madagascar to a wide audience. Eight short chapters introduce concepts of geology, paleontology (including extinction), anthropology, and climate. The following 18 chapters, each focusing on one fossil-producing site (some sites are treated in several chapters), are built around a color reconstruction by artist Velizar Simeonovski. Two final chapters present a mammalian and an avian predator and their prey. The text is aimed at laypeople but is just technical enough to keep scholars satisfied. Unfortunately, the book is printed on low-quality paper, and the in-text monochrome versions of the color plates (and other photos) are muddy. Other than that, this is a superb book for all readers, including those for whom Madagascar is unknown. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. --Eric Delson, CUNY Herbert H. Lehman College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
