Megafauna : giant beasts of Pleistocene South America /

For many, the Pleistocene conjures up images of a world populated with a remarkable fauna of saber-toothed cats, woolly mammoths, giant ground sloths, and Neanderthals. This iconography is largely derived from the perspective of North America, Europe, and northern Asia, with little mention of South America. This large, impressive book fills this gap and provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the unique mammalian megafauna of the South American Pleistocene. Farina (Univ. of the Republic, Uruguay), Vizcaino (National Univ. of La Plata, Argentina), and De Iuliis (Univ. of Toronto, Canada) chronicle the spectacular mammalian fauna and the history and people behind their discovery, description, and interpretation within the context of global events and biotas. The book is well organized into nine chapters, beginning with general principles and an introduction to the pioneering personalities. Subsequent chapters discuss the beasts themselves, migrations between North and South America, and, of course, the great extinction of the megafauna concomitant with the spread of human populations. Overall, it is an enjoyable read that provides a substantial amount of detail on the biology, ecology, and distribution of these fantastic animals. Gray-scale images and black-and-white drawings throughout; 11 color plates of charts, maps, and historic illustrations and photographs. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic, professional, and general readers. C. A. McRoberts SUNY Cortland