| Description |
1 online resource (xvii, 2506 pages) : illustrations |
| Series |
Fascinating life sciences |
|
Fascinating life sciences.
|
| Contents |
Intro -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- 1: Origin and Evolution of Birds -- 1.1 Early Ideas About the Origin and Evolution of Birds -- 1.2 Current Views About the Origin and Evolution of Birds -- 1.3 Early Events in the Evolution of Birds -- Box 1.1 Unidirectional Lung Ventilation -- 1.4 The Age of Dinosaurs -- Box 1.2 A New Dinosaur Family Tree? -- 1.5 Theropods: Coelurosaurs -- 1.6 Theropod Locomotion -- Box 1.3 Avian Forelimb Digits -- 1.7 Bones and Growth Rates -- Box 1.4 Evolution of Endothermy -- 1.8 Body Size -- 1.9 Limb Length -- 1.10 Digestive and Reproductive Systems |
|
1.11 Avian and Non-avian Theropods -- 1.12 The First Birds -- Box 1.5 Loss of Teeth -- Box 1.6 Evolution of the Avian Sternum -- Box 1.7 Flying Ability of Mesozoic Birds -- 1.13 Ornithuromorpha (Also Known as Euornithes) -- 1.14 Neornithines -- Box 1.8 The K/Pg Mass Extinction -- Box 1.9 Avian Tree of Life -- Box 1.10 Palaeognathae Evolution -- Box 1.11 Galloanseres Phylogeny -- Box 1.12 Limits to Phylogenetic Resolution -- Box 1.13 Who Survived the End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction and Why? -- Box 1.14 Strisores Phylogeny -- 1.15 Diversification After the K-Pg Mass Extinction -- 1.16 Passeriformes |
|
Box 1.15 Avian Interchange Across the Panama Land Bridge -- 1.17 Present-Day Birds -- Box 1.16 Zoogeographical Realms -- Box 1.17 Seabirds -- References -- 2: Skeleton and Skeletal Muscles -- 2.1 Bone Structure -- Box 2.1 Bone Microstructure -- 2.2 Evolution of the Avian Skeleton -- 2.3 Pectoral Girdle and Forelimb -- 2.4 Pelvic Girdle and Hindlimb -- Box 2.2 Which Digits Were Lost? -- Box 2.3 Evolution of the Avian Wrist -- Box 2.4 Avian Humeri -- 2.5 Axial Skeleton -- 2.5.1 Skull -- 2.5.2 Teeth -- 2.5.3 Cranial Kinesis -- Box 2.5 Mandibular Bowing of Pelicans |
|
Box 2.6 Darwinś Finches, Adaptive Radiation, and Evolution -- Box 2.7 Hawaiian Honeycreepers -- 2.5.4 Sternum and Rib Cage -- Box 2.8 Bony Cranial Protuberances of Birds -- Box 2.9 Rapid Adaptive Evolution of Bill Length -- 2.5.5 Vertebral Column -- Box 2.10 Variation in Avian Sternums -- Box 2.11 Neck Length and Body Mass: Birds vs. Mammals -- 2.5.6 Vertebral Column-Tail -- 2.6 Avian Skeletal Muscles -- 2.6.1 Flexibility in Muscle Mass -- Box 2.12 Pygostyle Morphology -- 2.6.2 Fiber Types -- Box 2.13 Skeletal Muscle Anatomy and Function -- Box 2.14 Superfast Muscles of Some Manakins |
|
2.6.3 Locomotion -- Box 2.15 Myosin Isoforms -- Box 2.16 Divided Pectoralis of Soaring Birds -- 2.6.4 Feeding -- Box 2.17 Marvelous Tails (and Rectricial Bulbs) of Marvelous Spatuletails -- 2.6.5 Extrinsic Eyeball Muscles -- 2.6.6 Vocalizing -- 2.6.7 Thermoregulation -- Box 2.18 Woodpecker Drumming Muscles -- References -- 3: Integument -- 3.1 Skin: Structure and Function -- Box 3.1 Evolution of Avian Skin -- 3.2 Unfeathered and Colored Skin -- 3.3 Specialized Epidermal Structures -- 3.4 Cutaneous Nervous System -- 3.5 Podotheca -- 3.6 Spurs -- 3.7 Claws -- 3.8 Rhamphotheca -- Box 3.2 Keratins |
| Summary |
With more than 10,000 species that vary in size, use diverse habitats that extend across latitudes and altitudes, consume a wide variety of food items, differ in how they fly (or not), communicate, and reproduce, and have different life histories, birds exhibit remarkable variation in form (anatomy) and function (physiology). Our understanding of how natural selection has generated this variation as birds evolved and as different species adapted to their unique circumstances has grown considerably in recent years. In In a Class of Their Own: A Detailed Examination of Avian Forms and Functions, this variation is explained in great detail, beginning with an overview of avian evolution and continuing with information about the structure and function of the avian skeleton, muscles, and the various body systems. Other chapters focus on avian locomotion (including flight), migration, navigation, communication, energy balance and thermoregulation, and various aspects of avian reproduction, such as nests and nest building, clutch sizes, and parental care. In a Class of Their Own: A Detailed Examination of Avian Forms and Functions will be must reading for anyone, professional or non-professional, who needs or wants to learn more about birds |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references |
| Notes |
Online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed November 17, 2023) |
| Subject |
Birds -- Physiology.
|
|
Birds -- Anatomy.
|
|
Birds -- Anatomy
|
|
Birds -- Physiology
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| ISBN |
9783031148521 |
|
3031148525 |
|
