What your fossils can tell you
Subtitle: vertebrate morphology, pathology and cultural modification
By: Robert W. Sinibaldi
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Gainesville
Language: eng
Number of pages: 369
ISBN-13: 9780813034256
Description: Written primarily for the avid amateur and beginning paleontologist, What Your Fossils Can Tell You offers both experienced and novice fossil hunters and collectors the information needed to correctly identify and interpret the significance of their discoveries. Professionals in the field may also use this book as a pictorial resource to assist them in bridging the fields of pathology and archaeology as they relate to paleontology. Amateur fossil hunters are presented with the tools they need to recognize significant finds and knowledge of how to collect vertebrate fossils responsibly and legally. Robert Sinibaldi, in informal collaboration with a number of fossil experts, has compiled materials with a wide appeal. He explains many of the complex bumps, grooves, markings, and other anomalies that occur on fossil bones and teeth. A wealth of photographs helps readers visually identify these features and apply related concepts to their personal collections. Along with many common specimens, scores of unique fossil items appear here in print for the first time. - Publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 339-357) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction. What is a vertebrate fossil? ; What are morphology, pathology, natural alterations, and cultural modifications? ; Why study morphology, pathology, natural alterations and cultural modifications? ; Using this pictorial guide ; Figures ; Geological time scales ; American archaeological time scales ; General directional terminology ; Endnotes; title: The morphology of fossil bones. Introduction ; Types of joints ; Sutures ; Growth plates and epiphyseals ; Tendon and ligament attachment scars and processes ; Bone densities ; Vision ; Bones as armor ; Skin attachment scars ; Markings left by nerves and blood vessels ; Auditory bones ; The braincase; title: The morphology of fossil teeth. Introduction ; General mammalian tooth morphology ; Herbivores ; Carnivores ; Omnivores ; Special cases of mammalian teeth ; Age determination/stages of development ; Sexual dimorphism ; Shark tooth morphology ; Reptile and fish teeth; title: Natural alterations to fossils. Introduction ; Biological alterations ; Geological alterations ; Hydrological alterations ; Atmospheric alterations; title: Pathologies in fossil bones.  Introduction ; Ankylosis and syndactyly ; Necrosis and sequestrum ; Osteitis ; Bone discontinuities ; Arthritis ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteophytes, spondylosis deformans, spondyloarthropathy, and herniated disks ; Pathological fractures ; Pseudopathologies ; Congenital anomalies and problematic specimens; title: Pathologies in fossil teeth. Introduction ; Dental caries ; Dental abscess ; Dental hypoplasia ; Periodontal disease ; Impacted teeth ; Unusual wear patterns, extra teeth, and missing teeth ; Pathological shark teeth ; Congenital anomalies and problematic specimens; title: Cultural modification of bones, antlers, and teeth. Introduction ; Unintentional modifications ; Intentional modifications ; Problematic specimens.