Despite being among the most versatile and interesting amphibians in North America, frogs and toads (otherwise known as anurans) have not traditionally received enough attention from science. But now, with the population of modern frogs and toads dwindling at an alarming rate, author J. Alan Holman brings together the latest research and findings about ancient anurans, expanding the world's knowledge about these fascinating creatures while there is still time to understand and save them.
Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated, this essential guide provides a general account of the fossil record, a detailed account of individual anuran bones used in paleontological studies, and an epoch-by-epoch discussion of Mesozoic, Tertiary, and Pleistocene anurans and the changes they experienced throughout their evolution. The modern ranges and characteristics, ecological attributes, and diagnostic skeletal elements of fossil taxa still living are also described. A thorough overview of anuran fossil history, biology, and anatomy, Fossil Frogs and Toads of North America is an informative, accessible book for anyone interested in frogs and toads and their evolution into the animals we know today.