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OverviewOver millions of years, Australia's unique biodiversity has produced a large cabinet of curiosities. Among the weirder members of this group were the Mihirungs, members of the now extinct family Dromornithidae. Made up of several genera of flightless birds--among them one of the very largest birds that ever lived--the dromornithids ranged from 60-kilogram beasts, 1.5 meters tall, to giants twice that size, weighing nearly half a metric ton. They were, by orders of magnitude, the largest ""geese"" that ever lived. One species was comparable in size to the Elephantbird of Madagascar and the Giant Moa of New Zealand. This book is the first major study of this unique and highly diverse group. It aims to present as complete a synthesis as possible of current information about this fascinating family of birds. Peter F. Murray is a researcher at the Museum of Central Australia in Alice Springs. Patricia Vickers-Rich holds a Chair in Palaeontology at Monash University, where she lectures in the Earth Sciences Department. She is co-author (with Thomas H.Rich) of Wildlife of Gondwana: Dinosaurs and Other Vertebrates from the Ancient Supercontinent (IUP, 2000) and Dinosaurs of Darkness (IUP, 2000). Full Product DetailsAuthor: Peter F. Murray , Patricia Vickers-RichPublisher: Indiana University Press Imprint: Indiana University Press Dimensions: Width: 17.80cm , Height: 2.90cm , Length: 25.40cm Weight: 1.052kg ISBN: 9780253342829ISBN 10: 0253342821 Pages: 416 Publication Date: 04 March 2004 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In Print  This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us. Table of ContentsPreliminary Table of Contents: Acknowledgments Introductioin I. Discovery 1. The Discovery of the Dromornithids II. Systematics and Morphology 2. Mihirungs: Extinct, Gigantic Australian Geese 3. Classification 4. Overview of Dromornithid Species, Localities, and Associated Fauna 5. Description of Dromornithid Structure 6. Relationships and Phylogeny 7. Dromornithids and the Origin of Anseriform Birds 8. Relationships within the Dromornithidae III. Paleobiology 9. Appearance, Posture, and Stature 10. Body Mass Estimations 11. Could Dromornithids Run? 12. The Feeding Apparatus 13. The Economy of Scale IV. Paleoecology 14. Evidence from Local Faunas 15. Habitat and Diet 16. Evolution Conclusion Appendix: Basic Avian Skeletal Morphology Glossary References IndexReviewsAuthor InformationPeter F. Murray is a researcher at the Museum of Central Australia in Alice Springs. Patricia Vickers-Rich holds a Chair in Palaeontology at Monash University, where she lectures in the Earth Sciences Department. She is co-author (with Thomas H. Rich) of Wildlife of Gondwana: Dinosaurs and Other Vertebrates from the Ancient Supercontinent (IUP, 2000) and Dinosaurs of Darkness (IUP, 2000). Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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