CONTENTS
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1
PLANET OF THE SCUM
THE FIRST FOSSILS
CRYPTOZOON
2
GARDEN OF EDIACARA
THE FIRST MULTICELLULAR LIFE
CHARNIA
3
“LITTLE SHELLIES”
THE FIRST SHELLS
CLOUDINA
4
OH, GIVE ME A HOME, WHEN THE TRILOBITES ROAMED
THE FIRST LARGE SHELLED ANIMALS
OLENELLUS
5
IS IT A WORM OR AN ARTHROPOD?
THE ORIGIN OF ARTHROPODS
HALLUCIGENIA
6
IS IT A WORM OR A MOLLUSC?
THE ORIGIN OF MOLLUSCS
PILINA
7
GROWING FROM THE SEA
THE ORIGIN OF LAND PLANTS
COOKSONIA
8
A FISHY TALE
THE ORIGIN OF VERTEBRATES
HAIKOUICHTHYS
9
MEGA-JAWS
THE LARGEST FISH
CARCHAROCLES
10
FISH OUT OF WATER
THE ORIGIN OF AMPHIBIANS
TIKTAALIK
11
“FROGAMANDER”
THE ORIGIN OF FROGS
GEROBATRACHUS
12
TURTLE ON THE HALF-SHELL
THE ORIGIN OF TURTLES
ODONTOCHELYS
13
WALKING SERPENTS
THE ORIGIN OF SNAKES
HAASIOPHIS
14
KING OF THE FISH-LIZARDS
THE LARGEST MARINE REPTILE
SHONISAURUS
15
TERROR OF THE SEAS
THE LARGEST SEA MONSTER
KRONOSAURUS
16
MONSTER FLESH-EATER
THE LARGEST PREDATOR
GIGANOTOSAURUS
17
LAND OF THE GIANTS
THE LARGEST LAND ANIMAL
ARGENTINOSAURUS
18
A FEATHER IN STONE
THE FIRST BIRD
ARCHAEOPTERYX
19
NOT QUITE A MAMMAL
THE ORIGIN OF MAMMALS
THRINAXODON
20
WALKING INTO THE WATER
THE ORIGIN OF WHALES
AMBULOCETUS
21
WALKING MANATEES
THE ORIGIN OF SIRENIANS
PEZOSIREN
22
DAWN HORSES
THE ORIGIN OF HORSES
EOHIPPUS
23
RHINOCEROS GIANTS
THE LARGEST LAND MAMMAL
PARACERATHERIUM
24
THE APE’S REFLECTION?
THE OLDEST HUMAN FOSSIL
SAHELANTHROPUS
25
LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS
THE OLDEST HUMAN SKELETON
AUSTRALOPITHECUS AFARENSIS
APPENDIX
THE BEST NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS
INDEX