Vertebrate Paleontology
Vertebrate paleontology is the subfield of paleontology that focuses on the history of animals with backbones, applying principles from biology to understand their evolution and extinction. Researchers in this discipline analyze fossil evidence—such as bones, teeth, eggs, and trackways—to reconstruct the anatomy, behavior, and ecology of a vast range of past life, from the earliest fish and amphibians to dinosaurs, birds, and ancient mammals, including human ancestors. This work provides a deep-time perspective on major evolutionary transitions and reveals how vertebrates have responded to environmental changes over millions of years.
- Foundations of Vertebrate Paleontology