Beasts Before Us: The Untold Story of Mammal Origins and Evolution

Elsa Panciroli's book "Beasts Before Us" explores the emergence of the mammal lineage, Synapsida, beginning at their split from reptiles in the Carboniferous period. It reveals how ancient mammal ancestors evolved from large hairy beasts to exploit miniaturization, unlocking the traits that define mammals. It highlights discoveries in Scotland, South Africa, and China, challenging stereotypes of dinosaur overlords and cowering little mammals.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

For most of us, the story of mammal evolution begins with the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs, but over the past 20 years, scientists have uncovered new fossils and used new technologies that have completely changed this story. In Beasts Before Us, paleontologist Elsa Panciroli traces the emergence of the mammal lineage, Synapsida, beginning with their mysterious split from reptiles in the Carboniferous period, over 300 million years ago. They made the world their own long before the rise of dinosaurs. Moving forward to the Permian and then Triassic periods, we learn how our ancient mammal ancestors evolved from large hairy beasts with accelerating metabolisms to exploit miniaturization, which was key to unlocking the traits that define mammals as we know them today. Elsa travels the world to explore the sites where discoveries are being made and meets the people who make them. In Scotland, she traverses the prehistoric dunes of Moray, where quarry workers unearthed the footprints of Permian creatures long before the time of dinosaurs. In South Africa, she introduces us to animals once called "mammal-like reptiles" that gave scientists the first hints that our furry kin evolved from a lineage of egg-laying burrowers. In China, new, complete fossilized skeletons reveal mammals that were gliders, shovel-pawed Jurassic moles, and flat-tailed swimmers. This book radically reshapes our narrative of mammalian ancestors and provides a counterpoint to the stereotypes of mighty dinosaur overlords and cowering little mammals. It turns out that the earliest mammals were not just precursors, they were pioneers.

Weight: 348g
Dimension: 135 x 215 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472983985