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What can we learn about the evolution of jaws from a pair of scissors? How does the flight of a tennis ball help explain how fish overcome drag? What do a spacesuit and a chicken egg have in common? Highlighting the fascinating twists and turns of evolution across more than 540 million years, paleobiologist Matthew Bonnan uses everyday objects to explain the emergence and adaptation of the vertebrate skeleton. What can camera lenses tell us about the eyes of marine reptiles? How does understanding what prevents a coffee mug from spilling help us understand the posture of dinosaurs? The answers to these and other intriguing questions illustrate how scientists have pieced together the history of vertebrates from their bare bones. With its engaging and informative text, plus more than 200 illustrative diagrams created by the author, The Bare Bones is an unconventional and reader-friendly introduction to the skeleton as an evolving machine.

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, Epigraphs
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  1. Contents
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  1. Preface
  2. pp. x-xiv
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  1. Acknowledgments
  2. pp. xv-xvii
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  1. Part 1. Setting the Stage
  1. 1. Introduction: How Vertebrates and Cars Are (and Are Not) Similar
  2. pp. 2-7
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  1. 2. Evolution to Deep Time, Pedigree to Anatomy
  2. pp. 8-29
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  1. Part 2. The Origin and Early Evolution of the Vertebrate Chassis
  1. 3. Inferring the Basic Vertebrate Chassis
  2. pp. 32-49
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  1. 4. Evolution of a Bony Chassis
  2. pp. 50-69
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  1. Part 3. The Evolution of the Jawed Vertebrate Chassis and Something Fishy
  1. 5. The Jawed Vertebrate Chassis: A Primer
  2. pp. 72-89
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  1. 6. Placoderms and Cartilaginous Fishes
  2. pp. 90-113
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  1. 7. The Fishlike Osteichthyes, Part 1
  2. pp. 114-135
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  1. 8. The Fishlike Osteichthyes, Part 2
  2. pp. 136-153
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  1. Part 4. The Vertebrate Chassis Moves to Land
  1. 9. The Tetrapod Chassis: A Primer
  2. pp. 156-177
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  1. 10. The Tetrapod Chassis in Transition
  2. pp. 178-199
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  1. 11. The Amphibian Chassis
  2. pp. 200-225
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  1. 12. The Amniote Chassis: A Primer and the Lead-Up to True Amniotes
  2. pp. 226-247
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  1. Part 5. Deep Scaly I: Reptilian Chassis from Early Reptiles to Sea Monsters
  1. 13. Modern Lizards and the Tuatara as an Introduction
  2. pp. 250-267
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  1. 14. Early Reptiles and Turtles
  2. pp. 268-289
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  1. 15. Snakes and Sea Dragons
  2. pp. 290-311
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  1. Part 6. Deep Scaly II: The Archosaur Chassis, Those Ruling Reptiles
  1. 16. The Archosaur Chassis, Part 1: Modern Archosaurs
  2. pp. 314-343
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  1. 17. The Archosaur Chassis, Part 2: A Primer on Archosaur Posture and Diversity
  2. pp. 344-361
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  1. 18. The Archosaur Chassis, Part 3: Pterosaurs, Dinosaurs, and the Origins of Birds
  2. pp. 362-389
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  1. Part 7. Overcome by Fur: The Mammalian Chassis
  1. 19. The Mammalian Chassis: A Primer
  2. pp. 392-419
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  1. 20. The Evolution of the Mammal Chassis
  2. pp. 420-443
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  1. 21. Brains, Milk, and the Modern Radiations of Mammals
  2. pp. 444-473
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  1. Appendix: The Cards of Time
  2. pp. 474-475
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  1. References
  2. pp. 476-495
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 496-508
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  1. About the Author, Colophon
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  1. Image Plates
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