Richard Owen

Discover one of the foundational scientific works resulting from Charles Darwin's world-altering journey aboard H.M.S. Beagle.

This is Part I: Fossil Mammalia, which details the extraordinary fossil discoveries Darwin made, primarily in South America between 1832 and 1836. These specimens, collected in what Darwin called his "fossil fever," included the remains of giant, extinct creatures like the massive ground sloth Glossotherium, the rhino-sized ungulate Toxodon platensis, and the enigmatic Macrauchenia.

This volume presents the meticulous scientific descriptions of these fossils. The revelations contained within, particularly the discovery of extinct megafauna related to smaller, modern animals in the same region, played a crucial, formative role in the development of Darwin's theories on extinction, evolution, and natural selection.

A key piece of natural history and a testament to the scientific revolution sparked by the Beagle voyage, Fossil Mammalia offers a direct look at the evidence that would ultimately lead to On the Origin of Species.

Contents include:

 • Toxodon Platensis, Description of Cranium

 • Of Lower Jaw and Teeth

 • Macrauchenia Patachonica

 • Cervical Vertebrae

 • Lumbar Vertibrae

 • Scapula

 • Antibrachium and Fore-foot

 • Femur

 • Tibia, Astragalus, and Metatarsal Bone

 • Glossotherium, etc.

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