Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolutionary Theory

For over two hundred years the subject of vertebrate paleontology—the study of ancient vertebrates (animals with backbones) and their nearest relatives—has been popular among the lay public. Everyone seems to have a certain fascination with gigantic bones of extinct animals, be they mastodons or dinosaurs. The discovery of a “new” early hominid skull that bears on the evolution of humans can still make front-page headlines around the globe. In a very real sense, the field of vertebrate paleontology has helped shape the way that modern humans think about themselves and the world around them. Vertebrate paleontology, in a literal sense, has helped elucidate humankind's place in nature, especially within the larger context of life on planet Earth through the last four billion years.