Bear question

Hello,

For a recent intro to the the paleontology of bears I would suggest Hunt (1998). For the phylogeny of living species I would start with something like Talbot and Shields (1996). I recognize that neither of these is particularly good for the layman. The best I can suggest in terms of less technical material (and it really is not much less technical) would be Wayne and others (1989).

References cited

Hunt, Jr. RM, Ursidea, IN (C.M. Janis, K.M. Scott, and L.J. Jacobs, eds.) Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p 174-189.

Talbot SL and Shields GF, 1996. A PHYLOGENY OF THE BEARS (URSIDAE) INFERRED FROM COMPLETE SEQUENCE OF THREE MITOCHONDRIAL GENES. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 5(3): 567-575

Wayne, RK, Benveniste, RE, Janczewski, DN, and O'Brien, SJ, 1989 MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION OF THE CARNIVORA IN (J.L.Gittleman, ed.) Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution , Ithica, NY: Comstock Publishing Associates, p. 465-494, 1989

Hope this helps at least some.

Rick Toomey Illinois State Museum

Thanks. I'm very glad to get some information.

$260.00 is a little steep. Maybe I can get it by inter-library loan. A few universities will have it.

It does. Pete