A Concise Dictionary of Paleontology

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. A

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 1-30

3. B

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 31-42

4. C

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 43-70

5. D

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 71-88

6. E

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 89-101

7. F

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 103-107

8. G

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 109-120

9. H

   • Robert L. Carlton

   Pages 121-135

10. I

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 137-141

11. J

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 143-145

12. K

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 147-151

13. L

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 153-163

14. M

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 165-184

15. N

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 185-192

16. O

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 193-203

17. P

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 205-243

18. Q

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 245-245

19. R

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 247-255

20. S

    • Robert L. Carlton

    Pages 257-278

This authored dictionary presents a unique glossary of paleontological terms, taxa, localities, and concepts, with focus on the most significant orders, genera, and species in terms of historical turning points such as mass extinctions. The book is an accurate and up-to-date collection of the most important paleontological terms and taxa, and may be used as a resource by students, researchers, libraries, and museums.


Though useful to many in professional and academic settings, the book is also aimed at general readers of scientific literature who may enjoy the material without a background in paleontology. While there are many current resources on the subject, few fully encapsulate an accurate representation of the paleontological lexicon. This book attempts to compile such a representation in a moderately comprehensive manner, and includes a list of the most important monographs and articles that have been consulted to put together this essential work.

• dictionary
• Paleontology
• Neo-Linnaean taxonomy
• Cladistic systematics
• Paraphyletic classification
• Fossil communities
• Extinctions
• Taxa
• Genera
• Species
• paleoecology
• paleontological taxa
• comprehensive reference
• Systematic Botany

“The introduction to A Concise Dictionary of Paleontology indicates it is intended for beginning students and general readers. Organized alphabetically, it contains definitions of over 2,500 paleontological terms on fossil morphology, localities, taxa, and stratigraphic units. … Recommended for academic and museum libraries with strong paleontology collections.” (L. R. Zellmer, Choice, Vol. 56 (02), October, 2018)

• Salem, USA

  Robert L. Carlton

Robert L. Carlton (rcarlton@palomar.edu) is a writer, editor, and teacher with professional experience in the humanities and history, and with knowledge of scientific and technical terms and usage in geology, biology, and paleontology. Before retiring in 2013, he taught literature, humanities and history at several four-year and two-year colleges, and wrote the oceanography and paleontology entries for the Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology, published in 1994. He is a member of several professional societies including the Paleontological Society, the Northwest Paleontological Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

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