Life on Earth can be traced back over three billion years into the past.
Many examples of the Earth's former inhabitants are to be found in
rocks, preserved as beautiful and fascinating fossils. The earliest life
forms were bacteria and algae; these produced the oxygen that enabled
more complex life forms to develop. About 600 million years ago
multi-cellular organisms appeared on Earth, some of which could protect
themselves with hard parts such as shells. Many of these life forms were
readily fossilized and are used to subdivide geological time. Numerous
species have evolved and most are now extinct. Lineages can be traced
and extinctions explained as a consequence of terrestrial and
extra-terrestrial events.
Now in a revised, updated and expanded Second Edition Introducing
Palaeontology will continue to provide readers with a concise and
accessible introduction to the science of palaeontology.