This concise guide has been written for students taking an introductory course in paleontology. Short chapters introduce the main topics in the study of fossils, the most important fossil groups from microfossils through invertebrates to vertebrates and plants, followed by a brief narrative of life on Earth. Each topic covers two pages and provides a self-contained suite of information or a starting point for future study.The third edition has been updated with full color images, and the new companion website provides online resources for enhanced teaching and learning, including microCT fossil datasets, protocols for the preparation of fossils in carbonate rocks, as well as tutorial videos demonstrating the dissection of different invertebrate and vertebrate species to illustrate their body plans.
