9419776 Rose Modern orders of mammals first appeared in the fossil record and began to diversify during the early Eocene age, 52-55 million years ago. This research will use the most extensive collection of early Eocene mammal skeletons in existence to present the first comprehensive overview of the skeletal anatomy and adaptations of early Eocene mammals. Locomotion and related behaviors of extinct fossil mammals will be determined through rigorous anatomical comparisons with modern mammals whose behavior has been documented. Quantitative image analyses of joint and bone shapes in modern mammals will identify skeletal structures that are associated with particular modes of locomotion. Those results will be used to infer the locomotor behavior of fossil mammals from their skeletal anatomy. Quantitative analysis of exceptionally well-preserved teeth and skulls from fossils closely-spaced throughout the 3 million year period will define the anatomy and relationships of fossil mammals and show how evolution proceeded during the Eocene increase in species diversity. This research will provide new data on the anatomy, adaptations, behavior, and evolution of the basal members of modern mammalian orders and their archaic contemporaries. It will lead to a broader understanding of community evolution through the recent history of mammals and insight into the stability of mammal communities over time.
