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Handbook of Paleoichthyology, 2. Placodermi
93
Lames, Auvernier" has reconstructed the ancient forest growths and studied the influence of the Neolithic man on their configuration. Hajnalov~ in "Triticum species from a Hallstatt storage-pit at Bratislava--Dev~n" has described the carbonized remains of cereals from this well-known archaeological locality (Czechoslovakia), stressing the find of spelt. Opravil's contribution "Synanthropic plant communities in Czechoslovakia during the Burgwall period (8th--10th cent.)" presents detailed results of study of the synanthropic vegetation from several medieval localities, particularly Mikul~ice. Wasylikowa in "Early and late medieval plant remains from Wawel Hill in Cracow (9--10th to 13th century A.D.)" has elaborated on 293 species of plant remains (25 phytofossil groups), considering changes due to human action. Kosina: "The cultivated and wild plants from the 11th-century granaries on the cathedral island in Wroclaw" summarizes results of investigations of plant macro-remains from three granaries, emphasizing the ratio between cereals and weeds. WiUerding's "Palaeoethnological investigations of plant remains from medieval sites in south Lower Saxony, north Hesse and the eastern part of Westphalia" presents a comprehensive and very detailed palaeo-ethnobotanical analysis of sixteen localities (100 various species of fruits and seeds of cultural plants). Behre's "Formenkreis of Prunus domesticus L. from the Viking age until early modern times, established by fruitstones from Haithabu and old Schleswig (northern Germany)" is a very detailed palaeo-ethnobotanical analysis of groups of forms in various species of Prunus. Kroll in "Finds of cherry stones from medieval layers at the city of Lfibeck" treats finds from the 13th to 16th centuries A.D. KnSrzer in "Evolution and spreading of Gold of Pleasure (Camelina sativa s.1.)" determines the origin and distribution of this plant which since prehistoric times was cultivated for seeds. Lange's "Weeds in flax fields, found in linseed samples from the late La T~ne period to the 12th century" is a study of the origin and age of a specific weed vegetation. The volume presents a good survey of the present-day knowledge in the field of palaeo-ethnobotany. It contains numerous diagrams, summarizing tables and references. It may be recommended particularly to scholars interested in special details of palaeo-ethnobotanical investigations. B. PACLTOVA (Prague)
Handbook o f Paleoichthyology, 2. Placodermi. R. Denison. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1978, 128 pp., 94 figs., DM 128.00. This is the first of a projected ten-volume review of paleoichthyology that is scheduled for completion by 1981. The format is 16.6 x 25 cm (ca. 21 x 30 bound), allowing ample room for illustrations, all of which in the present work are drawings. Volume 2 treats in exemplary fashion the general
94 morphology, histology, habitat, adaptations, relationships, classification, phylogeny and systematics of this greatly diversified group of armored, Devonian gnathostomes that are off the main evolutionary line leading to the higher bony fishes. The phylogeny m.d classification are essentially that of the author's recent contribution to the evolution and classification of placoderms (1975, Brevioria, no. 432). He divides them into 9 orders, 32 families and approximately 170 genera. Most of the volume (100 pp.) is concerned with systematics. Placoderms were one of the chief omissions from the large volume on "Inter-relationships of Fishes" (Greenwood, Miles, and Patterson, 1973, Zool. Jour. Linn. Soc., vol. 53, Suppl. 1), evidently because the interrelationships of these ancient fishes were so poorly understood. Thus, the six or so students of this group have proposed various classifications stemming from divergent interpretations of placoderm affinities. Except for the slight possibility that they were ancestral to the holocephaians, there is nothing to indicate a relationship to pre-Devonian fishes, and StensiS's belief that they are allied to elasmobranchs has not been successfully demonstrated. With such paucity of information on ancestors, it becomes very difficult to distinguish ancestral and derived characters -- a vital need in working out a phylogenetic classification. It is these attempts to solve this nagging problem that have led to the current, contentious state of placoderm classification. Denison clearly outlines the assumptions that form the bases for his decisions concerning primitive and advanced characters assumptions based on morphology and supported by stratigraphic occurrence. He reviews and constructively criticizes the determination of such traits by other students -- especially Stensi5, Obruchev, and Miles and Young -- and presents a cladogram for the Placodermi, based on the appearance of derived specializations. His contribution provides sound direction for future research on this difficult group. For each order is given the diagnostic characters, comments on inclusion and exclusion of genera, and an indication of habitat. The type species is cited for each genus, along with generic synonyms, age, and occurrence. A cladogram is given for the Arthrodira, the best known placoderm order, with 64 pages devoted to this group. The systematic section closes with brief accounts of the ten genera that are listed as Placodermi incertae sedis. A useful list of important general works on placoderms is given under References and Bibliography. There is an index to genera and another to higher categories. This book presents a valuable and useful summary that, unfortunately, will be out of reach for many paleoichthyologists, because of its high price (U.S. $74). ROBERT RUSH MILLER (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Lames, Auvernier" has reconstructed the ancient forest growths and studied the influence of the Neolithic man on their configuration. Hajnalov~ in "Triticum species from a Hallstatt storage-pit at Bratislava--Dev~n" has described the carbonized remains of cereals from this well-known archaeological locality (Czechoslovakia), stressing the find of spelt. Opravil's contribution "Synanthropic plant communities in Czechoslovakia during the Burgwall period (8th--10th cent.)" presents detailed results of study of the synanthropic vegetation from several medieval localities, particularly Mikul~ice. Wasylikowa in "Early and late medieval plant remains from Wawel Hill in Cracow (9--10th to 13th century A.D.)" has elaborated on 293 species of plant remains (25 phytofossil groups), considering changes due to human action. Kosina: "The cultivated and wild plants from the 11th-century granaries on the cathedral island in Wroclaw" summarizes results of investigations of plant macro-remains from three granaries, emphasizing the ratio between cereals and weeds. WiUerding's "Palaeoethnological investigations of plant remains from medieval sites in south Lower Saxony, north Hesse and the eastern part of Westphalia" presents a comprehensive and very detailed palaeo-ethnobotanical analysis of sixteen localities (100 various species of fruits and seeds of cultural plants). Behre's "Formenkreis of Prunus domesticus L. from the Viking age until early modern times, established by fruitstones from Haithabu and old Schleswig (northern Germany)" is a very detailed palaeo-ethnobotanical analysis of groups of forms in various species of Prunus. Kroll in "Finds of cherry stones from medieval layers at the city of Lfibeck" treats finds from the 13th to 16th centuries A.D. KnSrzer in "Evolution and spreading of Gold of Pleasure (Camelina sativa s.1.)" determines the origin and distribution of this plant which since prehistoric times was cultivated for seeds. Lange's "Weeds in flax fields, found in linseed samples from the late La T~ne period to the 12th century" is a study of the origin and age of a specific weed vegetation. The volume presents a good survey of the present-day knowledge in the field of palaeo-ethnobotany. It contains numerous diagrams, summarizing tables and references. It may be recommended particularly to scholars interested in special details of palaeo-ethnobotanical investigations. B. PACLTOVA (Prague)
Handbook o f Paleoichthyology, 2. Placodermi. R. Denison. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1978, 128 pp., 94 figs., DM 128.00. This is the first of a projected ten-volume review of paleoichthyology that is scheduled for completion by 1981. The format is 16.6 x 25 cm (ca. 21 x 30 bound), allowing ample room for illustrations, all of which in the present work are drawings. Volume 2 treats in exemplary fashion the general
94 morphology, histology, habitat, adaptations, relationships, classification, phylogeny and systematics of this greatly diversified group of armored, Devonian gnathostomes that are off the main evolutionary line leading to the higher bony fishes. The phylogeny m.d classification are essentially that of the author's recent contribution to the evolution and classification of placoderms (1975, Brevioria, no. 432). He divides them into 9 orders, 32 families and approximately 170 genera. Most of the volume (100 pp.) is concerned with systematics. Placoderms were one of the chief omissions from the large volume on "Inter-relationships of Fishes" (Greenwood, Miles, and Patterson, 1973, Zool. Jour. Linn. Soc., vol. 53, Suppl. 1), evidently because the interrelationships of these ancient fishes were so poorly understood. Thus, the six or so students of this group have proposed various classifications stemming from divergent interpretations of placoderm affinities. Except for the slight possibility that they were ancestral to the holocephaians, there is nothing to indicate a relationship to pre-Devonian fishes, and StensiS's belief that they are allied to elasmobranchs has not been successfully demonstrated. With such paucity of information on ancestors, it becomes very difficult to distinguish ancestral and derived characters -- a vital need in working out a phylogenetic classification. It is these attempts to solve this nagging problem that have led to the current, contentious state of placoderm classification. Denison clearly outlines the assumptions that form the bases for his decisions concerning primitive and advanced characters assumptions based on morphology and supported by stratigraphic occurrence. He reviews and constructively criticizes the determination of such traits by other students -- especially Stensi5, Obruchev, and Miles and Young -- and presents a cladogram for the Placodermi, based on the appearance of derived specializations. His contribution provides sound direction for future research on this difficult group. For each order is given the diagnostic characters, comments on inclusion and exclusion of genera, and an indication of habitat. The type species is cited for each genus, along with generic synonyms, age, and occurrence. A cladogram is given for the Arthrodira, the best known placoderm order, with 64 pages devoted to this group. The systematic section closes with brief accounts of the ten genera that are listed as Placodermi incertae sedis. A useful list of important general works on placoderms is given under References and Bibliography. There is an index to genera and another to higher categories. This book presents a valuable and useful summary that, unfortunately, will be out of reach for many paleoichthyologists, because of its high price (U.S. $74). ROBERT RUSH MILLER (Ann Arbor, Mich.)