Origin Africa

A Natural History

Jonathan Kingdon

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9780691228532
• eBook ISBN:
  9780691249032
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: African History
• Index: Biological Sciences

A richly illustrated journey through the evolution of Africa's extraordinary natural world across deep time

Origin Africa is a unique introduction to the natural history and evolution of the most misrepresented continent on Earth. Celebrated evolutionary biologist and artist Jonathan Kingdon, a leading expert on the natural history of Africa, tells this extraordinary story as no one else can. Featuring a wealth of photographs and illustrations, the book is both a visual and narrative feast.

Africa is the richest continent, containing every habitat from desert to tropical forest and the widest range of plants and animals found anywhere. It has experienced extraordinary climate fluctuations, meteor bombardment, and cataclysmic volcanic eruptions. Yet life has not only survived but evolved almost countless species. One group of primates evolved out of this crucible and moved out of Africa to dominate every continent on Earth. Africa has properties that ensure that most of human evolution couldn't have occurred anywhere else.

A fascinating story told as never before, Origin Africa chronicles how the natural conditions of Africa enabled a spectacular evolution of plants and animals, including Homo sapiens.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Preface
• Chapter 1. What is Africa?
• Chapter 2. Gondwana’s Core
• Chapter 3. Dawn and Consequences from Chance
• Chapter 4. Afloat on Planet Ocean (Adrift and Heading North)
• Chapter 5. Global Wobbles and Climate Change
• Chapter 6. Habitats Defined by Plants
• Chapter 7. Emigration and Immigration
• Chapter 8. Diversity – Highs and Lows
• Chapter 9. Succession
• Chapter 10. Diseases and Plagues
• Chapter 11. Louder, Softer, Bigger, Smaller, Faster, Slower, Duller, Brighter
• Chapter 12. Behaviour Drives Morphology
• Chapter 13. Ecological Elders
• Chapter 14. Import and Export of Primates
• Chapter 15. Slow but Smart
• Chapter 16. The Boreal, Latitudinal Realm
• Chapter 17. The Austral, Longitudinal Realm
• Chapter 18. Niche-thieves
• Chapter 19. Out of Africa and Back Again – the Banda Strandlopers
• Chapter 20. Translating Nature
• Chapter 21. Mind and Memory
• Chapter 22. Process as Principle
• Further Reading
• Index