I've wanted to be a paleontologist from an early age, triggered by being taken to see "Fantasia" at age 7. That was the year that I also started riding horses, so I attribute my career (as an ungulate [hoofed mammals] paleobiologist) to having outgrown neither the horse phase or the dinosaur phase.
As great as is the diversity of life on earth today, the fossil record increases out knowledge of life's diversity by many orders of magnitude. The fossil record also adds something that is lacking from the study of the living world alone: the dimension of time, and the documentation of what actually happened during the history of organisms.
Although one cannot study the biology of extinct animals directly, there are ways by which once can make sound inferences about what they were like as living beings, such as qualitative or quantitative comparison with living animals of known biology and/or the use of principles of biomechanics. (The use of isotope geochemistry is a new development in this area, but as I am primarily a biologist this is not a technique that I use myself.)
Mammals are especially good subjects for paleobiological investigations, as their bony remains provide much information about diet and mode of locomotion, and there is a large diversity of living mammals with which to compare the fossil ones. The structure of the communities of fossil mammals, in terms of diversity of body sizes, and dietary and locomotor types, can also provide excellent information about their habitat (in an entirely different fashion from evidence from fossil plants), and tracking changes in communities through time can provide information as to the tempo and mode of climatic and environmental changes.
| Janis, C.M., Bernor, R.L. "The evolution of equid monodactyly: A review including a new hypothesis." Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 7, no. 119, 2019. |
| Semprebon, G.M., F. Rivals, F., and Janis, C.M. "The role of grass vs. exogenous abrasives in the paleodietary patterns of North American ungulates. Equus compared to four North American ruminant Artiodactyl families using three dental proxies." Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 7, no. 65, 2019. |
| DeSantis L, Fortelius M, Grine FE, Janis C, Kaiser TM, Merceron G, Purnell MA, Schulz-Kornas E, Saarinen J, Teaford M, Ungar PS, Žliobaitė I. "The phylogenetic signal in tooth wear: What does it mean?." Ecology and evolution, vol. 8, no. 22, 2018, pp. 11359-11362. |
| Panciroli E, Janis C, Stockdale M, Martín-Serra A. "Correlates between calcaneal morphology and locomotion in extant and extinct carnivorous mammals." Journal of Morphology, vol. 278, no. 10, 2017, pp. 1333-1353. |
| Huang S, Eronen JT, Janis CM, Saarinen JJ, Silvestro D, Fritz SA. "Mammal body size evolution in North America and Europe over 20 Myr: similar trends generated by different processes." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 284, no. 1849, 2017. |
| Janis, Christine M., Damuth, John, Travouillon, Kenny J., Figueirido, Borja, Hand, Suzanne J., Archer, Michael. "Palaeoecology of Oligo-Miocene macropodoids determined from craniodental and calcaneal data." Memoirs of Museum Victoria, vol. 74, 2016, pp. 209-232. |
| Fritz SA, Eronen JT, Schnitzler J, Hof C, Janis CM, Mulch A, Böhning-Gaese K, Graham CH. "Twenty-million-year relationship between mammalian diversity and primary productivity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 113, no. 39, 2016, pp. 10908-13. |
| Tapaltsyan V, Eronen JT, Lawing AM, Sharir A, Janis C, Jernvall J, Klein OD. "Continuously growing rodent molars result from a predictable quantitative evolutionary change over 50 million years." Cell Reports, vol. 11, no. 5, 2015, pp. 673-80. |
| Figueirido B, Martín-Serra A, Tseng ZJ, Janis CM. "Habitat changes and changing predatory habits in North American fossil canids." Nature Communications, vol. 6, 2015, pp. 7976. |
| Eronen JT, Janis CM, Chamberlain CP, Mulch A. "Mountain uplift explains differences in Palaeogene patterns of mammalian evolution and extinction between North America and Europe." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 282, no. 1809, 2015, pp. 20150136. |
| "A comparison of observed molar wear rates in extant herbivorous mammals." Annals Zoological Fennici, 2014. |
| Janis, Christine M., Figueirido, Borja. "Forelimb anatomy and the discrimination of the predatory behavior of carnivorous mammals: The thylacine as a case study." Journal of Morphology, 2014, pp. n/a-n/a. |
| Janis CM, Buttrill K, Figueirido B. "Locomotion in extinct giant kangaroos: were sthenurines hop-less monsters?." PLoS ONE, vol. 9, no. 10, 2014, pp. e109888. |
| "The evolution of high dental complexity in the horse lineage." Annals Zoological Fennici, 2014. |
|
"Ferungulata." Mammals of Africa, vol. 5: Carnivores, Pangolins, and Perissodactyls, edited by J. Kingdon and M. Hoffman, Academic Press, 2013.
|
|
"Fossil focus: the evolution of tree-kangaroos." Palaeontology Online, 2013.
|
|
"Ungulates (Artiodactyls and Perissodactyls)." Mammals of Africa, vol. 5: Carnivores, Pangolins, and Perissodactyls, edited by J. Kingdon and M. Hoffman, Academic Press, 2013.
|
| Figueirido B, Janis CM, Pérez-Claros JA, De Renzi M, Palmqvist P. "Cenozoic climate change influences mammalian evolutionary dynamics." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 109, no. 3, 2012, pp. 722-7. |
| Janis CM, Devlin K, Warren DE, Witzmann F. "Dermal bone in early tetrapods: a palaeophysiological hypothesis of adaptation for terrestrial acidosis." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 279, no. 1740, 2012, pp. 3035-40. |
| "Grit not grass: concordant patterns of early origin of hypsodonty in Great Plains ungulates and glires." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2012. |
| Eronen, J. T., Fortelius, M., Micheels, A., Portmann, F. T., Puolamaki, K., Janis, C. M. "Neogene aridification of the Northern Hemisphere." Geology, vol. 40, no. 9, 2012, pp. 823-826. |
| Janis, Christine M., Shoshitaishvili, Boris, Kambic, Robert, Figueirido, Borja. "On their knees: distal femur asymmetry in ungulates and its relationship to body size and locomotion." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 32, no. 2, 2012, pp. 433-445. |
|
Vertebrate Life, 9th edition. Benjamin Cummings, 2012.
|
| Damuth J, Janis CM. "On the relationship between hypsodonty and feeding ecology in ungulate mammals, and its utility in palaeoecology." Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, vol. 86, no. 3, 2011, pp. 733-58. |
| Figueirido B, Janis CM. "The predatory behaviour of the thylacine: Tasmanian tiger or marsupial wolf?." Biology letters, vol. 7, no. 6, 2011, pp. 937-40. |
| Janis CM, Constable EC, Houpt KA, Streich WJ, Clauss M. "Comparative ingestive mastication in domestic horses and cattle: a pilot investigation." Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, vol. 94, no. 6, 2010, pp. e402-9. |
|
"Finite element analysis of ungulate jaws: can mode of digestive physiology be determined? P." Palaeontologica Electronia , 2010.
|
|
"Precipitation and large herbivorous mammals I: estimate from present-day communities." Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2010.
|
| Edwards, E. J., Osborne, C. P., Stromberg, C. A. E., Smith, S. A., Bond, W. J., Christin, P. A., Cousins, A. B., Duvall, M. R., Fox, D. L., Freckleton, R. P., Ghannoum, O., Hartwell, J., Huang, Y., Janis, C. M., Keeley, J. E., Kellogg, E. A., Knapp, A. K., Leakey, A. D. B., Nelson, D. M., Saarela, J. M., Sage, R. F., Sala, O. E., Salamin, N., Still, C. J., Tipple, B. "The Origins of C4 Grasslands: Integrating Evolutionary and Ecosystem Science." Science, vol. 328, no. 5978, 2010, pp. 587-591. |
| Janis C. "Artiodactyl 'success' over perissodactyls in the late Palaeogene unlikely to be related to the carotid rete: a commentary on Mitchell & Lust (2008)." Biology letters, vol. 5, no. 1, 2009, pp. 97-8; author reply 99-100. |
| "Convergences in scapula morphology among small cursorial mammals: an osteological correlate for locomotory specialization." Journal of mammalian evolution, 2009. |
|
"Mammals." Evolution: the First Four Billion Years, edited by M. Ruse and J. Travis, Harvard University Press, 2009.
|
| "The calcaneum – on the heels of marsupial locomotion." Journal of mammalian evolution, 2009. |
|
Vertebrate Life, 8th edition. Benjamin Cummings, 2009.
|
|
"An evolutionary history of browsing and grazing ungulates." The Ecology of Browsers and Grazers, edited by I.J. Gordon and H.H.T. Prins, Springer-Verlag, 2008.
|
| "Biogeochemical and ecomorphological inferences on prey selection and resource partitioning among mammalian carnivores in an early Pleistocene community." Palaois, 2008. |
| Palmqvist, P., Perez-Claros, J. A., Janis, C. M., Figueirido, B., Torregrosa, V., Grocke, D. R. "Biogeochemical and Ecomorphological Inferences On Prey Selection and Resource Partitioning Among Mammalian Carnivores In An Early Pleistocene Community." PALAIOS, vol. 23, no. 11, 2008, pp. 724-737. |
| Seckel, Lauren, Janis, Christine. "Convergences in Scapula Morphology among Small Cursorial Mammals: An Osteological Correlate for Locomotory Specialization." J Mammal Evol, vol. 15, no. 4, 2008, pp. 261-279. |
| Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America. Vol. 2: Small Mammals, Edentates, and Marine Mammals. Cambridge University Press, 2008. |
| Bassarova, Mina, Janis, Christine M., Archer, Michael. "The Calcaneum—On the Heels of Marsupial Locomotion." J Mammal Evol, vol. 16, no. 1, 2008, pp. 1-23. |
| Palmqvist, Paul, Pérez-Claros, Juan A., Janis, Christine M., Gröcke, Darren R. "Tracing the ecophysiology of ungulates and predator–prey relationships in an early Pleistocene large mammal community." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 266, no. 1-2, 2008, pp. 95-111. |
|
"Evolutionary patterns and paleobiology." Evolution of the Artiodactyla, edited by D.R. Prothero and S.E. Foss, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007.
|
|
"The horse series." Icons of Evolution, edited by B. Regal, Greenwood Press, 2007.
|
| Mendoza, M., Janis, C. M., Palmqvist, P. "Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression." J. Zoology, vol. 0, no. 0, 2006, pp. 060606025751037-???. |
| "Estimating the body mass of extinct ungulates: a study on the use of multiple regression." J. Zoology, 2006. |
| "Garden of Eden or Fool’s Paradise? Phylogeny, dispersal, and the southern continent hypothesis of placental mammal origins." Paleobiology, 2006. |
| "Spiny Norman in the Garden of Eden? Ausktribosphenos and the biogeography of eutherian origins." Journal of mammalian evolution, 2006. |
| Hunter, John P., Janis, Christine M. "Spiny Norman in the Garden of Eden? Dispersal and early biogeography of Placentalia." J Mammal Evol, vol. 13, no. 2, 2006, pp. 89-123. |
| Hunter, John P., Janis, Christine M. "Garden of Eden” or “Fool's Paradise”? Phylogeny, dispersal, and the southern continent hypothesis of placental mammal origins." Paleobiology, vol. 32, no. 3, 2006, pp. 339-344. |
|
"Ecological patterns in the trophic-size structure of large mammal communities: a taxon-free characterization." Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2005.
|
| Lane, Abigail, Janis, Christine M., Sepkoski, J. John. "Estimating paleodiversities: a test of the taxic and phylogenetic methods." Paleobiology, vol. 31, no. 1, 2005, pp. 21-34. |
| "Estimating paleodiversities: a test of the taxic and phylogenetic methods?." Paleobiology, 2005. |
|
Vertebrate Life 8th edition. Benjamin Cummings, 2005.
|
|
Vertebrate Life, 7th edition. Prentice Hall, 2005.
|
| Tellgren A, Berglund AC, Savolainen P, Janis CM, Liberles DA. "Myostatin rapid sequence evolution in ruminants predates domestication." Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, vol. 33, no. 3, 2004, pp. 782-90. |
|
"Scientific classification." Pronghorn Ecology and Management, edited by B.W. O’Gara and J.D. Yoakum, University of Colorado Press, 2004.
|
| Semprebon, Gina, Janis, Christine, Solounias, Nikos. "The diets of the Dromomerycidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla) and their response to Miocene vegetational change." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 24, no. 2, 2004, pp. 427-444. |
| "The diets of the Dromomerycidae (Mammalia; Artiodactyla) and their response to Miocene climatic and vegetational change." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2004. |
|
"The fossil record." Pronghorn Ecology and Management, edited by B.W. O’Gara and J.D. Yoakum, University of Colorado Press, 2004.
|
| Gaucher EA, Graddy LG, Li T, Simmen RC, Simmen FA, Schreiber DR, Liberles DA, Janis CM, Benner SA. "The planetary biology of cytochrome P450 aromatases." BMC biology, vol. 2, 2004, pp. 19. |
| "The species richness of Miocene browsers, and implications for habitat type and primary productivity in the North American grassland." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2004. |
| JANIS, C. "The species richness of Miocene browsers, and implications for habitat type and primary productivity in the North American grassland biome." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 207, no. 3-4, 2004, pp. 371-398. |
|
"Tectonics, climatic change and atmospheric carbon dioxide in the evolution of mammalian ecosystems." Evolution on Planet Earth: the Impact of the Physical Environment. , edited by L.J. Rothschild and A. Lister, Elsevier, 2003.
|
|
"Artiodactyla." The Equinox Mammal Encyclopedia, edited by D. McDonald, Equinox, 2002.
|
| Mendoza, Manuel, Janis, Christine M., Palmqvist, Paul. "Characterizing complex craniodental patterns related to feeding behaviour in ungulates: a multivariate approach." J. Zoology, vol. 258, no. 2, 2002, pp. 223-246. |
| "Characterizing complex craniodental patterns related to feeding behaviour in ungulates: a multivariate approach." J. Zoology, 2002. |
| Janis, Christine M., Theodor, Jessica M., Boisvert, Bethany. "Locomotor evolution in camels revisited: a quantitative analysis of pedal anatomy and the acquisition of the pacing gait." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 22, no. 1, 2002, pp. 110-121. |
| "Locomotor evolution in camels revisited: a quantitative analysis of pedal morphology and the acquisition of the pacing gait." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 2002. |
|
"Perissodactyls." The Equinox Mammal Encyclopedia, edited by D. McDonald, Equinox, 2002.
|
| "The origins and evolution of the North American grassland biome: the story from the hoofed mammals." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecolog, 2002. |
|
"Ungulates." The Equinox Mammal Encyclopedia, edited by D. McDonald, Equinox, 2002.
|
|
"Modes of ventilation in early tetrapods: costal ventilation as a key feature of amniotes." Acta Palaeontologica Polonica , 2001.
|
|
"The Tertiary radiation of mammals." Palaeobiology II, edited by D Briggs, 2001.
|
|
Vertebrate Life, 6th edition. Prentice Hall, 2001.
|
|
"Artiodactyla." Encyclopedia of Paleontology, edited by R. Singer, Fitzroy-Dearborn, 2000.
|
| Janis CM, Damuth J, Theodor JM. "Miocene ungulates and terrestrial primary productivity: where have all the browsers gone?." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 97, no. 14, 2000, pp. 7899-904. |
|
"Patterns in the evolution of herbivory in large terrestrial mammals: the Paleogene of North America." Origin and Evolution of Herbivory in Terrestrial Vertebrates., edited by H.-D. Sues and C. Labanderia, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
|
|
"The radiation of the North American endemic ruminants." Antelopes, Deer, and Relatives: Fossil Record, Behavioral Ecology, Systematics, and Conservation, edited by E.S. Vrba and G.B. Schaller, Yale University Press, 2000.
|
| Foote M, Hunter JP, Janis CM, Sepkoski JJ Jr. "Evolutionary and preservational constraints on origins of biologic groups: divergence times of eutherian mammals." Science, vol. 283, no. 5406, 1999, pp. 1310-4. |
|
"Hadrosaurs and ungulate parallels: lost lifestyes and deficient data." Acta Palaeontologica Polonica , 1999.
|
| "Proposed habitats of early tetrapods: Gills, kidneys, and the water-land transition." Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society, 1999. |
| Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America. Vol. 1: Terrestrial Carnivores and Ungulates. Cambridge University Press, 1998. |
|
Vertebrate Life, 5th edition. Prentice Hall, 1998.
|
|
"Morphological constraints on tetrapod feeding mechanisms. Why were there no suspension-feeding marine reptiles?." Ancient Marine Reptiles, edited by J.M. Callaway and E.L. Nicholls, Academic Press, 1997.
|
|
"Ungulate teeth, diets, and climatic changes at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary." Zoology - Analysis of Complex Systems, 1997.
|
|
"Correlation between craniodental morphology and feeding behavior in ungulates: reciprocal illumination between living and fossil taxa." Functional Morphology in Vertebrate Paleontology, edited by J.J. Thomason, Cambridge University Press, 1995.
|
| "Modelling equid/ruminant competition in the fossil record." Historical Biology, 1994. |
|
"The sabertooth's repeat performances." Natural History, 1994.
|
| "Does metatarsal/femur ratio predict maximal running speed in cursorial mammals?." J. Zoology, 1993. |
|
"Historical diversity patterns in North American large herbivores and carnivores." Species Diversity in Ecological Communities: Historical and Geographical Perspectives, edited by R.E. Ricklefs and D. Schulter, University of Chicago Press, 1993.
|
| "Phylogenetic analysis of covariance by computer simulation." Systematic biology, 1993. |
|
"Relationships of the Ruminantia (Artiodactyla, Mammalia), and an analysis of the characters used in ruminant taxonomy." Mammal Phylogeny (Volume 2, Placentals), edited by F.S. Szalay, M.J. Novacek and M.C. McKenna, Springer-Verlag, 1993.
|
| "Tertiary mammal evolution in the context of changing climates, vegetation, and tectonic events." Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 1993. |
|
"Victors by Default." The Book of Life, Random House, 1993.
|
| "Were there mammalian pursuit predators in the Tertiary? Dances with wolf avatars." Journal of mammalian evolution, 1993. |
|
"Scaling of reproductive turnover in archosaurs and mammals: why are large terrestrial mammals so rare?." Annals Zoologici Fennici, 1992.
|
|
"Correlation of cranial and dental variables with body size in ungulates and macropodoids." Body Size in Mammalian Paleobiology: Estimation and Biological Implication, edited by J. Damuth and B.J. MacFadden, Cambridge University Press, 1990.
|
|
"Correlation of cranial and dental variables with dietary preferences: a comparison of macropodoid and ungulate mammals." Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 1990.
|
|
"Correlation of reproductive and digestive strategies in the evolution of cranial appendages." Horns, Pronghorns and Antlers. Evolution, Morphology and Social Significance, edited by G.A. Bubenik and A.B. Bubenik, Springer-Verlag, 1990.
|
|
"Mammal." Evolutionary Trends, edited by K.J. McNamara, Belhaven Press, 1990.
|
|
"The correlation between diet and dental wear in herbivorous mammals, and its relationship to the determination of diets of extinct species." Evolutionary Paleobiology of Behavior and Coevolution, edited by A.J. Boucot, Elsevier, 1990.
|
|
"Why kangaroos (Macropodidae, Marsupialia) are not as hypsodont as ungulate mammals (Eutheria)." Australian Mammalogy, 1990.
|
|
"A climatic explanation for patterns of evolutionary diversity in ungulate mammals." Palaeontology, 1989.
|
| JANIS, CHRISTINE. "A collection of papers by Björn Kurtén." Boreas, vol. 18, no. 1, 1989, pp. 81-83. |
|
"An estimation of tooth volume and hypsodonty indices in ungulate mammals, and the correlation of these factors with dietary preferences." Teeth Revisited: Proceedings of the VIIth. International Symposium on Dental Morphology, Paris 1986. , edited by D.E. Russell, J.-P. Santoro and D. Sigogneau-Russell, 1988.
|
| "Correlation of relative muzzle width and relative incisor width with dietary preference in ungulates." Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society, 1988. |
| Janis CM. "New ideas in ungulate phylogeny and evolution." Trends in Ecology & Evolution, vol. 3, no. 11, 1988, pp. 291-7. |
| "On the means whereby mammals achieve increased functional durability of their dentitions, with special reference to limiting factors." Biological Reviews, 1988. |
| Janis CM, Fortelius M. "On the means whereby mammals achieve increased functional durability of their dentitions, with special reference to limiting factors." Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, vol. 63, no. 2, 1988, pp. 197-230. |
|
"The phylogeny of the Ruminantia (Artiodactyla, Mammalia)." The Phylogeny and Classification of Tetrapods, edited by M.J. Benton, Clarendon Press, 1988.
|
| "Grades and clades in hornless ruminant evolution: the reality of the Gelocidae and the systematic position of Lophiomeryx and Bachitherium." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 1987. |
| Janis, Christine M. "Grades and clades in hornless ruminant evolution: the reality of the Gelocidae and the systematic position of Lophiomeryx and Bachitherium." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 7, no. 2, 1987, pp. 200-216. |
|
"The interrelationships of higher ruminant families, with special emphasis on the members of the Cervoidea." American Museum Novitates, 1987.
|
|
"The phylogenetic position of the Cervidae." Biology and Management of the Cervidae, edited by C.M. Wemmer, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1987.
|
|
"Evolution of horns and related structures in hoofed mammals." Discovery, 1986.
|
|
"The use of the morphology of the lower fourth premolar as a taxonomic character in the Ruminantia (Mammalia; Artiodactyla), and the systematic position of Triceromeryx." Journal of Paleontology, 1985.
|
|
"Prediction of primate diets from molar wear patterns." Food Acquisition and Processing in Primates, edited by D.J. Chivers, B.A. Wood and A. Bilsborough, Plenum Press, 1984.
|
|
"Tapirs." Living Fossils, edited by N. Eldredge and S. Stanley, Springer-Verlag, 1984.
|
|
"The significance of fossil ungulate communities as indicators of vegetation structure and climate." Fossils and Climate, edited by P.J. Brenchley, John Wiley and Sons, 1984.
|
|
"Tragulids." Living Fossils, edited by N. Eldredge and S. Stanley, Springer-Verlag, 1984.
|
| "Muscles of the masticatory apparatus in two genera of hyraces (Procavia and Heterohyrax)." Journal of Morphology, 1983. |
| Janis CM. "Muscles of the masticatory apparatus in two genera of hyraces (Procavia and Heterohyrax)." Journal of Morphology, vol. 176, no. 1, 1983, pp. 61-87. |
| "The environment of early Paleozoic vertebrates." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 1983. |
| "Evolution of horns in ungulates: ecology and paleoecology." Biological Reviews, 1982. |
| "Mastication in the hyrax and its relevance to ungulate evolution." Paleobiology, 1979. |
| "The evolutionary strategy of the Equidae and the origins of rumen and cecal digestion." Evolution, 1976. |
My research focuses on the evolutionary history of large mammals, both in terms of their anatomy (and what this can reveal about past behaviors) and their community structure. My particular interest is in ungulate (hoofed mammals) evolution over the past 20 million years or so.
Mammalian community structure, especially that of large herbivores, has a high correlation with local habitats and environments, and change in community structure over time can reveal patterns of climatic change. In my role as senior editor for the volumes "Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America" (Cambridge University Press: 1998, 2008) I have accumulated a large amount of information on North American species over the past 65 million years, relating to both presence in fossil localities and ecomorphological characteristics.
I am currently collaborating with Mikael Fortelius and Jussi Eronen (University of Helsinki), who manage the NOW (Neogene Old World Mammals) database, to combine the North American data with that from the Eurasia. Work in submission shows that mammalian communities reveal very different patterns of rainfall and encroaching aridity over the past 20 million years between the two areas. Previous work with John Damuth (University of California, Santa Barbara) has shown interesting patterns in mid Miocene (~17 12 million years ago) ungulate communities in North America, where the faunas appear to be "over-rich" in browsers, possibly reflecting an increase in levels of plant productivity (see Janis, Damuth and Theodor 2000, 2002, 2004). Our ongoing research suggests that this was a worldwide phenomenon, thus implying some hitherto unknown global climatic conditions during the mid Miocene, and we currently have funding to investigate these trends with the herbivorous marsupial faunas of Australia. John Damuth and I have recently published a large review on hypsodonty (high-crowned teeth) in mammals.
Other current research focuses more on the functional morphology of individual fossil lineages. I originally focused on the use of dental and skull remains to determine diet, but more recently have become interested in the postcranial skeleton and evolution of locomotion, including a study of the evolution of the pacing gait in camels (see Janis, Theodor and Boisvert, 2002) and the mode of locomotion in sthenurine kangaroos (extinct giant browsing forms) I have recently (Janis, Kuchenbecker and Figueirido, 2014) published on kangaroo locomotion, showing that extinct giant forms (sthenurines) walked rather than hopped.
Current research with Borja Figueirido (formerly my postdoctoral student, now a lecturer at the University of Malaga, Spain), relates to large scale patterns in mammalian diversity over the past 65 million years, plus landmark morphometric studies on craniodental morphology of ungulate mammals (extending my work of several years ago with new types of statistical analysis). We have also recently published a paper on the elbow anatomy of the thylacine (the so-called "marsupial wolf"), showing that it was not as cursorially-adapted as assumed, and so unlikely to have had wolf-like hunting behavior, and are currently expanding our research to include other features of forelimb anatomy.
In addition to my research on mammalian paleobiology, I also have an interest in the paleophysiology of early tetrapods. I have published several papers on this issue, the most recent (2012) on the use of dermal bone as a potential buffer for terrestrial acidosis.
In addition to academic research I also write around 40% of the textbook "Vertebrate Life" (Pough, Janis & Heiser). I was involved in the 5th edition (1998), 6th ed. (2001), 7th ed.(2004), 8th ed. (2008), (2012).
National Science Foundation (Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology Program).
Collaborative Research (with John Damuth, University of California Santa
Barbara) (6//2011 - 6/2014): Were there "too many" browser species in local faunas of the early Miocene? Testing a global hypothesis using the Australian mammal fossil record.
$119,097.
Janis, C. M., Kuchenbecker, K., and Figueirido, B. (2014). Locomotion in extinct giant kangaroos: were sthenurines hop-less monsters? PLoS One.
Janis, C. M. Janis, C.M., and B. Figueirido (2014). Forelimb anatomy and the discrimination of predatory strategies in mammalian carnivores: the behavior of the thylacine as a case study. Journal of Morphology. DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20303
Janis, C. M., K. Devlin, D. E. Warren, and F. Witzmann. (2012) Dermal bone in basal tetrapods: a palaeophysiological hypothesis of adaptation for terrestrial acidosis. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B. (published online April 25th doi: 10.1098/rspb.2012.0558)
Figueirido, B., C. M. Janis, J. A. Pérez-Claros, M. de Renzi, and P. Palmqvist (2012). Cenozoic climate change influences mammalian evolutionary dynamics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109:722-727.
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | PhD | Harvard University |
| 1973 | BA | University of Cambridge |
