The Great Fossil Enigma: The Search for the Conodont Animal

by Simon J. Knell Narrated by James Cameron Stewart

Overview

A fascinating, comprehensive, accessible account of conodont fossils-one of paleontology's greatest mysteries: "Deserves to be widely read and enjoyed" (Priscum).



Stephen Jay Gould borrowed from Winston Churchill when he described the eel-like conodont animal as a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. The search for its identity confounded scientists for more than a century. Some thought it a slug, others a fish, a worm, a plant, even a primitive ancestor of ourselves. As the list of possibilities grew, an answer to the riddle never seemed any nearer. Would the animal that left behind the miniscule fossils known as conodonts ever be identified? Three times the creature was found, but each was quite different from the others. Were any of them really the one?



Simon J. Knell takes the listener on a journey through 150 years of scientific thinking, imagining, and arguing. Slowly the animal begins to reveal traces of itself: its lifestyle, its remarkable evolution, its witnessing of great catastrophes, its movements over the surface of the planet, and finally its anatomy. Today the conodont animal remains perhaps the most disputed creature in the zoological world.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"If you want a[n]...entertaining and interesting account of the discovery of knowledge through the analytical, political, and idiosyncratic activities of researchers, The Great Fossil Enigma will serve you well."—Science Magazine

"...[A] valuable contribution to the history of science."—thisviewoflife.com

"Knell focuses on discussions, antagonisms, diverse conclusions, and a slowly emerging consensus about where these tooth-like structures were located in the animal and to what group of known animals these fossils pertained. Readers will learn how scientists develop ideas and interact with colleagues, and how animosities and cooperative relationships develop and change. . . . Recommended."—Choice

"Quite a remarkable and well-executed story. . . . It should be of great interest not only to conodontologists but to paleontologists in general as well as to everyone interested in the history of science. I cannot think of any other comparable work dealing so thoroughly with the exploration history of a widespread and important fossil group."—Stig M. Bergström, Ohio State University

"Excellent and refreshing. . . . This will be the seminal source [on] the interpretation of conodonts and the origin of vertebrates. . . . Among the plethora of history of science books, and especially histories of . . . paleontology and the earth sciences, nothing comes close."—Michael J. Benton , University of Bristol

"For those with an interest in conodont paleontology."—The Guardian

"Simon Knell has written, and written particularly well, the history of our conception and misunderstanding of the conodonts. It is the best semi-popular account of the history of paleontology that I have read since Gould's Wonderful Life. The Great Fossil Engima deserves to be widely read and enjoyed, not just by those who work on conodonts, but by a broad cross-section of paleontologists, geologists and anyone with an interest in our understanding of the natural world."—Priscum

"Simon Knell's contribution is a coherent and fascinating account of the history of an extinct fossil group. It has good reference notes and a valuable index. It will stand the test of time, but it deserves to be read now."—Earth Science History

"Simon Knell tells the fascinating story from the early days of discovery up to the present, when conodont affinities continue to stimulate debate amongst the scientific community. . . [he] has . . . beautifully painted [the picture] of the enigma that is the conodont animal."—Geological Magazine

"This is one of the best books, which the reviewer has had a chance to read in the past years. It is strongly recommended to a broad circle of geologists and palaeontologists, as well as to those interested in the history/philosophy/sociology of the modern science."—Zentralblatt Geologie und Palaontologie

Geological Magazine

Simon Knell tells the fascinating story from the early days of discovery up to the present, when conodont affinities continue to stimulate debate amongst the scientific community. . . [he] has . . . beautifully painted [the picture] of the enigma that is the conodont animal.

The Guardian

For those with an interest in conodont paleontology.

Choice

Knell focuses on discussions, antagonisms, diverse conclusions, and a slowly emerging consensus about where these tooth-like structures were located in the animal and to what group of known animals these fossils pertained. Readers will learn how scientists develop ideas and interact with colleagues, and how animosities and cooperative relationships develop and change. . . . Recommended.

Priscum

Simon Knell has written, and written particularly well, the history of our conception and misunderstanding of the conodonts. It is the best semi-popular account of the history of paleontology that I have read since Gould's Wonderful Life. The Great Fossil Engima deserves to be widely read and enjoyed, not just by those who work on conodonts, but by a broad cross-section of paleontologists, geologists and anyone with an interest in our understanding of the natural world.

Earth Science History

Simon Knell's contribution is a coherent and fascinating account of the history of an extinct fossil group. It has good reference notes and a valuable index. It will stand the test of time, but it deserves to be read now.

Zentralblatt Geologie und Palaontologie

This is one of the best books, which the reviewer has had a chance to read in the past years. It is strongly recommended to a broad circle of geologists and palaeontologists, as well as to those interested in the history/philosophy/sociology of the modern science.

thisviewoflife.com

...[A] valuable contribution to the history of science.

Science Magazine

If you want a[n]...entertaining and interesting account of the discovery of knowledge through the analytical, political, and idiosyncratic activities of researchers, The Great Fossil Enigma will serve you well.

Michael J. Benton

"Excellent and refreshing.... This will be the seminal source [on] the interpretation of conodonts and the origin of vertebrates.... Among the plethora of history of science books, and especially histories of... paleontology and the earth sciences, nothing comes close." —Michael J. Benton, University of Bristol

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175831819
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	12/20/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged

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