| Introduction--Russell E. Train | 6 |
| 1 The Last of Its Kind | 13 |
| 2 Reading the Fossil Record | 27 |
| 3 The Great Dyings | 39 |
| 4 Humankind and Mass Extermination | 51 |
| Picture Essay | 65 |
| 5 Species for Sale | 77 |
| 6 Preservation and Protection | 89 |
| 7 On the Brink of Extinction | 101 |
| Appendix: For More Information | 112 |
| Further Reading | 114 |
| Glossary | 118 |
| Index | 121 |