Joel Lester Cracraft (born July 31, 1942), is an American paleontologist and ornithologist. He received a PhD in 1969 from Columbia University (Functional Morphology of Locomotion in Birds).
His research interests include: theory and methods of comparative biology, evolutionary theory, biological diversification, systematics, the evolution of morphological systems, historical biogeography, molecular systematics and evolution.
From 1970 he has been a research associate at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; from 1970 to 1992, full professor at the University of Illinois Chicago; from 1993 to 1994, acting director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History; from 1992, adjunct professor at the CUNY Graduate Center; from 1997 adjunct professor at Columbia University; from 1992 curator at American Museum of Natural History; and from 2002 Lamont Curator of Birds at American Museum of Natural History.
Taxa authored Certhiasomus (2015) (PDF) Hirundineinae (2009)* Microrhopiini (2009) (PDF)
Publications
Cracraft, J. (1988) The major clades of birds in: The phylogeny and classification of the tetrapods 1: 339–361.
References
External links Profile: Joel Cracraft (AMNH video) Joel Cracraft interview (from Organization for Tropical Studies)