Ever since giant fossils were discovered in the western world more than
200 years ago, dinosaurs or "terrible lizards" as they were named, have
captured the public imagination. New discoveries and excavations
continue to make dinosaurs an endless subject of fascination, and each
new find has added or confirmed a different dimension to our
understanding of the world of prehistoric creatures. This seminal book
brings together every important dinosaur find from the last two
centuries and from the worldÆs richest fossil sites. The result is a
comprehensive, groundbreaking book that details every kind of
prehistoric creature known from the age of dinosaurs, including
dinosaurs, fish, mammals, reptiles, pterosaurs, plesiosaurs,
ichthyosaurs, amphibians, crocodiles, turtles, birds and mosasaurs. A
comprehensive introduction explains the evolution of earth's geology and
the development of animal and plant life within it, culminating with the
arrival of the dinosaurs. It explains the classification of dinosaurs
and how they developed over the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous eras,
from the smallest sea creature to the largest land-dwelling dinosaurs
with the greatest body mass. The different habitats where dinosaurs are
thought to have lived are all depicted, from deserts to lagoons, lakes,
mountains, swamps and plains, together with the fossil evidence that
helps to explain the presence of dinosaurs in each site. Fascinating
anatomical drawings demonstrate the skeletal make up of the different
dinosaurs - sauropods, theropods, ornithopods, and armoured dinosaurs -
and explain how they functioned, moved and lived. Expert analysis of
fossils has provided theories about what dinosaurs and prehistoric
creatures ate; fossil footprints help explain how they socialized,
whether moving in herds, or in solitary isolation; and the discovery of
eggs provides theories about how dinosaurs formed colonies, migrating to
different areas to rear their young. Finally the role of the dinosaur
hunters is explained, with a glimpse at how fossils are excavated, and
where the most important fossil sites are in the world. The main section
of the book is an encyclopedia of 1000 dinosaurs and prehistoric
creatures. Every entry is clearly described according to the latest
scientific thinking and is placed within the context of when it lived.
Its size and shape, muscle and bone structure are detailed together with
explanations of how it moved, hunted and defended itself from attack.
Fossil evidence has revealed the feeding preferences of many dinosaurs
and the position of jaws and teeth show how it killed and ate its prey.
Current ideas about skin texture and covering are all explained. Each
main entry is accompanied by a highly detailed and technically accurate
watercolour illustration, and a map showing the sites where fossils have
been found. This unique illustrated volume, with its unparalleled
combination of the latest expert research and beautiful visual
reconstruction, will be an endless source of fascination and an
essential family reference for school and home study. The ultimate
illustrated reference to 1000 dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures from
the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous eras and beyond The unique visual
encyclopedia profiles all the known dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures,
including fish, mammals, reptiles, pterosaurs, plesiosaurs,
ichthyosaurs, amphibians, crocodiles, turtles, birds and mosasaurs
Includes more than 1800 specially commissioned watercolour
illustrations, maps and anatomical diagrams, with every entry detailing
appearance, behaviour, habitat and life cycle A fascinating introduction
clearly explains the evolution of the dinosaurs, their adaptation and
specialization, and the interdependence of prehistoric creatures,
together with depictions of the various habitats and location maps of
the world's fossil sites A ground-breaking and expert study by a leading
paleantologist and geologist, the book includes all the best-known
creatures as well as hundreds of lesser-known and obscure species, and
the latest up-to-the-minute discoveries
