"A must-read for anybody interested in the biology of one of the most
fascinating animals in the history of our planet."--Luis M. Chiappe,
Nature
For millions of years, clues to the biology of dinosaurs lie locked
within the microscopic structure of their bones. Here one of the world's
leading experts on fossil bone microstructure synthesizes more than 150
years of research to expose the meaning of dinosaur bone microstructure.
In this first book dedicated to dinosaur bone microstructure, Anusuya
Chinsamy-Turan begins with a general overview of living bone structure
and composition and then explains how bone structure changes upon death
and during fossilization. She meticulously unravels why the microscopic
structure of fossil bone remains intact after millions of years of
fossilization. She also provides a photographic atlas of the kinds of
bone tissue found in dinosaurs and expounds on their biological
significance. The final chapters offer insight into growth patterns of
dinosaurs and the biology of Mesozoic birds. The book concludes with a
reflective discussion on what bone microstructure can and cannot
disclose about dinosaur physiology. Drawing from sources across the
field of bone histology, Chinsamy-Turan paints a holistic view of the
current state of the science and presents a fresh perspective on the
relevance of the field to understanding the Dinosauria.
