Every fossil tells a story. Best-selling paleontology author Donald R.
Prothero describes twenty-five famous, beautifully preserved fossils in
a gripping scientific history of life on Earth. Recounting the
adventures behind the discovery of these objects and fully interpreting
their significance within the larger fossil record, Prothero creates a
riveting history of life on our planet.
The twenty-five fossils portrayed in this book catch animals in their
evolutionary splendor as they transition from one kind of organism to
another. We witness extinct plants and animals of microscopic and
immense size and thrilling diversity. We learn about fantastic land and
sea creatures that have no match in nature today. Along the way, we
encounter such fascinating fossils as the earliest trilobite,
Olenellus; the giant shark Carcharocles; the "fishibian"
Tiktaalik; the "Frogamander" and the "Turtle on the Half-Shell";
enormous marine reptiles and the biggest dinosaurs known; the first
bird, Archaeopteryx; the walking whale Ambulocetus; the gigantic
hornless rhinoceros Paraceratherium, the largest land mammal that ever
lived; and the Australopithecus nicknamed "Lucy," the oldest human
skeleton. We meet the scientists and adventurers who pioneered
paleontology and learn about the larger intellectual and social contexts
in which their discoveries were made. Finally, we find out where to see
these splendid fossils in the world's great museums.
Ideal for all who love prehistoric landscapes and delight in the history
of science, this book makes a treasured addition to any bookshelf,
stoking curiosity in the evolution of life on Earth.
