Synopses & Reviews
A comprehensive new reference book that gives fascinating insight into the world of dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts. Researched and compiled by a team of experts in dinosaurs and other prehistoric life, DK's Dinosaur Encyclopedia answers thousands of intriguing questions about the dangerous world of dinosaurs. It presents an amazing variety of creatures, including early flying reptiles, the first fist, and the ape-like animals that set the scene for the evolution of the first humans. See the ferocious T-rex battle a gentle therizinosaur, or witness a giant, ground-dwelling bird chasing an early horse -- frighteningly realistic models and exceptional photography transport you straight into this ancient and terrifying world. Magnificent full-page reconstructions of prehistoric environments show these fascinating creatures in their natural habitats, from the Silurian seas to the grasslands of Pliocene America. This superb encyclopedia is divided into sections according to cladistics, making it easy to understand how different groups of animals evolved from common ancestors. A useful introduction provides an overview to understand fossils and evolution, followed by extensive sections covering different groups of prehistoric animals. Easy-to-use timeline bars on each page allow quick identification of the time period featured. At-a-glance scale indicators and fact boxes combine to provide the essentials on the prehistoric world. In addition, there is a comprehensive reference section providing a survey of the geological timescale, a biography section covering leading paleontologists, and an accessible glossary and index, making this a truly remarkable and compelling guide to all things prehistoric.
Synopsis
Disc characteristics: CD-ROM.
Dinosaur hunter, system requirements: Windows 95-98/NT4/2000; 4862DX2/66MHz processor; Double-speed CD-ROM drive; 12 MB RAM for Win95; 16 MB RAM for Win98; 32MB RAM for NT/2000; 10 MB available on hard drive; 640 x 480 pixel 250 color screen display; 16-bit sound card; loudspeakers or headphones; mouse. Not suitable for laptop computers.
Synopsis
This comprehensive new reference work shows young readers how life evolved over the past 400 million years. With detailed information combined with striking color photography, this guide makes the history and biology of prehistoric life and its creatures accessible to youngsters. Full-color illustrations.
About the Author
David Lambert, MA, is the author of more than a dozen books on prehistoric life. He has also written about natural history and earth sciences. David won the Rhone-Poulenc Prizes for Science Books Junior Prize in 1998 for a book on oceans; and he shared the prize in 1994 for DK's Ultimate Dinosaur Book. In 1990, David received a New York Academy of Sciences Award for a geological field guide and, in 1978, a U.S. National Science Teachers Association Children's Book Council Award. Darren Naish, BSc, MPhil, combines research for his doctorate in theropod dinosaurs with his work as a writer. He is the author of numerous popular articles and technical papers on predatory dinosaurs, marine reptiles, marine mammals, and other animals. He has also written books about dinosaurs both for a general audience and for a specialized readership. He finds the world of animals fascinating, and is interested in their evolution, behavior, and conservation. Elizabeth Wyse, BA, has worked as a writer and editor for a number of years. She has contributed to many titles, including Millennium Family Encyclopedia, Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia, Atlas of World History, and Eyewitness Atlas of the World. Mark A. Norell BSc, MSc, PhD, is Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, in New York. He specializes in the study of theropod dinosaurs and has taken part in more than 20 international expeditions, discovering and examining fossils. Mark also lectures and writes on paleontology for all age groups. Awards Scientific American's Young Readers Book of the Year for a book on dinosaurs published in 1995, Mark's writing is major scientific journals is also highly acclaimed. Within the last 10 years, he has had two articles listed within Time magazine's annual 10 most significant science stories. He actively participates in several international scientific societies and is a fellow of the Willi Hennig Society, which promotes a cladistic approach to evolution. Jin Meng, BA, PhD, studied in Beijing, China, before receiving a doctorate from Columbia University. He is currently Assistant Curator of Vertebrae Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, in New York. Specializing in the evolution of mammals, Jin believes that fieldwork is a critical and fun part of his research. He therefore devotes two months a year to working in the field. His writing has been published in numerous scientific journals.