Synopses & Reviews
What if we woke up one morning all of the dinosaur bones in the world were gone? How would we know these iconic animals had a165-million year history on earth, and had adapted to all land-based environments from pole to pole? What clues would be left to discern not only their presence, but also to learn about their sex lives, raising of young, social lives, combat, and who ate who? What would it take for us to know how fast dinosaurs moved, whether they lived underground, climbed trees, or went for a swim? Welcome to the world of ichnology, the study of traces and trace fossils--such as tracks, trails, burrows, nests, toothmarks, and other vestiges of behavior--and how through these remarkable clues, we can explore and intuit the rich and complicated lives of dinosaurs. With a unique, detective-like approach, interpreting the forensic clues of these long-extinct animals that leave a much richer legacy than bones, Martin brings the wild world of the Mesozoic to life for the twenty-first century reader.
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Past praise for Anthony J. Martin:
Martin shows how ancient trace fossils directly relate to modern traces and trace makers, among them, insects, crabs, shorebirds, alligators, and sea turtles. The result is an aesthetically appealing and scientifically accurate book." Birdbooker Report
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"The pedagogy is excellent, and the explanations of technical material are accessible." Raymond Freeman-Lynde, University of Georgia
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"Packed with information. Martin’s style makes the reading fun and easy. An excellent resource that provides a wealth of information and links for further exploration." Gus Winterfeld, Idaho State University
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"Full of valuable and useful information." Geological Magazine
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" that he brings to the field of ichnology--the study of trace fossils and features left by organismal behavior, such as tracks, nests, and burrows. The energy behind Martin's "what if" saurian life scenarios is no mere distraction; his science is solid and his descriptions of the current state of classification and knowledge are clear, up to date, and detailed. The books is great fun for anyone looking to revive their childhood dinosaur obsessions." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
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"An enjoyable and stimulating read for both the dinosaur fan and expert alike that highlights the extensive and largely unrecognized role ichnology has played in revealing dinosaur behavior and ecology, and the impact dinosaurs may have had on past and modern ecosystems.
Review
"People are amazed what paleontology can deduce from bones--Anthony shows what can be learned with a simple trace in the sand.
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"Anthony Martin's thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking book explains the critical importance of non-skeletal fossils, which are often-underrated, yet provide key insights on almost every aspect of dinosaur lives.
Review
"Even in the most active poses, skeletons can seem inert--more like frozen sculptures than the moving parts of animals that were once alive. Fortunately for us, dinosaurs left us far more than just their bones. Anthony Martin draws on a wealth of fossil clues, from footprints to feces, to explore Mesozoic lives and the field of ichnology, the study of trace fossils. Records of prehistoric behavior and biology, such fossils are often the closest we'll ever come to seeing long-extinct dinosaurs in the flesh. Readers will learn as much about how to calculate the speed of a dinosaur from the size and spacing of its tracks as about the rush of enthusiasm and curiosity Mr. Martin feels upon seeing prehistoric traces. Mr. Martin is an enthusiastic and affable guide. Whispers in stone, trace fossils are moments of ancient life." The Wall Street Journal
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"An evangelistic tour de force articulating the importance of trace fossils for understanding how dinosaurs truly lived and behaved. The author writes in lively prose and aims the work at general readers. This is easily the best book on dinosaur trace fossils on the market." Choice
Synopsis
CSI meets in a fascinating, revelatory look at dinosaurs and their world through the million-year-old clues they left behind
Synopsis
Welcome to the world of ichnology, the study of traces and trace fossils--such as tracks, trails, burrows, nests, toothmarks, and other vestiges of behavior--and how through these remarkable clues, we can explore and intuit the rich and complicated lives of dinosaurs. With a unique, detective-like approach, interpreting the forensic clues of these long-extinct animals that leave a much richer legacy than bones, Martin brings the wild world of the Mesozoic to life for the twenty-first century reader.
About the Author
Anthony J. Martin