Synopses & Reviews
An unmatched reference work distinguished by its erudition and beauty,
The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures is an illustrated who's who of prehistoric life, a Baedeker of more than 500 million years of evolution on Earth.
With entries for more than 600 species, each arranged in its evolutionary sequence, the book presents a panorama of enormous diversity, from predatory dinosaurs to primitive amphibians, from giant armored fish to woolly mammoths, saber-tooth tigers and dire wolves. Each entry features a specially commissioned full-color painting prepared according to the best research of today in close collaboration with world-renowned paleontologists. The records of the rocks -- fossil bones, teeth, skin, hair and even footprints and nests -- have been combined with knowledge of the anatomy and behavior of present-day descendants to arrive at informed judgments about posture, color and other aspects of appearance.
Lively and informative "biographies" of the creatures accompany these remarkable illustrations: how they moved, what they ate, where they ranged and the habitats and ecological niches they occupied. Comparisons are made wherever possible with familiar living animals, highlighting both the contrasts and similarities. Also included are articles on subjects such as the time scale of evolution, fossil formation and interpretation and convergent evolution.
Truly a magnificent sourcebook, The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures is both a triumph of scholarship and a work of art. It will stand as the best and most accurate presentation of the prehistoric animal world available.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 304) and index.
About the Author
Professor Barry Cox is head of the biology department at King's College, University of London. His specialty is mammal-like reptiles, and he teaches vertebrate paleontology. His publications include Prehistoric Life Explained.
Table of Contents
CONTENTS Foreword
Introduction
Fishes
Jawless fishes
Cartilaginous fishes
Spiny sharks and armored fishes
Primitive ray-finned fishes
Modern ray-finned fishes
Lobe-finned fishes
Amphibians
Early tetrapods
Lepospondyls
Reptiles
Early reptiles
Turtles, tortoises, and terrapins
Semi-aquatic and marine reptiles
Marine reptiles
Early diapsids
Snakes and lizards
Ruling Reptiles
Early ruling reptiles
Crocodiles
Flying reptiles
Carnivorous dinosaurs
Early herbivorous dinosaurs
Long-necked browsing dinosaurs
Fabrosaurs, heterodontosaurs, and pachycephalosaurs
Hypsilophodonts
Iguanodonts
Duckbilled dinosaurs
Armored dinosaurs
Horned dinosaurs
Birds
Early and flightless birds
Water and land birds
Mammallike Reptiles
Pelycosaurs and therapsids
Therapsids
Mammals
Primitive mammals
Marsupials
Glyptodonts, sloths, armadillos, and anteaters
Insectivores and creodonts
Mustelids and bears
Dogs and hyenas
Cats and mongooses
Seals, sea lions, and walruses
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises
Early rooters and browsers
Early elephants and mastodonts
Mastodonts, mammoths, and modern elephants
South American hoofed mammals
Horses
Tapirs and brontotheres
Rhinoceroses
Swine and hippopotamuses
Oreodonts and early horned browsers
Camels
Giraffes, deer, and cattle
Rodents, rabbits, and hares
Lemurs and monkeys
Apes
Humans
Glossary
Classification of vertebrates
Bibliography
International museums
Index