Encyclopedia Of Dinosaurs And Other Prehistoric Creatures

"This book is an illustrated guide to the awesome animals that ruled our planet millions of years ago. Find out about the very first dinosaurs and their ancestors, the giant herbivores, the fierce meat-eaters and the reptiles that ruled the seas and skies. And read about the amazing quest of the fossil hunters who have gradually revealed a hidden world."--Back cover.

Introduction to over 250 species of dinosaurs, with information on anatomy, behavior, diet and habitat.

Provides in-depth entries on early Earth's climates, conditions, animal and plant life forms that flourished and floundered throughout each era, along with biographies of notable figures.

An illustrated guide to the awesome animals that ruled our planet millions of years ago.

Ever since giant fossils were discovered in the western world more than 200 years ago, dinosaurs or ?terrible lizards? as they were named, have captured the public imagination. New discoveries and excavations continue to make dinosaurs an endless subject of fascination, and each new find has added or confirmed a different dimension to our understanding of the world of prehistoric creatures. This seminal book brings together every important dinosaur find from the last two centuries and from the world's richest fossil sites. The result is a comprehensive, groundbreaking book that details every kind of prehistoric creature known from the age of dinosaurs, including dinosaurs, fish, mammals, reptiles, pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, amphibians, crocodiles, turtles, birds and mosasaurs. A comprehensive introduction explains the evolution of earth's geology and the development of animal and plant life within it, culminating with the arrival of the dinosaurs. It explains the classification of dinosaurs and how they developed over the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous eras, from the smallest sea creature to the largest land-dwelling dinosaurs with the greatest body mass. The different habitats where dinosaurs are thought to have lived are all depicted, from deserts to lagoons, lakes, mountains, swamps and plains, together with the fossil evidence that helps to explain the presence of dinosaurs in each site. Fascinating anatomical drawings demonstrate the skeletal make up of the different dinosaurs - sauropods, theropods, ornithopods, and armoured dinosaurs - and explain how they functioned, moved and lived. Expert analysis of fossils has provided theories about what dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures ate; fossil footprints help explain how they socialized, whether moving in herds, or in solitary isolation; and the discovery of eggs provides theories about how dinosaurs formed colonies, migrating to different areas to rear their young. Finally the role of the dinosaur hunters is explained, with a glimpse at how fossils are excavated, and where the most important fossil sites are in the world. The main section of the book is an encyclopedia of 1000 dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures. Every entry is clearly described according to the latest scientific thinking and is placed within the context of when it lived. Its size and shape, muscle and bone structure are detailed together with explanations of how it moved, hunted and defended itself from attack. Fossil evidence has revealed the feeding preferences of many dinosaurs and the position of jaws and teeth show how it killed and ate its prey. Current ideas about skin texture and covering are all explained. Each main entry is accompanied by a highly detailed and technically accurate watercolour illustration, and a map showing the sites where fossils have been found. This unique illustrated volume, with its unparalleled combination of the latest expert research and beautiful visual reconstruction, will be an endless source of fascination and an essential family reference for school and home study.

A lavishly illustrated who's who of the prehistoric world. Firefly Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals is a stunning new reference to 350 of the most amazing animals ever to have roamed the Earth. More than 1,000 full-color commissioned artworks bring the prehistoric world to vivid life and make the book exciting to look at and read. The encyclopedia covers all of the dinosaurs plus the full scope of prehistoric animals, including birds, camels, fish, reptiles, porpoises, apes and many more. Timelines, family trees and hundreds of fact boxes throughout the book will engage and inform readers. Full-bleed illustrations on every page show the prehistoric world in exciting detail. Easy-to-read text presents accurate, succinct and essential information that includes: Classification of animal groups Vertebrate characteristics Common and species names Biology, anatomy, habitats and survival skills Features on animal behavior Accurate labeled illustrations and maps. This richly illustrated, authoritative reference will capture readers' imagination and provide hours of discovery. It is ideal for home and school where it will be especially useful for reports.

A comprehensive pocket guide to dinosaurs and prehistoric animals and the world they inhabited millions of years ago. Packed with more than seven hundred full-color illustrations, this definitive pocket guide paints a vivid portrait of extraordinary dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, and the ecosystems they lived in millions of years ago. This guide features authoritative text, crystal-clear illustrations, and a straightforward approach to revealing the fascinating lives and habitats of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, marine reptiles, and prehistoric beasts. The introductory section explains classification systems, geological timelines, the evolution of the dinosaurs, and how fossils form and are discovered by paleontologists. For ease of reference, the main body of the book is divided into three sections: the Precambrian and Paleozoic eras, when animals first began evolving; the Mesozoic era, which saw the flourishing and eventual extinction of the dinosaurs; and the Cenozoic era, when giant mammals walked the Earth. Each section is broken down into its geological time periods, and, within these, the species are organized according to habitat--whether they lived on land, in the water, or in the air. There are detailed profiles of 200 dinosaurs and other ancestors of modern animals. Each entry combines a precise, jargon-free description with full-color illustrations, skeletons, and replica models, annotated to showcase the unique features of the species. Maps show where each animal's fossils have been found, and many profiles are supported by photographs to show actual excavation sites.

Be brave as you meet the most incredible creatures to ever walk the Earth in this top-selling book. The ultimate visual encyclopedia introduces a huge variety of record-breaking dinosaurs in mind-blowing detail. Dinosaurs: A Visual Encyclopedia charts the entire history of life on our planet, from the very first life forms through the range of prehistoric creatures and the diverse species of the Ice Ages. This curious mixture of the weird and wonderful is shown in stunning expert-verified reconstructed images alongside fascinating fact files and additional information about habitat, diet, and behavior. You might already be able to tell your Tyrannosaurus Rex from Triceratops, but have you ever seen horse-eating birds and millipedes the size of crocodiles? Then look no further. Other topics such as evolution, fossilization, and climate change are explored in-depth to build up a complete picture of the dinosaur era. Dinosaur fans and fossil hunters, what are you waiting for?