Dinosaurs
A Concise Natural History
Published on 12. January 2009
Book
Hardback
394 pages
978-0-521-88996-4 (ISBN)
Description
From the authors of The Evolution and Extinction of the Dinosaurs, comes a general introduction to the study of dinosaurs for non-specialists, designed to excite readers about science by using the ever-popular animals - the dinosaurs - to illustrate and discuss geology, natural history and evolution. While it focuses on dinosaurs, it also uses them to convey other aspects of the natural sciences, including fundamental concepts in evolutionary biology, physiology, life history, and systematics. Considerable attention is devoted the nature of science itself: what it is, what it is not, and how science can be used to investigate particular kinds of questions. Dinosaurs is unique because it fills a gap between the glossy, fact-driven dinosaur books for younger readers, and the higher-level academic books, addressing the palaeontology of dinosaurs exactly as professionals in the field do.
Reviews / Votes
'I am excited to see that the authors have selected not to overwhelm the student with detail.' Mark Oiumette, Hardin-Simmons University 'Does an excellent job of explaining cladistics.' Bill Zinsmeister, Purdue University 'Well written ... the author's sense of humor makes it enjoyable to read; it summarizes most of the important topics in dinosaur paleontology using current information.' Carol Waddell-Sheets, Canisius College 'This is an outstanding contribution for anyone teaching a course involving dinosaurs ... it is reasonably short and very much up to date.' Sherwood Wise, Florida State University 'It's a nice length - subjects are discussed with the appropriate amount of depth and level of coverage. The writing style and tone is engaging and I like the incorporation of phylogeny.' David Varricchio, Montana State University 'Very up-to-date information ... superior illustration.' John Taylor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania 'If you wish to know about the jaw mechanics in Euornithopoda, or if the giant femur of an adult Maiasaura makes you happy, this book will become the best gift for you! ... The indices of subjects and genera are very detailed and useful. It is great that the Latin name is translated for each taxon ... an outstanding synthesis of the modern knowledge on dinosaurs. And it will remain so for at least 1-2 decades. The reviewer has no idea other than to recommend this book strongly for everyone deeply interested in the world of dinosaurs and the evolutionary theory.' Zentralblatt fuer Geologie und Palaeontologie '... this book aiming to pass on to students numerous concepts of natural sciences via animals that are often dear to them (sometimes a bit too much!) remains a pleasant and interesting attempt.' Geochronique '... it is undoubtedly the case that Fastovsky and Weishampel have been at the forefront of this genre. ... concise as well as being accessible and highly informative on the topic of dinosaurs and the science that can be applied to understanding them. As a well-structured, thoughtful and helpful undergraduate teaching guide it is absolutely excellent.' The Geographical JournalMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 284 mm
Width: 222 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
1310 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-88996-4 (9780521889964)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
08/2012
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€111.60
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2009
Cambridge University Press
€45.99
Available for download
Persons
David Fastovsky is Professor of Geology at the University of Rhode Island and tutor at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. His interest in dinosaurs started as a child when he read about a 1920's fossil collector's adventures in the Gobi Desert. Dinosaurs won out years later when he had the tough decision of choosing between a career in music (he takes his viola on his many field trips) or paleontology, and he has had many of his own adventures in far-flung parts of the world. He's known as a dynamic teacher as well as a respected researcher with a focus on the environments in which dinosaurs roamed. When dinosaur fossils are found he's called on to reconstruct the place where they lived. He has made several television documentary appearances, and was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Geological Society of America in 2006. David B. Weishampel is professor in the Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution at The Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on dinosaur evolution and how dinosaurs function and he is particularly interested in herbivorous dinosaurs and the dinosaur record of Europe. Among his many publications he is senior editor of The Dinosauria, and has contributed to a number of popular publications including acting as consultant to Michael Crichton in the writing of The Lost World, the inspiration for Steven Spielberg's film Jurassic Park.
Content
Preface: why this book?; Part I. Reaching Back in Time: 1. To catch a dinosaur; 2. Dinosaur days; 3. Who's related to whom - and how do we know?; 4. Who are the dinosaurs?; Part II. Ornithischia: Armored, Horned, and Duckbilled Dinosaurs: 5. Thyreophora: the armor-bearers; 6. Marginocephalia: bosses, bumps, and beaks; 7. Ornithopoda: the Tuskers, Antelopes and 'Mighty Ducks' of the Mesozoic; Part III. Saurischia: Meat, Might, and Magnitude: 8. Sauropodomorpha: the big, the bizarre, and the majestic; 9. Theropoda I: nature red in tooth and claw; 10. Theropoda II: the origin of birds; 11. Theropoda III: early birds; Part IV. Endothermy, Endemism, and Extinction: 12. Dinosaur thermoregulation: some like it hot; 13. The flowering of the Mesozoic; 14. Thoughts of a paleontologist: a history of ideas in paleontology; 15. The Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction: the frill is gone.