Book Description

Dinosaurs and legends about them are firmly entrenched in popularculture, where scientific information and our interest in the life of the pastmost often meet. This is a book about dinosaurs as a cultural phenomenon, seenas the interaction of three factors--paleontological discoveries, the culturalinterest these awaken, and the possibilities for commercial exploitation theyoffer. ... Read more

Book Description

Vertebrate evolution has led to the convergent appearance of many groups of originally terrestrial animals that now live in the sea. Among these groups are familiar mammals like whales, dolphins, and seals. There are also reptilian lineages (like plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, mosasaurs, thalattosaurs, and others) that have become sea creatures. Most of these marine reptiles, often wrongly called "dinosaurs", are extinct. This edited book is devoted to these extinct groups of marine reptiles. These reptilian analogs represent useful models of the myriad adaptations that permit tetrapods to live in the ocean.

Key Features
* First book in more than 80 years devoted exclusively to fossil marine reptiles
* Documents the most current research on extinct marine reptiles
* Prepared by the world's most prominent experts in the field
* Well illustrated ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not a book for the dinofans
If you were thinking about buying this book for your kids or a dinofan friend, a word of advise: it mightbe a bit over their heads. This book is basically an amalgamate of scientific papers without any editorial instrusion; they are true scientific papers for scientists in the style of scientific journals. Though profusely illustrated, it is not a field guide with lots of recreations and dioramas which might be what most kids and dinofans would want. Most of the illustrations are maps of the areas where a sample fossil was found or drawings and pictures of actual fossil bone at the site where found. Only the turtles and crocodiles sections of the book have some recreations of the creatures; but you will not find a single recreation drawing of an ichthyosaur. For the scientific reader this is a definite 5 star, for most everyone it might be only 2 or 3 star.

An excellent collection of papers on extinct marine reptiles
The editors, Callaway and Nicholls, have assembled 17 papers describing the results of current research by the experts on the various groups of extinct marine reptiles (Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs, Turtles, Mosasaurs and Crocodiles), and their associated faunas, behavior and evolution. Well researched and profusely illustrated, this book is a must read for those seriously interested in the biology, ecology and paleontology of this diverse and fascinating group of animals. ... Read more

Book Description

During summer vacation all the brothers and sisters and cousins of one large family come to stay together at a big house by the shore. Each morning Grandpa wakes the sleepy children to go clam digging. Each day they return with hardly any clams at all. But one day after a big storm they go down to the beach and discover a big surprise--a bumper crop of clams that will last all year long. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Wonderful for summer, vacations, visits with grandparents...
My four year old daugter thoroughly enjoyed this book, and asked to have it read again and again. She suggested we take it with us to the beach. She's never had clams before, and now she wants to try them!

Three boys reluctantly get haircuts only to be surprised!
I'm an Elementary School Librarian and when I read HAIRCUTS AT SLEEPY SAM'S the kids are thoroughly mesmerized. They chuckle at the term - AFRO CUTS and love the illustrations. Strickland and Holliday did a great job. I'll be looking for future books by these men.

Great book any family can relate to!
My nephews and nieces enjoyed the book, and I enjoyed reading it to them. We could relate to the fun and togetherness of the family activities written about and illustrated in the book. I highly recommend it.

Great kid's beach book
Beautifully illustrated story of a family beach vacation written as a childhood memory. The beach house is filled with family (siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and, of course, Grandpa)and every day Grandpa wakes the kids to join him clamming at low tide. After several outings without much success, a bumper crop of clams is gathered that becomes a part of family celebrations for the rest of the year and family history forever. The next best thing to a trip to the beach. ... Read more

Book Description

Here at last, is the ultimate guidebook to actual locales that can be driven to for collecting rocks, minerals and fossils in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The four volumes, with over 1,200 maps, describe over 5,000 specific sites; this Volume 1 includes over 300 to-scale maps marked with over 1,000 collecting sites and detailed directions on getting there, the types of rocks, minerals and fossils to be found at each site, and how and where to search once you've arrived. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Gem of a Book
One of a fantastic series of 4 chuck full of informational volumes dedicated to a particular geographic area. A must for any rock hound weather you travel or just live in the geographic area of the volume. If you can afford it, get all 4 regional volumes. Start with your area. The location information brake down of the minerals to be found in each state counties is so valuable you can't do with out it. Saves time, eliminate barren hunting grounds and it's so detailed as to where and how you find the minerals. This is just one of a fact full accurate guide series you'll want to have in your rock library. Don't settle for an older printing, this one is reprinted and has been updated.

Love it, love it, love it!
This book looks like it's going to be a GREAT asset in my mineral hunting! I like the way it's set up, by state and then by county within the state. It lists the various sites, tells what has been found at each site and (by a code explained in the front of the book) where in each site the minerals were (in a field, in a mine, in the water, etc.). There are directions of varying degrees to each site. That's the one thing I'd quibble about -- some of the directions aren't that precise. But I understand that some of these sites are private lands, or not completely documented, and he can't come out and say, "Go fifty feet past the blue house, down a ravine, and to your left." In general, the directions seem good enough to get you close, and after that it's up to you.

He lists the rocks and minerals found at each site and gives some information about the quality at most places, including size of crystals found, color (and quality of color), and so on.

My only regret? I don't know if I'll have time to visit each site he has listed! So many rocks, so little time........ ... Read more

Book Description

From the purple phenomenon that is Barney to the blockbuster draw of Jurassic Park, dinosaurs still rule the earth. Dinosaur Lives explores the appeal that dinosaurs have for us, explains the latest scientific research and then takes us into their prehistoric world.

As technical adviser for both Jurassic Park and The Lost World, John Horner has the perfect vantage point for a discussion of dinosaurs' status as pop icons. As the paleontologist whose discoveries fundamentally changed our perceptions of dinosaurs, he can take us from the far-flung digs to the state-of-the-art labs where MRI scans, DNA testing and other new technologies are generating an explosion of new information about dinosaurs, from what sort of noises they made to how smart they were.

In the final section of the book, Horner offers a sweeping, detailed and largely unprecedented vision of the world 709 million years ago -- how dinosaurs evolved, what they ate, how they raised their young, their social structure, their sex lives and more.

With his enormously engaging voice and intimate knowledge of dinosaurs, Horner is sure to revolutionize the way we think about dinosaurs yet again. Dinosaur Lives is destined to be another classic. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Dinosaur Lives: Unearthing an Evolutionary Saga
Dinosaur Lives: Unearthing an Evolutionary Saga written by John R. Horner is a well-written account of paleontological fieldwork told in an engaging style. This book is the continuation of the book Digging Dinosaurs one of the author's previous books.

Horner is a thinker as has helped out on numerous motion pictures to make the dinosaurs seem real and alive. In this book we get to read (speculation) about dinosaur eggs, their young and their nests as found from the fossil record.

Horner has an infectous style when he write and you can't help but getting into lock-step with him as he writes a telling-tale, making the read feel as if you are there right along side. Our understanding of how dinosaurs grew up, raised their young, and socialized with other dinosaurs are brought out in this book.

There is still a lot of information yet to be discovered, but Horner has been making long strides in elucidating information and answering some of the nagging questions involving dinosaurs. Some of the new evidence and arguments regarding the major dinosaur controversies of the day, being that of warm-blooded verses cold-blooded are tackled in this book.

This book is a quick read and should be on your bookshelf as the author's discoveries regarding the dinosaur are ground-breaking and unparalleled. Paleontologist Robert Bakker is another forward thinker when it comes to dinosaurs.

This book gives some credence to Bakker's theory about the inland sea retreats and the dinosaurs from the eastern part of the North American continent mixed with those of the West, exchanging bacteria and other pathogens for which the recieving group had no inherent resistance. This could be a slow death or a prolonged one depending upon the pathogen involved. Also, climate was changing substantially at that time as well, becoming cooler, and more arid, this could slowly add to the demise of the dinosaurs.

This book was an enjoyable, engaging read.

Excellent, if sometimes wordy sequel to "Digging Dinosaurs"
Dinosaur Lives introduces the lay reader (that would be you and me) to a number of exciting ideas. The book provides us with an update to Horner's field work since he wrote "Digging Dinosaurs," but it also delves deeper into some of the bigger ideas concerning dinosaurs. A large portion of the book is devoted to speculation about the behavior of dinosaurs, especially the raising of young and herd/pack associations. What interested me most, however, is Horner's deconstruction of Linnean taxonomy, and the description of cladistics as a more powerful tool to look at relationships between living and extinct creatures. For those of us raised on the idea of speciation, this is powerful stuff. You may find, as I did, that light bulbs start popping in your head as you realize that the very way you think about a subject can severely limit your ability to perceive new ideas.

If all this sounds a bit airy-fairy, Horner does a much better job than I can here explaining some pretty complex stuff in a very simple way. My only complaints about the book are that Horner sometimes can be a bit wordy while telling us what he is about to tell us. I could have used a bit more technical detail in some of his descriptions, and certainly the illustrations should have been more complete. These are minor complaints, however. This is a fascinating book for anyone who likes thinking about dinosaurs, and the endless cycles of life. You don't need to have any prior knowledge to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Extremely informative while remaining captivating...
Mr. Horner has made an extraordinary accomplishment with 'Diggin Dinosaurs,' as it is able to present relative information regarding the topic at hand in a manner to be easily read by the masses and hold the reader's attention. His ability to stimulate the imagination with his illustrative speach and diction is quite amazing, as is his ability to distill the necessary information from the vast amounts of data that is available for analysis. An amazing breakthrough to be certain.

Please create audio abridged version
To the publisher I would appreciate it if the publisher could produce an audio adaptation of this book. I would love to listen to this while I drive to work and to let my 16 month old son listen to it as a bedtime story. My goal is to expose him to some of my favorite passions, maths, sciences, physics, geophysics, paleontology, astronomy, electronics, photonics, new science and discoveries etc. The more audio books you can produce of the above genre the more I will support you. Arnold D Veness

Best intro to dinosaurs for the general reader
Touches on lots of topics: various dinosaurs, bone sites, evolution, extinction, digs, past and present bone hunters, the science of the Jurassic Park movie, etc. Very easy to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Here at last, is the ultimate guidebook to actual locales that can be driven to for collecting rocks, minerals and fossils in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. The four volumes, with over 1,200 maps, describe over 5,000 specific sites; this Volume 4 includes over 300 to-scale maps marked with over 1,000 collecting sites and detailed directions on getting there, the types of rocks, minerals and fossils to be found at each site, and how and where to search once you've arrived. ... Read more

Book Description

Presented with clarity and wit, Carpenter'sexploration offers the very latest information on dinosaureggs, hatchlings and babies, as well as a detailed look atdinosaur courtship, mating, nests, and physical development. Included:an extensive directory of dinosaur egg and babydiscovery sites. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT DINOSAUR REPRODUCTION!
The book is not written for dinosaur loving children. A background in general science, anatomy, biology, and/or zoology would be useful in understanding the astonishing wealth of information contained. That should not scare inquirers away from this opus magnus. Furthermore, Carpenter's occassional tongue-in-cheek humor imparts a very special flavor to the writing. In my mind,this beautiful volume would be worth the price just for its profusion of well-done illustrations, photos, and captions. But that's just icing on the cake. We learn the history of dinosaur egg finds, how one studies every detail of the egg fossil (wonderfully illustrated with photos and drawings), how the eggshell formed inside a dinosaur, by what means the dino embryo took in air and effectively expelled carbon-dioxide from within the eggshell, and even speculate on how the dino chick may have escaped the egg. Learn how to examine a dinosaur egg fragment and detect whether an embryo actually developed within it. Carpenter explains how dinosaur nests were built and 'designed' to incubate fertile eggs. Why is a baby dinosaur 'cute' by our perceptions, and possibly to its parents? Facts, photos, and paintings make the answer cuddlingly clear. Along with the abundance of superb black & white figures, illustrations, and photos, are over a dozen full-color plates, including ten life restorations by some of our most scientific and talented dinosaur artists. This volume is surely a treasure to those of us who seek a deeper insight into the mysteries of dinosaur life (and death). One such tantalizing mystery might be summed up as, "But how did dinosaurs DO IT?" Carpenter doesn't beg the question. He ventures into it with careful observations and analysis based on both behavior and form of contemporary animals and known dinosaurian anatomy. The answers should prove reasonable to his scientific colleagues. So filled is this book with interesting items that one could almost say there's something for everybody. On the far side, imagine some 'Good Old Boy' that doesn't 'give a hang' about science, picking the book up to brouse the strikingly beautiful dinosaur life illustrations. "Wow!" he croaks, "Forget about Tyrannosaurus rex! It's 'CARNOTAURUS SEX!'" [The reference is to an utterly dramatic and highly colorful life restoration by artist Luis V. Rey, revealing an imposimg Carnotaurus pair 'going at it' while their thunderous groans of ecstacy freak out the Mesozoic neighborhood! Startled by those sounds, a flock of at least 40 winged reptiles (Pterosaurs) bolts skyward from the ground. The dinosaur couple copulates, transfixed, among appropriately phallic plants. Some will buy the book just for that one startling scene. Yet, it is far more valuable as an adventure in learning, including its very thoughtful discourse on dinosaur intercourse. A scientific adventure. A 'Calvin and Hobbes' day-dream? For real. Get it. ... Read more

Book Description

On a muddy riverbank, a hungry dinosaur stalks her prey. From her hiding place in the nearby trees, she spies a giant, four-legged plant eater. At the right moment, she leaps from the trees and lunges at the slower dinosaur, tearing at its flanks with teeth and sharp claws.

It's an average day in southern Texas, 115 million years ago.

This dinosaur attack happened. We know for certain, because these two animals left their footprints in the mud -- and they're still there, hardened into stone for all to see. Dinosaur Hunt presents this dramatic event and brings the two combatants vividly back to life. It is the tale of a young Acrocanthosaurus, a predatory dinosaur similar to T. rex. As she grows she learns to hide, hunt, and survive in the eat-or-be-eaten age of dinosaurs.

The astounding, lifelike art of Karen Carr transports us to this strange and threatening world and re-creates one of the most gripping tales a few footprints ever told.

Book Description

Book Description

An amazing look at plants of the past through an examination of the fossils that remain.

Long before there were animals on the earth, many kinds of plants covered the prehistoric planet. The soft remains rarely fossilized, but sometimes leaves, flowers, and branches would fall into soft mud or be encased by the ash of exploding volcanoes. These plants were preserved and now offer a sampling of life in the distant past and a contrast to our present flora. This complete guide to fossil plants explains both the lives of ancient plants and why certain plants became fossilized. Kenrick and Davis trace the evolution of land plants, ferns, conifers, and their relatives, the flowering plants. Interwoven are snapshots of landscapes and environments of various periods, focusing on plant and animal interactions. The included photographs present these ancient, sometimes delicate pieces of shale, and Kenrick and Davis explain the story that fossil plants can tell us about the past. 16 pages of color photographs, 100 b/w photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

The former Soviet Union covers a vast area of land, and over the last 200 years, many dozens of extraordinary dinosaurs and other fossil amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals have been found in Mesozoic rocks in its territories. The Permo-Triassic of the Ural Mountains of Russia have produced hundreds of superb specimens, and many of the dinosaurs from Mongolia are unique. This is the first compilation in any Western language of this large body of Russian research and the first time so much of this research, previously unexplored by the West, has been introduced in English. The Age of Dinosaurs in Russia and Mongolia is written by a unique mix of Russian and Western palaeontologists, and provides an entrée to a range of fossil faunas, in particular reptiles, that have been little known outside Russia. It will undoubtedly become a major reference work for all vertebrate palaeontologists. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated with hundreds of photographs and drawings, this authoritative yet readable book describes the fossil vertebrates found in Florida--many unique to the state--and summarizes more than 100 years of paleontological discoveries and research. All types of vertebrates are covered, including sharks and other fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The book includes a comprehensive list of every verified fossil species ever collected in Florida. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Much-needed reference
This is an excellent book for Florida fossils. It is profusely illustrated and, though academically thorough, is easy for the layman to use and appreciate. It is the best reference for the fossil vertebrate fauna of Florida I've seen. The only thing I would change is to see a more detailed index. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Destined to be another classic
After waiting over 10 years since the publication of the classic "Florida's Fossils" by Robin Brown, amateur paleontologists in Florida now have another excellent reference book. Geared for the beginner to intermediate amateur, "Fossiling in Florida" is destined to also be a classic. The book contains 21 chapters, a 34 page identification section, a list of Florida fossiling clubs, a bibliography, and best of all, is dedicated to amateurs. Throughout the book there are 250 black and white pictures, mostly of fossil specimens. These pictures vividly display a well-rounded cadre of vertebrate fossils from a variety of localities. The pictures are clear enough for anyone wishing assistance in identification of their specimens. Also peppered through the book are over 20 illustrations by the author's wife, Marisa Renz. The majority of the drawings are light-hearted looks at Mark's adventures and ideas as an amateur collector. However, there are also several excellent line drawings of fossil specimens and serious recreations of prehistoric life. The combination of photos and illustrations provide the reader with great visual supplements to a comprehensive text. The author uses clear and concise language, explaining technical terminology in an accessible manner to the non-professional. Renz not only places various extinct species in their prehistoric context, he also uses modern analogues to speculate on their behavior. Sharks, mammoths, sloths, horses, armadillos and glyptodonts, saber cats, dugongs and manatees, alligators, bison and more are covered in detail. Stories on how Renz found his specimens are juxtaposed with vignettes on how the author speculates those animals lived and came to be fossils. This makes for fun and informative reading for beginner to veteran alike. The creative writing and story-like format should catapult "Fossiling in Florida" to an audience that transcends Florida state lines. A must have book for anyone interested in fossils.

Great, down-to-earth field guide
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Mark Renz' fossil guide from the standpoint of one who is just approaching the subject of amateur paleontology. Being a diver and not an historian or scientist, I was curious about fossil hunting, but not enough to make a life's work of it. This book bridges the gap, and makes the study of fossil bones interesting but not intimidating to those of us who want a brief lesson in paleontology, with detailed information on what we are actually finding in Florida's creeks and rivers. Renz' humor makes the science user-friendly; and with foreword addresses by such highly-regarded individuals in the field as S. David Webb of our Florida Museum of Natural History and James S. Dunbar from the state's Bureau of Archeological Research, I was reassured that Renz' scientific knowledge is solid. Not the "coffee-table" book some may expect, this field "Guide for Diggers and Divers" is designed to go with you as a hands-on manual. I like that it leads you to the best spots to find fossils, describes likely spots to find the bones, and offers photos of some of the common (and even those more unusual) items you'll find. Most of all, having read the book a number of times, I have proof the author's knowledge is legitimate. Being a Floridian, I had the opportunity to join Mark Renz on one of his fossil expeditions. I not only found bones and artifacts, but I also received a lesson in the identification and history of each fossil, along with information on reporting my finds. This book is definitely not for those that already know it all. But for those of us just starting out, or developing an interest in fossil bones, it's a great reference and a wonderful beginning.

Not very good, could be much better.
What can I say. I did not find the book that great. It was helpful to i.d. some of the fossils I've found over the years. Some of the same types of fossils pictured in the book can be found in southern Alabama as well. Its also useful as for locations to fossil hunt as well as addressing the over done regulations and laws regarding fossil hunting in Florida. The little cartoon sketches here and there were good as well.
The book major drawback is that the dating of the fossils is based on evolution and extreme ages. The author, apparently trying to be quite sincere, went to but was was greatly misled, decieved and lied to, (weather they were aware of what they were doing or not), by "all knowing" University professors, and various other so called experts in the advice he sought. He should have got second third or even fourth opinions from other sources. Underneath all the hype, and manipulation for and of evolution is, has been and always will be and unproven THEORY. Sadly, the author stated in the book it did not matter to him what one subscribed to as to what one believes about orgins yet within the text he set forth only evolutionary ages and ideas. It would have been better had the author downplayed the theory of evolution and old ages while writing the book. I urge anyone considering reading this book to read it with caution regarding extreme ages and evolutionary ideas within the text. I too suggest one also seek out alternative sources and information on evolution, fossils as well as orgins and to check it out for themselves the falsehoods associated with such.

Valuable lessons here for the novice.
Here in Florida we are lucky to have a how-to book like Fossiling in Florida. Renz not only has in insatiable drive for exploring the past, but his writing is professional and the scientific information he disburses is accurate, presented in a delightful, down-to-earth style. This book is easy to understand-even for those without a modicum of knowledge about fossils. Renz has the expertise to write clearly, with candor and good humor, as well as an uncanny ability to make whatever he is writing come alive for the reader. He magnetically pulls the reader from page to page. The book is awash with photos, in fact, it is a fascinating photo ID book, all through the over 200 pages. Renz's wife Marisa is a creditable photographer and illustrationist as evidenced by the wonderful work she contributed to this project. With pure dedication, Renz shares his aura of romance as he walks and writes his readers through the "how-tos" of fossiling, covering what, where and when to look, as well as how to preserve your finds for another million years. In the epilog, the author writes: "There is nothing as therapeutic to me as fossil hunting. It doesn't matter how stressful a week I've had; when I take to the bone beds, it's all behind me. While I'm out, I'm not just looking for old bones. I have come across owls, otters, bobcats, manatees, alligators, snakes and the tracks of the endangered Florida panther. I've been frightened a couple of times, but mostly I have been in awe of the beauty of nature as it appears to have unfolded over the eons--and here I am in the midst of it."

A very informational guide for all fossil hunters!!!
I am impressed with Mr. Renz' knowledge of Florida fossiling, from identification to the "common" hazards that we all face by fossil hunting in Florida. I highly recomend "Fossiling in Florida" for all fossil hunters, from the novice to the professional Paleontologist. It was NOT a "dry read" and cure for insomnia as most fossiling guides and identification books are and no Latin class required to read and understand it!! Not only is it fun to read and informative it is also a great carry along when you are in the field for identification, between the verbal descriptions and outstanding drawings and photographs you can identify the most common and even some of the rare finds in Florida. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the late Paleozoic era to the early Mesozoic era, 350 million to 140 million years before the present, the latter-day continents and subcontinents of Antarctica, India, Australia, Africa, and South America formed a single landmass, a southerly "supercontinent" that contemporary scientists call Gondwana. The physicist Alfred Wegener posited the existence of Gondwana as early as 1912, but only in the 1960s was his theory of continental drift widely accepted. Since that time, considerable evidence has been gathered about Gondwana's ancient flora and fauna, much of it from Australia, which the authors of this handsomely illustrated volume deem a kind of "Noah's ark" of species found almost nowhere else.

Some of those animal types, such as the allosaurid dinosaurs and the labyrinthodont amphibians, may have endured on Gondwana long after they went extinct on its northern-hemisphere counterpart; others, such as the placental mammals and certapsian dinosaurs, may have developed on Gondwana.First published in 1992, this book offers a useful introduction to plate tectonics and other tenets of modern geology, as well as a fine catalog of long-extinct creatures such as the sauropod, pterosaur, and iguanodont. The revised edition recounts recent discoveries from southern Africa, India, and Patagonia that augment the fossil record and correct earlier classification schemes. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (4)

not what it seems
Warning: the title of this book is highly misleading. By its content, it should be called "Fossil Vertebrates of Australia." If it really covered the wildlife of Gondwana, it would include a great deal RE invertebrates and plants and would give much, much more space than it does to Africa, South America, and India. The critters on the cover, BTW, are Pleistocene Australian forms, and therefore not from Gondwana (the ancient southern supercontinent) at all.

The chief value of this volume lies in its highly inclusive selection of spectacularly fine and detailed photos of Australian vertebrate fossils, including one of the famous opalized plesiosaurs. Alas, though, there are only a handful of whole-body reconstructions, though those few are very good.

Another problem, endemic to coffee-table books of this kind, is inconsistency of labeling, terminology, and interpretation. The authors can't decide, for example, whether sloths, armadillos and so on are to be called Edentates and placed among the placentals, or should be taken out of the placentals and called Paratheria. Similar inconsistency plagues the coloring of some geological maps, and even the definition of "teleost."

very nice book on Australasian fossils
For those interested in photographs of fossils found mainly in Australia from the Paleozoic through the Cenozoic (along with a few from Antarctica), then this is the book for you. Crisp high quality photographs of vertebrate fossils are provided, everything from the hindlimb of Dromornis stirtoni to the top view of the skull of Leaellynasaura to numerous fish fossils. The primary focus appears to be on dinosaurs, though extinct mammals are well covered as well.

Accompanying the photographs are short articles detailing various aspects of the region's history, such as extinction of Australia's Quarternary megafauna, the floodplain faunas of the Great Southern Rift Valley of the Early Cretaceous, the role the increasing aridity of post-Miocene Australia played in evolution, and the fauna of the Gogo Reef. Longer articles deal with the basic geologic and paleontological history of Gondwana, the history of research there, and the role of Gondwana in the global context of worldwide evolution of animals. Numerous photographs of wildlife today accompany discussions of the unique biogeography of Australia and the role isolation has played in the development of the organisms there.

A beautiful coffee-table book, I hold from giving five stars for two reasons. One, the price is fairly high; though a really nice book to own, it may be out of the price range for many, or at least more than they really want to pay. Two, though the numerous photographs of fossils in the book are really high quality, I think the book could have benefitted from more artists' illustrations of the animals and their environment in life. Though a few nice ones are included, several more could have really added to the value and popular appeal of this book. Many of the extinct fauna of Gondwana are bizarre and fascinating, particularly some of the extinct marsupial megafauna, and it would have been nice to see more illustrations of how they looked in life. All in all though a really well done book.

another time-trip to the past
I compared the book Walking with Dinosaurs to a time machine. Well, here's another one. Wildlife of Gondwana is composed with love and devotion to the field of Paleontology. It is a momentous feeling to relive the evolution of our planet's surface leading to Gondwana and Laurasia and stunning to watch how vertebrate species diverged to fill all the ecological niches of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. A must for the dino lovers but also gives a fresh insight to other vertebrates that were contemporaries of the giant lizards. I hope there will once be a Wildlife of Laurasia, too.

Great book
This book centers on the prehistoric animals of Australia. It starts at the Ordovician period and even includes a chapter on living animals of Australia. Also it talks about the history of paleontology on Australia. This book has a simple vocabulary and thus can be enjoyed anyone who have an interest in prehistoric life. It has many colored pictures that show fossils and recreations of animals. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in paleontology. Also I recommend the book "The flowering of Gondwana", that talks about the paleobotany of Australia. ... Read more