Spinosaur Tales
The Biology and Ecology of the Spinosaurs
-
- $24.99
Publisher Description
The spinosaurs – the dinosaur group that includes the largest land predator of all time, the awe-inspiring Spinosaurus – star in this cutting-edge review.
The giant sail-backed carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus is one of the most famous of all dinosaurs; a staple of documentaries, books and video games, and the beast that bested the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex in Jurassic Park III. But what do we actually know about this crocodile-headed monster and its relatives, the spinosaurs?
The spinosaurs were some of the strangest predatory dinosaurs, combining a long low skull with powerfully clawed hands. Some species had huge sails over their backs, as well as fin-like tails. A great deal of scientific mystery surrounds them. Their fossil remains are highly fragmentary, many aspects of their appearance uncertain, their evolutionary relationships elusive, and interpretations of their ecology and behaviour are hotly contested.
Spinosaur Tales explores the exciting, sometimes controversial world of spinosaur science. Bringing these creatures back to life with stunning illustrations, world-renowned palaeontologists David Hone and Mark P. Witton present the latest views on the evolution, anatomy and lifestyles of an enigmatic yet charismatic dinosaur group.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Paleontologists Hone (Uncovering Dinosaur Behavior) and Witton (King Tyrant) deliver a comprehensive overview of modern research into spinosaurs, the dinosaur group that contains the Spinosaurus, possibly the largest land predator ever to exist. The giant carnivores were launched into mainstream culture with 2001's Jurassic Park III, in which a menacing Spinosaurus vanquishes the once-almighty Tyrannosaurus rex, though many liberties were taken in their portrayal. Scientists, the authors explain, have few fossils of spinosaurs to go off of (the first ones discovered were destroyed by Allied bombing during WWII), and as a result much about the biology and lifestyle of these dinosaurs remains mysterious. Hone and Witton summarize the current state of spinosaur research, revealing that the creatures were diverse eaters, consuming mostly fish and aquatic animals but also capable of hunting prey on land. Their most notable feature—a large sail running along its back—may have been used to attract mates or deflect rivals. At times the authors' explanations are bogged down by technical details, but they effectively demonstrate how scientific reasoning permits paleontologists to reach tentative conclusions in the face of serious lacuna. Dinosaur enthusiasts will find much of interest.
