Dinosaurs - Sylvia J Czerkas

Dinosaurs have long presented a fascinating enigma to man: What did they look like? How did they live? Why were they so huge? Why did they disappear so completely? This large format book, answers these questions.;The author attempts to begin by setting the dinsaurs in their correct time and space, showing global distribution as the original super-continent of Pangaea drifted apart to form the seperate continents, spreading the dinosaurs throughout their Mesozoic world. Illustrations incorporate recent scientific advances in the understanding of the relevant paleoenvironments and climates. The most recent fossil discoveries from around the world, notably Australia, China, the Artic, Alaska, and Patagonia, are also included.;The author then proceeds to an analysis of the dinosaurs themselves. Evidence of dinosaur behaviour from new fossil discoveries of dinosaur nesting grounds, fossil trackways, and vast bone beds is considered, producing theories on such questions as parental care, herding activity, and co-operative hunting abilities. Advances in the study of dinosaur anatomy, body postures, and locomotive capabilities are also discussed, as well as how and why we speculate on the possible colouration of dinosaurs.