Book description
The study of dinosaurs has been experiencing a remarkable renaissance
over the past few decades. Scientific understanding of dinosaur anatomy,
biology, and evolution has advanced to such a degree that
paleontologists often know more about 100-million-year-old dinosaurs
than many species of living organisms. This book provides a contemporary
review of dinosaur science intended for students, researchers, and
dinosaur enthusiasts. It reviews the latest knowledge on dinosaur
anatomy and phylogeny, how dinosaurs functioned as living animals, and
the grand narrative of dinosaur evolution across the Mesozoic. A
particular focus is on the fossil evidence and explicit methods that
allow paleontologists to study dinosaurs in rigorous detail. Scientific
knowledge of dinosaur biology and evolution is shifting fast, and this
book aims to summarize current understanding of dinosaur science in a
technical, but accessible, style, supplemented with vivid photographs
and illustrations.
The Topics in Paleobiology Series is published in
collaboration with the Palaeontological Association, and is edited by
Professor Mike Benton, University of Bristol.
Books in the series provide a summary of the current state of
knowledge, a trusted route into the primary literature, and will act
as pointers for future directions for research. As well as volumes on
individual groups, the series will also deal with topics that have a
cross-cutting relevance, such as the evolution of significant
ecosystems, particular key times and events in the history of life,
climate change, and the application of a new techniques such as
molecular palaeontology.
The books are written by leading international experts and will be
pitched at a level suitable for advanced undergraduates,
postgraduates, and researchers in both the paleontological and
biological sciences.
Additional resources for this book can be found at: http://www.
wiley. com/go/brusatte/dinosaurpaleobiology.
Stephen Brusatte
is a vertebrate paleontologist and PhD student at Columbia University
and the American Museum of Natural History. His research focuses on the
anatomy, systematics, and evolution of fossil vertebrates, especially
theropod dinosaurs. He is particularly interested in the origin of major
groups such as dinosaurs, birds, and mammals. Steve is the author of
over 40 research papers and three books, and his work has been profiled
in the New York Times, on BBC Television and NPR, and in many other
press outlets.
