Pterosaurs (eBook)

Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy

Mark P. Witton (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2013
304 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-1-4008-4765-5 (ISBN)

Infos

The most authoritative illustrated book on flying reptiles availableFor 150 million years, the skies didn't belong to birdsthey belonged to the pterosaurs. These flying reptiles, which include the pterodactyls, shared the world with the nonavian dinosaurs until their extinction 65 million years ago. Some pterosaurs, such as the giant azhdarchids, were the largest flying animals of all time, with wingspans exceeding thirty feet and standing heights comparable to modern giraffes. This richly illustrated book takes an unprecedented look at these astonishing creatures, presenting the latest findings on their anatomy, ecology, and extinction.Pterosaurs features some 200 stunning illustrations, including original paintings by Mark Witton and photos of rarely seen fossils. After decades of mystery, paleontologists have finally begun to understand how pterosaurs are related to other reptiles, how they functioned as living animals, and, despite dwarfing all other flying animals, how they managed to become airborne. Here you can explore the fossil evidence of pterosaur behavior and ecology, learn about the skeletal and soft-tissue anatomy of pterosaurs, and consider the newest theories about their cryptic origins. This one-of-a-kind book covers the discovery history, paleobiogeography, anatomy, and behaviors of more than 130 species of pterosaur, and also discusses their demise at the end of the Mesozoic.The most comprehensive book on pterosaurs ever publishedFeatures some 200 illustrations, including original paintings by the authorCovers every known species and major group of pterosaursDescribes pterosaur anatomy, ecology, behaviors, diversity, and moreEncourages further study with 500 references to primary pterosaur literature

Autor

Mark P. Witton is a paleontologist in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. He has served as a technical consultant for Walking with Dinosaurs 3D and many other film and television productions. His illustrations of pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and other prehistoric creatures have appeared in numerous publications, including Science and newspapers around the world.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 23.6.2013
• Zusatzinfo: 152 color illus. 26 halftones. 14 line illus. 17 maps.
• Verlagsort: Princeton
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Geowissenschaften ► Mineralogie / Paläontologie
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: anatomy • Anhanguera (pterosaur) • ankle • Anterior teeth • Antorbital fenestra • Anurognathus • Appendage • Aptian • Archosaur • Azhdarchoidea • Barremian • beak • bipedalism • bird • Carpal bones • Cervical rib • Cervical Vertebrae • Chaoyangopteridae • Coracoid • Cretaceous • Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event • Darwinopterus • Dentition • Dimorphodon • Dsungaripterus • Eudimorphodon • Femur • foraging • Forelimb • Germanodactylus • Hindlimb • Humerus • insect • Insect wing • Invertebrate • Jaw • Jurassic • Kimmeridgian • Late Cretaceous • Late Jurassic • Lonchodectes • Maastrichtian • Mammal • mandible • Mandibular symphysis • Maxilla • Mesozoic • Metacarpal bones • Metatarsal bones • Middle Jurassic • Monofenestrata • Morrison Formation • Notarium • Nyctosaurus • Osteology • paleobiology • Paleoecology • paleontology • Pelvis • predation • Preondactylus • Pteraichnus • Pteranodon • Pterodactyloidea • Pterodactylus • Pterodaustro • pterosaur • Quadrupedalism • Quetzalcoatlus • Reptile • Rhamphorhynchidae • Rhamphorhynchus • rib cage • sacrum • Sauropoda • Scapula • Sediment • Sesamoid bone • Sexual Dimorphism • Shenzhoupterus • Shoulder girdle • Sinopterus • Soft tissue • Solnhofen limestone • Sternum • Taxon • Terrestrial animal • Terrestrial locomotion • Tetrapod • Thalassodromeus • Theropoda • Tiaojishan Formation • toe • Tooth • Triassic • Tupuxuara • vertebra • Vertebral column • Vertebrate • Yixian Formation
• ISBN-10: 1-4008-4765-6 / 1400847656
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4008-4765-5 / 9781400847655