Format:
1 online resource (137 pages)
ISBN:
9789088901713
Content:
Pterosaurs or flying reptiles were the first vertebrates to evolve flight. These distant relatives of modern reptiles and dinosaurs lived from the Late Triassic (over 200 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago) a span of some 135 million years. When they became extinct, no relatives survived them and as a result these prehistoric animals cannot readily be compared with our modern-day fauna. So what do we know of these highly succsessful animals? The present summary answers this and many more questions based on the most recent results of modern scientific research. After a short introduction to palaeontology as a science and its history related to pterosaurs, it explains what pterosaurs were, when and where they lived, and what they looked like. Topics such as disease, injury and reproduction are also discussed. Separated from this text are 'Mark explains' boxes. Each of these explanations puts one specific species in the spotlight and focuses on its lifestyle. They show how diverse pterosaurs were, from small insectivorous animals with a wingspan of nearly 40 centimetres to the biggest flying animals ever to take to the air, with wingspans of over 10 metres and with a way of life comparable to modern-day storks. The text is illustrated with many full colour photographs and beautiful palaeo-art prepared by experts in the field.
Content:
Intro -- CONTENTS -- Preface -- Acknowledgement -- Introduction -- What are fossils? -- What is palaeontology? -- A short history of our relationship with an extraordinary animal -- Pterosaurs: a short introduction -- When did pterosaurs live? -- Triassic -- Jurassic -- Cretaceous -- Extinction -- Where did pterosaurs live? -- The Solnhofen Limestones: the rocks that gave us pterosaurs -- Where Pterandon roams: the Niobrara Formation -- Giving pterosaurs more depth: the Araripe Group lagerstätte -- The ancient lake deposits of Liaoning Province -- Evolution -- The skeleton -- The skull -- The post-cranial skeleton -- Spine -- Shoulder girdle -- Pelvis -- Hind legs -- Wing -- Soft parts -- Muscles -- Brains -- Locomotion -- Terrestrial -- Flying -- Diversity -- Lifestyle -- Reproduction -- Food -- …and becoming food -- Sick and cured -- Three dimensional models -- Introduction -- Erwin Meerman -- The English models -- The concept -- Realising the concept -- Postures -- Turning engineers into palaeo-artists -- Flesh on bone -- Wings -- Detailing -- Colour -- 'Dinner' and other embellishments -- The heads -- Moving it all about -- The finished product -- List of Figures -- Names of the animals -- Further reading.
Note:
Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources
Additional Edition:
ISBN 9789088900938
Additional Edition:
Erscheint auch als Druck-Ausgabe ISBN 9789088900938
Language:
English
URL:
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