The Princeton Field Guide to Pterosaurs

Description

The most up-to-date and authoritative illustrated guide to the marvellous flying reptiles that dominated the skies of the Mesozoic for 160 million years Once seen by some as evolutionary dead-enders, pterosaurs were vigorous winged reptiles capable of thriving in an array of habitats and climates, including polar winters. The Princeton Field Guide to Pterosaurs transforms our understanding of these great Mesozoic archosaurs of the air. This incredible guide covers 115 pterosaur species and features stunning illustrations of pterosaurs ranging in size from swallows to small sailplanes, some with enormous, bizarre head crests and elongated beaks. It discusses the history of pterosaurs through 160 million years of the Mesozoic - including their anatomy, physiology, locomotion, reproduction, growth, and extinction - and even gives a taste of what it might be like to travel back to the Mesozoic. This one-of-a-kind guide also challenges the common image of big pterosaurs as ultralights that only soared, showing how these spectacular creatures could be powerful flappers as heavy as bears.

Gregory S. Paul is a renowned researcher and illustrator who helped establish the "new look" of pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and other Mesozoic creatures seen in contemporary movies and documentaries. His books include The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (Princeton) and Predatory Dinosaurs of the World: A Complete Illustrated Guide. His work has appeared in leading publications such as National Geographic, Scientific American, Nature, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Smithsonian, and Natural History.

"This book is the most complete examination of pterosaurs that I have seen and when the last page is turned the reader has a comprehensive understanding of the beast, from history to biology, to life style to extinction. One is even taken on an imaginary pterosaur safari. Move over Jurassic Park!"---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds "A most enjoyable and comprehensive account demonstrating how art and scientific enquiry combine to help inform, enlighten and educate. Highly recommend."---Mike Walley, Everything Dinosaur