The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs

Fülszöveg

• The most spectacular and colorful book yet published on pterosaurs and their world
• Fascinating and authoritative text
• This magnificently illustrated reference book contains more than 600pictures: 255 photographs, more than 250 detailed line drawings, and 100 explanatory diagrams, most in full color
• 16 superb color restorations on doublepage spreads featuring all the well-knoum pterosaurs




l^^^^m THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ^^^^^
PTEROSAURS
DR.PETER WELLNHOFER
Witb 600 illustrations
Pterosaurs, the flying reptiles of the Mesozoic Era, were contemporaries of the dinosaurs, but whereas dinosaurs were the masters of the land, pterosaurs secured tlie air as their ecological niche. In this exciting new book, Peter WeUnhofer provides a thoroughly up-to-date and comprehensive study of the appearance, lifestyle, and relationships of all known pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to develop the power of active flight in evolutionary history.
Opening chapters explain... Tovább

Fülszöveg

• The most spectacular and colorful book yet published on pterosaurs and their world
• Fascinating and authoritative text
• This magnificently illustrated reference book contains more than 600pictures: 255 photographs, more than 250 detailed line drawings, and 100 explanatory diagrams, most in full color
• 16 superb color restorations on doublepage spreads featuring all the well-knoum pterosaurs




l^^^^m THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ^^^^^
PTEROSAURS
DR.PETER WELLNHOFER
Witb 600 illustrations
Pterosaurs, the flying reptiles of the Mesozoic Era, were contemporaries of the dinosaurs, but whereas dinosaurs were the masters of the land, pterosaurs secured tlie air as their ecological niche. In this exciting new book, Peter WeUnhofer provides a thoroughly up-to-date and comprehensive study of the appearance, lifestyle, and relationships of all known pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to develop the power of active flight in evolutionary history.
Opening chapters explain what pterosaurs were, analyzing their origins and relationships, their place in the animal family tree, and reveal the nature of their body forms and the way in which their physiology was adapted to flight The discovery of pterosaur fossils worldwide, from the time of the identification of the first pterosaur remains from Solnhofen by Cosimo Alessandro CoUini in 1784 to the present day, is provided in a succinct history.
The central chapters of the book describe aU known pterosaurs from the three Periods of the Mesozoic Era: the Triassic, the Jurassic, and the Cretaceous. These chapters are lavishly illustrated with color photographs of fossil specimens, black and white skeletal drawings, and, most spectacularly, with 16 superb color artworks of the major genera painted by John Sibbick. These paintings may be recognized as some of the finest restorations of pterosaurs in their landscapes yet published. Additional color diagrams reveal the location of fossil finds, the length of time that each pterosaur flourished, and its size in relation to man.
The concluding chapters treat the reader to a thorough exploration of the likely Ufestyles of the pterosaurs and the possible reasons for their extinction, a history of all the major pterosaur reconstructions and models that have been created around the world, and a comparative analysis of the other vertebrates that have mastered flight - birds and bats. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs combines authoritative text for the general reader with perhaps the finest selection of artworks and photographs assembled on these fascinating animals. This fabulous volume is sure to become an essential popular reference book for many years to come.

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