Pterosaurs:
Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy
Mark P. Witton

Cloth | June 2013 | $35.00 / £24.95 | ISBN: 9780691150611
306 pp. | 8 1/2 x 11 | 152 color illus. 26 halftones. 14 line illus. 17 maps.

eBook | ISBN: 9781400847655 | Where to buy this ebook

Shopping Cart | Endorsements | Table of Contents
Chapter 1 [PDF]

For 150 million years, the skies didn't belong to birds--they 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 published
• Features some 200 illustrations, including original paintings by the author
• Covers every known species and major group of pterosaurs
• Describes pterosaur anatomy, ecology, behaviors, diversity, and more
• Encourages further study with 500 references to primary pterosaur literature

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.

Endorsement:

"This book is both academically interesting and truly fun to read. That is a difficult balance to reach, but Witton does an excellent job of it by using a lighthearted, informal writing style in combination with a well-referenced, serious scientific review. An invaluable reference."--Michael Habib, University of Southern California

Table of Contents:

ix Preface
xi Acknowledgments
1. Leathery-Winged Harpies 1
2. Understanding the Flying Reptiles 4
3. Pterosaur Beginnings 12
4. The Pterosaur Skeleton 23
5. Soft Bits 39
6. Flying Reptiles 56
7. Down from the Skies 64
8. The Private Lives of Pterosaurs 74
9. The Diversity of Pterosaurs 90
10. Early Pterosaurs and Dimorphodontidae 95
11. Anurognathidae 104
12. "Campylognathoidids" 113
13. Rhamphorhynchidae 123
14. Wukongopteridae 135
15. Istiodactylidae 143
16. Ornithocheiridae 152
17. Boreopteridae 164
18. Pteranodontia 170
19. Ctenochasmatoidea 183
20. Dsungaripteroidea 201
21. Lonchodectidae 211
22. Tapejaridae 216
23. Chaoyangopteridae 228
24. Thalassodromidae 234
25. Azhdarchidae 244
26. The Rise and Fall of the Pterosaur Empire 259
References 265
Index 283

Subject Areas:

• Birds and Natural History
• Biological Sciences
• Popular Science

VISIT OUR BIRDS & NATURAL HISTORY WEBSITE

Shopping Cart:

For customers in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Asia, and Australia
Cloth: $35.00 ISBN: 9780691150611

For customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India
Cloth: £24.95 ISBN: 9780691150611

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File created: 5/2/2013

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