Several months after acquiring the book I leaf through it and wonder how I could have given it such a high rating as I did. It has flaws throughout! - The book appears to have a drastic shortage of species tolist - it is only half as thick as Simon and Schuster's Encyclopedia ofAnimals - despite the fact that on numerous occasions they list but one ortwo species from a thirty-species family;
- The art is severely degradedfrom the above mentioned encyclopedia of animals. While I can see thepuzzlement concerning the colors of the creatures' hides, there is noexcuse for the the sloppy drawings of several of the animals!If you makea conjecture, please, be sure to follow through!On several of the animalsthe hair cover fails to obey the laws of physics, and most of theamphibians look like a horrid joke.
- The information is sketchy at best- on numerous occasions special biological mechanisms are mentioned (like anew jaw bone arrangement for the fishes, and the skull structures of theearly land animals), yet are never explained in function. Almost allspecies are captioned with the basics like weight and dimensions followedwith senseless filler.
- The between-section class summarizations and thecladistic graphs are also very, very basic. While I understand that thebook was not intended for specialists, even the basic layman will find thecharts a bit "dumbed down".
This book is flashy and artful, butlacking, lacking a great lot.
Product Description
An unmatched reference work distinguished by its erudition and beauty, The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures is an illustrated who's who of prehistoric life, a Baedeker of more than 500 million years of evolution on Earth.
With entries for more than 600 species, each arranged in its evolutionary sequence, the book presents a panorama of enormous diversity, from predatory dinosaurs to primitive amphibians, from giant armored fish to woolly mammoths, saber-tooth tigers and dire wolves. Each entry features a specially commissioned full-color painting prepared according to the best research of today in close collaboration with world-renowned paleontologists. The records of the rocks -- fossil bones, teeth, skin, hair and even footprints and nests -- have been combined with knowledge of the anatomy and behavior of present-day descendants to arrive at informed judgments about posture, color and other aspects of appearance.
Lively and informative "biographies" of the creatures accompany these remarkable illustrations: how they moved, what they ate, where they ranged and the habitats and ecological niches they occupied. Comparisons are made wherever possible with familiar living animals, highlighting both the contrasts and similarities. Also included are articles on subjects such as the time scale of evolution, fossil formation and interpretation and convergent evolution.
Truly a magnificent sourcebook, The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures is both a triumph of scholarship and a work of art. It will stand as the best and most accurate presentation of the prehistoric animal world available.
About the Author
Professor Barry Cox is head of the biology department at King's College, University of London. His specialty is mammal-like reptiles, and he teaches vertebrate paleontology. His publications include Prehistoric Life Explained.
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