Dinosaurs are fascinating creatures and their popularity seems never ending, fuelled by films such as Jurassic Park and documentaries such as Walking with Dinosaurs. Yet dinosaurs (or more precisely non-avian dinosaurs) last trod the Earth 65 million years ago. All we know of them today are their fossilised bones, the tracks and traces that they left behind and, in very rare instances, some of the soft tissues or even traces of their chemistry. In many respects dinosaurs present us with one of the ultimate forensic challenges: they comprise the fragmentary remains of creatures that died many tens of millions of years ago, rather than just recently, or a few tens of years ago, which is the problem usually faced by forensic pathologists. How much do we really know about them, and to what extent can their remains inform us about ancient worlds, and indeed about the history of our planet? In this Very Short Introduction David Norman discusses how dinosaurs were first discovered and interpreted, and how our understanding of them has changed over the past 200 years. He looks at some of the amazing discoveries that have enabled us to gain new and unexpected insights into dinosaurs as animals with natural histories and behaviours, and considers some of the biggest questions in dinosaur biology, such as the implications of them having warm blood. Norman also shows how research upon dinosaurs has been enriched, particularly in recent decades, by technological break-throughs, which complement the informed speculation and luck which have played a part in many of the major discoveries. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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David Norman discusses some of the most fascinating and iconic creatures to walk our Earth. Introducing the different famillies of dinosaurs, he discusses how they were first discovered and interpreted, and looks at how scientific break-throughs have changed our understanding of dinosaurs over the years.
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INTRODUCTION; REFERENCES; FURTHER READING; INDEX
Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction is anything but. Instead, Dave Norman's book is a tour de force on the latest research on these terribly great reptiles, much of it by himself. An excellent read!!
Explains how science and scientific methods have advanced our understanding of dinosaurs as living animalsDiscusses some of the latest break-throughs in the study of dinosaurs, and the links between dinosaurs and modern birdsHighlights current controversies, and the major questions now being investigated in the study of dinosaursConsiders the challenges to reconstructing the lives, diets, and appearance of dinosaursPart of the Very Short Introductions series - over seven million copies sold worldwide
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David Norman is a palaeontologist based at the University of Cambridge. Much of his research work has concentrated on the anatomy, biology, and evolution of ornithischian dinosaurs. He is one of the world's leading experts on iguanodontian dinosaurs and has trained a group of students who are themselves now leading palaeontologists and functional morphologists in their fields of research. David is a best-selling author and has been awarded prizes for some of his books, many of which are intended to introduce science to audiences through the use of dinosaurs as a starting point; he has also been an advisor on various television programmes, notably for Sir David Attenborough (Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives) and the late Walter Kronkite (Dinosaur!), as well as the multi-award winning Walking with Dinosaurs.
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Explains how science and scientific methods have advanced our understanding of dinosaurs as living animals Discusses some of the latest break-throughs in the study of dinosaurs, and the links between dinosaurs and modern birds Highlights current controversies, and the major questions now being investigated in the study of dinosaurs Considers the challenges to reconstructing the lives, diets, and appearance of dinosaurs Part of the Very Short Introductions series - over seven million copies sold worldwide
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780198795926
Publisert
2017
Utgave
2. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
165 gr
Høyde
176 mm
Bredde
115 mm
Dybde
11 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
192

Forfatter

Biographical note

David Norman is a palaeontologist based at the University of Cambridge. Much of his research work has concentrated on the anatomy, biology, and evolution of ornithischian dinosaurs. He is one of the world's leading experts on iguanodontian dinosaurs and has trained a group of students who are themselves now leading palaeontologists and functional morphologists in their fields of research. David is a best-selling author and has been awarded prizes for some of his books, many of which are intended to introduce science to audiences through the use of dinosaurs as a starting point; he has also been an advisor on various television programmes, notably for Sir David Attenborough (Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives) and the late Walter Kronkite (Dinosaur!), as well as the multi-award winning Walking with Dinosaurs.