Book Description
A comprehensive, one-term paleontology text. Its unified approach presents animal, plant, and invertebrate history and interaction. Emphasis is on how life evolved and shows how paleontology reveals earth history. Presents an integrated picture of paleontology, rather than detailed classification schemes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good overview, but some things are out of date
I had this as the textbook to the general paleontology course I took as an undergrad at the University of Florida back in the late 1990s. I found it to be quite thorough and useful as a general intro, though as the field had already progressed significantly in many ways by that time (and moreso by now), I found it wanting for methodological or conceptual uses. I would certainly still recommend it as an intro to many of the key issues in paleontology - I still refer to it for reminders of some apsects of paleo that I do not encounter frequently in my work - but I would not consider it ultimately as useful as some other texts out there that are more recent if you are planning to start a career in paleontology.

NOT A DINO-DICTIONARY!
This book is terrific as it explains the ins and outs of Palaeontology rather than gives a very basic dictionary of the most popular dinosaurs in the Mesozoic. It is a good book for anybody who is interested in evolutionand how Palaeontology is used to discover the history of the earth. If youwant explanations as to what Palaeontology, Palaeoichnology andPalaeobotany is then pick up this book and be amazed! The wording is alittle complicated however and if you're not familar with Palaeontologists'jargon you may find yourself a little lost but have a go anyway, you'llfind yourself intrigued.--Nikki DuncanAustralia ... Read more

Book Description
Virtual Reconstruction serves as an introduction to the principles of three-dimensional visualization techniques as they relate to fossil reconstruction and reverse engineering. It covers data acquisition, processing, virtual reconstruction, visualization, manipulation, reverse engineering, and applications to biomedicine. An adjunct Web site provides access to software, as well as sample data sets and relevant Internet links. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A great introductory book
This book is a great introduction to paleontology. My 14 year old daughter is reading it, but it is good for any person who is interested in learning more at the beginning level. ... Read more

Book Description
The Encyclopedia of Paleontology is designed to address the shortage of general reference works on both vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology and to serve the needs of students and lay persons interested in the field. As the encyclopedia aims to provide basic information, the majority of the 350 entries are devoted to explanations of paleontological concepts and techniques, examinations of the evolutionary development of particular organisms and biological features, profiles of major discoveries, and biographies of leading scientists. Each entry includes an essay and a further reading list. An international team of 200 leading experts in the field has prepared the illustrations and the essays, which range from concise descriptions to comprehensive discussions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

the most comprehensiveencyclopedia onpaleontology
undoubtly amost importantscientific work.very rarely i encountered such a book-very clear explanation -cohen ... Read more

Book Description
This is the latest issue in the Special Papers in Palaeontology series, published by The Palaeontological Association. Conforming to the style of the Palaeontology journal, this substantial work investigates the interrelationships and evolution of Basal Theropod Dinosaurs and brings together researchers, geologists and enthusiasts who continue to find material of significance. Two issues are published each year and feature high standard illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

The long and distinguished tradition of tracking dinosaurs and other extinct animals in Europe dates back to the 1830s. Yet this venerable tradition of scientific activity cannot compare in magnitude and scope with the unprecedented spate of discovery and documentation of the last few years. Now, following on the heels of hisDinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States, Martin Lockley teams up with Christian Meyer to present an up to date synthesis of the recent findings in the field of European fossil footprints. Drawing extensively on their own research results from studies in Britain, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, and elsewhere, the authors create a dynamic picture of mammal, reptile, bird, and amphibian "track-makers" throughout more than 300 million years of vertebrate evolution, placed in the context of Europe's changing ancient environments.

Beginning with an introduction to tracking and a history of the European tracking tradition,Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of Europe then charts a broad path of evolutionary proliferation from the proto-dinosaurs of the Early Triassic period to the dinosaurs' decline and disappearance in the Upper Cretaceous. The survey continues into the age of mammals and birds, ending with the cave art of our Paleolithic ancestors.

Customer Reviews (3)

Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of Europe
"Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of Europe " written by Martin G. Lockley and Christian Meyer is a wonderfully exciting book about vertebrate ichnology... the study of track of footprints of ancient vertebrates, that have walked the face of Europe some 200 to 300 million years ago.

"Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of Europe" was wriiten after "Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of the Western United States" by Martin Lockley and gives the reader a more indepth knowledge of Dinosaur, reptilian, amphibian, and mammalian tracks and informs the reader of the difference in each of these track formations.

"Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of Europe" is beautifully illustrated with numerous trackway art in line drawings and in photographic evidence. This book limits its scope to Europe mainly England, Sweden, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, and Croatia giving the reader a broad sense of the scope to which the dinosaur roamed in major trackways or super highways of travel.It is noted in the book that most of the known trackways are of a migration paths from the south to the north, but there are trackways that go in different directions and both sauropods and therapods tracks have been found.

I liked the book much better than the first book on ichnology by the same author as this book has copious illustrations to back up the author's claims and theories and you can see for yourself what the author is trying to tell you in the text, Thus illustrating, and it makes a lot of sense.The current dinosaur track renaissance in Europe is part of a worldwide dinosaur-tracking revolution that, during the past decade, has thrust the study of fossil footprints into a prominent position in the world of paleontology and sedimentary geology.

Paleontology and geology are just two of the scientific disciplines that you'll need to have to read this book along the anatomy and general mechanics of movement would help in understanding this books full potential.Such observations are perhaps not surprising when we consider that Europe and North America were united with other continents at this time as part of the Pangaen supercontinent.Archosaurs and other vertebrates, therefore, were able to range widly across the Triassic world, establish themselves in their perfered habitats, and leave their distinctive tracks and traces alongside other distinctive plant and animal remains.

Tracks in "Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of Europe" cover a wide range of times.There are tracks from the Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Tertiary periods of time making for a wide discussion of events in this book.Moreover, these observations help to demonstrate that the composition and distribution of vertebrate trackmakers are less complicated that previously supposed.

"Dinosaur Tracks and Other Fossil Footprints of Europe" is a solid 5 star book and you'll learn much about the habits and habitats of the dinosaurs that made these tracks so long ago.The book has attempted to summerize the important sites and the insights they offer into vertebrate activity and evolution in Europe.Mesozoic tracks, however, are a differect story.The authors have been involved with active research at the Europian sites and have added significant knowledge and data that have been reported in recent years as the scope to which the science of ichnology is growing as more research is being devoted to these reminants of a lost age. There are very adequate bibliographies throughout the book and an extensive reference sections making this book a well annotated book and can be used for a stepping stone for future research into the amazing world of ichnology and there is and extensive appendix that is well documented as to where in Europe you can go to exterience fossil tracks first hand with illustrations to show the different formations.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRACK BOOK IN TEN YEARS!
Can a book make a loud SWOOSH? This one does -- the sound of a gigantic information void suddenly filling.It is a wonderfully encompassing coverage of dinosaurian and other ancient tracks of Europe, coupled, whenappropriate, with well-informed comparisons to track types world-wide. Superbly illustrated with some of the most beautiful trackway photos I haveseen published, and by abundant, carefully thought-out drawings, the personinterested in either dinosaur or other ancient European tracks who missesthis book will be as Sherlock Holmes without his magnifying glass.It iswell-written in a style that should please the broad spectrum of readersfrom those just casually interested in ancient animals and their tracks,through the most serious of professional paleontologists andpaleo-ichnologists (researchers of ancient traces).In fact, it isdifficult to imagine any reader who would not appreciate and learn fromthis book and want to keep it accessible for years of useful reference, aswell.Also, some significant re-interpretations of specific tracks ortrackways that had been differently interpreted in earlier publications byvarious authors will appeal to the mystery lover in most of us.Trackways,after all, provide us the most dramatic insight into the dynamics ofdinosaurs and other ancient animals that we will ever study or just enjoy,unless science fantasy becomes reality and Jules Verne's "TimeMachine" volume becomes clearly prescientient.Meantime, "Allaboard!" via the next best transport: Lockley and Meyer's DINOSAURTRACKS...

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRACK BOOK IN TEN YEARS!
Can a book make a loud SWOOSH? This one does -- the sound of a gigantic information void suddenly filling.It is a wonderfully encompassing coverage of dinosaurian and other ancient tracks of Europe, coupled, whenappropriate, with well-informed comparisons to track types world-wide. Superbly illustrated with some of the most beautiful trackway photos I haveseen published, and by abundant, carefully thought-out drawings, the personinterested in either dinosaur or other ancient European tracks who missesthis book will be as Sherlock Holmes without his magnifying glass.It iswell-written in a style that should please the broad spectrum of readersfrom those just casually interested in ancient animals and their tracks,through the most serious of professional paleontologists andpaleo-ichnologists (researchers of ancient traces).In fact, it isdifficult to imagine any reader who would not appreciate and learn fromthis book and want to keep it accessible for years of useful reference, aswell.Also, some significant re-interpretations of specific tracks ortrackways that had been differently interpreted in earlier publications byvarious authors will appeal to the mystery lover in most of us.Trackways,after all, provide us the most dramatic insight into the dynamics ofdinosaurs and other ancient animals that we will ever study or just enjoy,unless science fantsy becomes reality and Jules Verne's "TimeMachine" volume becomes clearly prescientient.Meantime, "Allaboard!" via the next best transport: Lockley and Meyer's DINOSAURTRACKS... ... Read more

Book Description

Rift basins of Triassic-Jurassic age that are associated with the breakup of the Pangean supercontinent contain an extraordinary record of the physical and biological conditions during this important period of Earth history. Rather than studying the rift basins as local features, ongoing work reveals that the Triassic-Jurassic rifts should be considered in a broader context that spans the entire proto-Atlantic realm. The rift province, collectively called the central Atlantic margin system, spans more than 45 degrees of paleolatitude and records over 35 million years of Earth history. The central Atlantic margin basins are of broad appeal to researchers interested in topics as diverse as extensional tectonics, the global magnetostratigraphic timescale, the evolution of early mammals, the appearance and diversification of dinosaurs, rift to drift crustal dynamics, astronomical forcing of climate, and models for the formation and occurrence of economic minerals and fossil fuel deposits. This extensive two volume work offers in-depth coverage of the North American components of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province rifts by experts in the field.

In volume 2, leading researchers give thorough reviews and highlight recent advances in our understanding of the sedimentary rocks, stratigraphic architecture, early dinosaur and reptile footprints, and vertebrae fossils of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province.

The companion volume,The Great Rift Valleys of Pangea in Eastern North America: Volume 1, Techtonics, Structure, and Volcanism, 0-231-11162-2, covers such topics as the structural geology, tectonics, and volcanism of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province. It is edited by Peter M. LeTourneau and Paul E. Olsen and is also available from Columbia University Press.

Book Description
The author describes forty-two fossil taxa recovered during a study of the San Timoteo Badlands that used magnetobiostratigraphy to develop a temporal framework for addressing the tectonic evolution of southern California over the last 6 million years. For the Pliocene, small mammals are an effective means of correlating a magnetostratigraphy to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale when radioisotopic dates are unobtainable. ... Read more