Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs PDF Author: Mark P. Witton
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400847656
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
The most authoritative illustrated book on flying reptiles available 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

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs PDF Author: Mark P. Witton
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400847656
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 305

Get Book Here

Book Description
The most authoritative illustrated book on flying reptiles available 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

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs PDF Author: A. J. Veldmeijer
Publisher: Sidestone Press
ISBN: 9088900930
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 138

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Book Description
Pterosaurs or flying reptiles were the first vertebrates to evolve flight. These distant relatives of modern reptiles and dinosaurs lived from the Late Triassic (over 200 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago) a span of some 135 million years. When they became extinct, no relatives survived them and as a result these prehistoric animals cannot readily be compared with our modern-day fauna. So what do we know of these highly succsessful animals? The present summary answers this and many more questions based on the most recent results of modern scientific research. After a short introduction to palaeontology as a science and its history related to pterosaurs, it explains what pterosaurs were, when and where they lived, and what they looked like. Topics such as disease, injury and reproduction are also discussed. Separated from this text are 'Mark explains' boxes. Each of these explanations puts one specific species in the spotlight and focuses on its lifestyle. They show how diverse pterosaurs were, from small insectivorous animals with a wingspan of nearly 40 centimetres to the biggest flying animals ever to take to the air, with wingspans of over 10 metres and with a way of life comparable to modern-day storks. The text is illustrated with many full colour photographs and beautiful palaeo-art prepared by experts in the field.

The Flight of the Pterosaurs

The Flight of the Pterosaurs PDF Author: Keith Moseley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780874746884
Category : Pterosauria
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
Describes the physical characteristics and behavior of a variety of prehistoric flying creatures. Features pop-up and movable illustrations.

Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs

Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs PDF Author: Eric Buffetaut
Publisher: Geological Society of London
ISBN: 9781862391437
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 358

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Book Description
Pterosaurs were a peculiar group of Mesozoic vertebrates, which acquired the ability to fly in an original way, using a membrane attached to a single finger of the hand. Ever since the first description of a pterosaur skeleton in 1784, these remarkable animals have elicited much discussion and controversy among palaeontologists, and many basic questions about their origin, evolution and biology remain disputed. In the last few years, interest in pterosaurs has been revived by numerous discoveries of new and sometimes remarkably preserved specimens, which have enlarged and changed our picture of this group. The volume begins with descriptions of several new pterosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous of Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Following this, alternative hypotheses of pterosaur phytogeny and evolution are put forward. Several papers discuss the functional anatomy of pterosaurs and its implications for aerial locomotion. The study of pterosaur footprints provides important new evidence concerning their terrestrial locomotion, and this approach is used in several contributions. A developing aspect of pterosaur research is bone histology, as shown by the final papers in this collection.

New Perspectives on Pterosaur Palaeobiology

New Perspectives on Pterosaur Palaeobiology PDF Author: D.W.E. Hone
Publisher: Geological Society of London
ISBN: 1786203170
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 237

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Book Description
Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, are undergoing a long-running scientific renaissance that has seen sustained, and even elevated interest, from several generations of palaeontologists. These incredible reptiles are known from every continent, flew the Mesozoic skies for at least 160 million years, diversified into more than a dozen major clades and well over 100 species, and included the largest flying animals of all time. This volume brings together leading pterosaur researchers from around the globe to discuss new and cutting-edge research into various aspects of pterosaur palaeobiology and presents diverse papers to deliver new insights on flying reptile palaeoecology, flight, ontogeny, skeletal and soft-tissue anatomy, temporal and spatial distribution and evolution, as well as revisions of their taxonomy and interrelationships.

Super Potato and the Soaring Terror of the Pterosaur

Super Potato and the Soaring Terror of the Pterosaur PDF Author: Artur Laperla
Publisher: Graphic Universe TM
ISBN: 1728465397
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Augusta Richly, the world's richest girl, has grown bored of her unicorn hamster. Next, she wants a pterosaur—and her father hires villainous super-scientist Malicia the Malignant to make it happen! When Malicia brings the prehistoric creature back to life, it quickly flies away. Now, only Super Potato can drag the giant winged lizard down to earth. Get ready for a pterosaur rodeo!

The Princeton Field Guide to Pterosaurs

The Princeton Field Guide to Pterosaurs PDF Author: Gregory S. Paul
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691180172
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
The most up-to-date and authoritative illustrated guide to the marvelous flying reptiles that dominated the skies of the Mesozoic for 160 million years Once seen by some as evolutionary dead-enders, pterosaurs were vigorous winged reptiles capable of thriving in an array of habitats and climates, including polar winters. The Princeton Field Guide to Pterosaurs transforms our understanding of these great Mesozoic archosaurs of the air. This incredible guide covers 115 pterosaur species and features stunning illustrations of pterosaurs ranging in size from swallows to small sailplanes, some with enormous, bizarre head crests and elongated beaks. It discusses the history of pterosaurs through 160 million years of the Mesozoic—including their anatomy, physiology, locomotion, reproduction, growth, and extinction—and even gives a taste of what it might be like to travel back to the Mesozoic. This one-of-a-kind guide also challenges the common image of big pterosaurs as ultralights that only soared, showing how these spectacular creatures could be powerful flappers as heavy as bears. Features detailed species accounts of 115 different kinds of pterosaurs, with the latest size and mass estimatesWritten and illustrated by the acclaimed researcher and artist who helped to redefine the anatomy and flight performance of pterosaursCovers everything from pterosaur biology to the colorful history of pterosaur paleontologyIncludes dozens of original skeletal drawings and full-color life studies

On the Wing

On the Wing PDF Author: David E. Alexander
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199996776
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
On the Wing is the first book to take a comprehensive look at the evolution of flight in all four groups of powered flyers: insects, pterosaurs, birds and bats. David Alexander describes and evaluates both traditional and modern wing-origin theories in light of new fossil and genetic evidence.

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs PDF Author: Caroline Arnold
Publisher: StarWalk Kids Media
ISBN: 1630834122
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
One hundred million years ago, the skies were filled with enormous flying reptiles. With wings spans up to nearly forty feet, pterosaurs were the dominant life form on earth.

Pterosaur Trouble

Pterosaur Trouble PDF Author: Daniel Loxton
Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd
ISBN: 1771383739
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 35

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Book Description
Follow the pterosaur, a majestic flying reptile, as he encounters a pack of tiny but vicious dinosaurs. A unique blend of digital illustrations and landscape photography brings the ensuing battle to life.