The Prehistoric World of the Dinosaur

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The variety of dinosaurs described in this book is remarkable. For example, there was the enormous, long-necked, giraffe-like Brachiosaurus, the vicious Allosaurus with its long jaws lined with curved teeth, or the Stegosaurus which had 3-foot spikes along its back for defense, and adjustable plating to capture heat from the sun. Dr. David Norman gives expert analysis of each creature; what it looked like, how it moved, what it ate, how it protected itself, its nesting habits, whether it traveled in herds or hunted alone, and so on. The book also describes the mammals, reptiles, and pterosaurs which lived alongside the dinosaurs. It examines some of the theories explaining the extinction of these remarkable beasts - from meteorites to changes in the climate - and assesses the latest thinking on the relationship between the development of birds and dinosaurs. The author also discusses whether dinosaurs were ectothermic or endothermic and how they were affected by the changing climate and vegetation on the planet.