The Armored Dinosaurs (Life of the Past) [Hardcover]

Kenneth Carpenter (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Life of the Past | Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Armored dinosaurs were some of the earliest dinosaurs named, including the ankylosaur Hylaeosaurus in 1833 and Stegosaurus in 1877. But these armored dinosaurs, or thyreophorans, have been the least studied group because they lack the visceral appeal of Tyrannosaurus and the fossil abundance of ceratopsians and hadrosaurs. The incredible diversity of armored dinosaurs has only recently been appreciated: the discovery of new stegosaurs in the Jurassic of China and the United States, and of new ankylosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous of North America have led to renewed interest in thyreophorans. The Armored Dinosaurs brings together the latest studies by an international group of dinosaur paleontologists and provides descriptions of the original specimens of Hyaleosaurus and Stegosaurus, names new thyreophorans, and redescribes historically important specimens from Europe.

The contributors are Paul M. Barrett, John Bird, William T. Blows, Don Burge, Kenneth Carpenter, H. Trevor Clifford, Karen Cloward, Margery C. Coombs, Rodolfo A. Corio, Philip J. Currie, Tracy L. Ford, Peter M. Galton, Robert W. Gaston, James I. Kirkland, Martin G. Lockley, Richard T. McCrea, Lorrie A. McWhinney, Christian A. Meyer, Clifford A. Miles, Ralph E. Molnar, David B. Norman, Paul Penkalski, Xabier Pereda Suberbiola, Bruce M. Rothschild, A. P. Russell, N. Rybczynski, Leonardo Salgado, Jennifer Schellenbach, and M. K. Vickaryous.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dinosaurs are divided into several groups, and most will recognize the carnivores, including Tyranosaurus and Velociraptor; herbivores like Apatosaurus (once Brontosaurus); and duckbills and horned dinosaurs, among them Saurolophus and Triceratops. But another group, the armored dinosaurs, is much less familiar, partly because their fossils are not as common as those of other dinosaurs and because they are studied less. The armored dinosaurs, the Ankylosauria, make up at least 30 genera and are widely distributed worldwide. Some 21 papers, all essentially original research on stegosaurs and ankylosaurs, are included; a few provide descriptions of new species as these new fossils are either significant for their primitiveness or location. Most of the papers are anatomical and functional analyses of armored dinosaur anatomy, particularly the peculiar blade-like teeth and jaw movement. Papers discuss endocranial (gross brain structure) anatomy; stegosaur osteomyelitis; the first disarticulated skull of an ankylosaur (particularly useful because most ankylosaur material is represented by large clumps of bone); and a cololite (preserved gut contents) with the most informative material on the diet of any herbivorous dinosaurs. Several papers examine characteristic bony scutes of dinosaurs; one is devoted to their trackways. A final paper provides a phylogenetic analysis of the group. Many photographs and drawings; thorough combined subject and taxonomic index. Professionals." —D. Bardack, emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2002apr CHOICE.

(D. Bardack, emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2002apr CHOICE. )

About the Author

Kenneth Carpenter is the dinosaur paleontologist for the Denver Museum of Natural History and author of Eggs, Nests, and Baby Dinosaurs. He is co-editor of Mesozoic Vertebrate Life, Dinosaur Systematics, Dinosaur Eggs and Babies, and The Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253339642
• ISBN-13: 978-0253339645
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #802,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Paleontology > Vertebrate

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Armored Dinosaurs (Life of the Past), November 22, 2002

By 

Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Armored Dinosaurs (Life of the Past) (Hardcover)

The Armored Dinosaurs (Life of the Past) edited by Kenneth Carpenter is a wonderfully scholarly book with twenty-nine contributors all of whom have made some brilliant comparative anatomy among the different armored dinosaurs.

First of all, this is a book that was written for the very serious dinosaur person... one whom would make this a career. This is NOT a childrens book. The writing is in the form of abstracts, of which there are twenty-one.

What I found very interesting is the comparative anatomy between different armored dinosars how they varied and how are they the same. With the skulls, vertebra, and the armor plates including the boney spikes. Also, the teeth are compared... how they wear, how they are found within the jaw and how were they used.

If you are looking for a very good and well-written book that goes into great detail about armored dinosaurs, this is the book you'll want for your library. The book is hansomly illustrated with line drawings and photographs making for a richly appointed work.

This book is a fascinating read that makes your imagination work overtime as you see how those who know what they are looking for tell you why's and how's the armor was used.

Fascinating and very enlightening

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Collection of Ad-hoc Articles on the Subject, April 16, 2009

By 

Paul K. Mckneely - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Armored Dinosaurs (Life of the Past) (Hardcover)

In general, I am underwhelmed by the many similar publications put out by Kenneth Carpenter as chief editor. This volume contains an ad-hoc assemblage of articles written by specialists. Though they all relate to this most interesting group of dinosaurs, the "odds and ends" nature of the material covered probably belongs in a scientific journal and not packaged for the general public. I much prefer works that are written as compilations of what is known about the group. An excellent example of what I would have wished this book to be like is "The Horned Dinosaurs" by Peter Dodson (I will give that one five stars if I ever get around to writing a review). Dodson's book presents an overview of what is known about the ceratopsians and brings us up to date on the subject. I would love to have a comparable book that comprehensively covers the armored dinosaurs in similar fashion. This book is not it but it does contain good information for an author who might write such a book some day.

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Congratulations - Excellent, February 8, 2007

By 

Luis Augusto Lopes "Gutolino1968" (Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Armored Dinosaurs (Life of the Past) (Hardcover)

Thanks for your product - it's too much good!
It's satisfy my better expectatives...


Have a good day...