Dinosaur Systematics: Approaches and Perspectives [Hardcover]

Kenneth Carpenter (Editor), Philip J. Currie (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521366720 | ISBN-13: 978-0521366724 | Publication Date: November 30, 1990

In recent years dinosaurs have captured the attention of the public at an unprecedented level. At the heart of this resurgence in popular interest is an increased level of research activity, much of which is innovative in the field of paleontology. For instance, whereas earlier paleontological studies emphasized basic morphologic description and taxonomic classification, modern studies attempt to examine the role and nature of dinosaurs as living animals. More than ever before, we understand how these extinct species functioned, behaved, interacted with each other and the environment, and evolved. Nevertheless, these studies rely on certain basic building blocks of knowledge, including facts about dinosaur anatomy and taxonomic relationships. One of the purposes of this volume is to unravel some of the problems surrounding dinosaur systematics and to increase our understanding of dinosaurs as a biological species. Dinosaur Systematics presents a current overview of dinosaur systematics using various examples to explore what is a species in a dinosaur, what separates genders in dinosaurs, what morphological changes occur with maturation of a species, and what morphological variations occur within a species.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...presents a diverse array of original research on numerous dinosaur taxa, provides an excellent source of references, and is abundantly illustrated....succeeds in 'developing a better understanding of dinosaurs as biological species' (p. 309) and provides solid empirical evidence for ontogenetic and dimorphic variation in a broad range of dinosaurs." Sandra J. Carlson, GSA Today

"...contains many stimulating contributions and some of them (e.g. Chapter 18) are the best examples of the...palaeontological problems and frustrations....should be accessible at any reference library." Makoto Manabe, Geological Magazine

"...does contain a number of useful contributions to dinosaurian systematics that will be of interest to every serious student of this topic. It should encourage all researchers to pay more attention to the historically neglected problem of morphological variation in non-avian dinosaurs and to adopt explicitly cladistic approaches for sorting our dinosaurian interrelationships." Hans-Dieter Sues, American Paleontologist

"...a collection of papers on all aspects of dinosaur reproduction and development for the professional reader and advanced student...this long-awaited book sets out to review and summarize today's knowledge of one of the most exciting areas of dinosaur studies...The work is an essential addition to the dinosaur literature and is the only compact reference work covering reproductive biology." Nature, July, 1994

Book Description

Whereas earlier paleontological studies emphasized basic morphologic description and taxonomic classification, modern studies attempt to examine the role and nature of dinosaurs as living animals from the perspective of "dinosaur systematics."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 334 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (November 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521366720
• ISBN-13: 978-0521366724
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,445,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dinosaur Systematics: Approaches and Perspectives, December 15, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Dinosaur Systematics: Approaches and Perspectives (Hardcover)

Dinosaur Systematics: Aproaches and Perspectives edited by Kenneth Carpenter and Philip J. Currie is a book that serves as a handbook for further research into dinosaur systematics and be a valubable addition to the bookshelves of vertebrate paleontologists. This is NOT a childrens book as it is written as abstract form from twenty-three different authors.

The purpose of this volume is to unravel some of the problems surrounding dinosaur systematics and increase our understanding of dinosaurs as a biological species. There is excellent morphological description and taxonomic classifications within the pages of this book.

How scientists look at dinosaur fossils has changed, now, including the flora , climatic and other ecological changes affecting the dinosaurs makes for a better overall picture. But this book has excellent comparative anatomy. There are nine sections within this book and each of those section is further divided into chapters making for a very educational read.

The sections of the book are as follows: Methods, Sauropodomorpha, Theropoda, Ornithopoda, Pachycephalosauria, Ceratopsia, Stegosauria, Ankylosauria, and Footprints. There is a excellent taxonomic idex at the rear of the book.

"Dinosaur Systematics: Approaches and Perspectives gives the reader a very good overview of dinosaur systematics using various examples to explore what species a dinosaur is, hat separates genders in dinosaurs, what morphological changes occur with maturation of a species, and what morophological variations occur within species,

This is a very concise yet conprehensive volume which is appointed heavely with excellent illustrations and is intended for students and professionals in the areas of palenotology, evolutionary biology, geology, and vertebrate zoology.