Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs (Hardcover)

by Philip J. Currie (Editor), Kevin Padian (Editor) "Abelisauridae constitutes a clade of CRETACEOUS theropods widely documented in the Gondwanan continents (South America, Madagascar, and India)..." (more)
Key Phrases: antorbital sinus, ischian dinosaurs, intercentral articulations, North America, United States, Cambridge Univ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 UpAAlthough this is definitely an adult reference book, libraries with young dinosaur aficionados should prick up their ears. Topics are arranged alphabetically, with generous cross-referencing. The articles are written by experts; for instance, John Horner has penned an article that discusses his discoveries about dinosaur parental care. Besides chapters on individual dinosaurs, this book covers some intriguing territory, including topics such as "Diet," "Color," "Problems with the Fossil Record," and "Size and Scaling" (which explains how extinct dinosaurs are weighed). There are also articles about specific digs and sites. Most of the articles cite references. Small black-and-white illustrations and a few color plates expand on the text. What most recommends this densely written volume is that it brings readers straight to the facts, fresh from the scientists' mouths, instead of filtering the information through an intermediary writer.ACathryn A. Camper, Minneapolis Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Here are two new encyclopedias for the more serious dinosaur enthusiast. Intended as a companion to the classic taxonomic reference, The Dinosauria (LJ 3/15/91), Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs emphasizes discoveries published in the scientific literature since 1990. In this context, the paucity of maps and illustrations seems a less serious omission. Written by well-known paleontologists and organized alphabetically by subject, the signed articles cover kinds of dinosaurs, biology, geology, research, and museums where dinosaurs are on display, including a worldwide list of museums and sites. There is some overlap with The Dinosauria in dinosaur descriptions, but this encyclopedia offers authoritative articles on many topics not covered in that work, such as "color," "intelligence," and "ornamentation." While the language may sometimes be too technical for the general reader, Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs provides a nice link between popular and scientific dinosaur studies. The author of The Complete Dinosaur Dictionary (Carol Pub., 1995), which was aimed at young adults, Glut now offers a far more detailed and technical work oriented toward dinosaur material in museum collections. Following 74 pages of background information, the encyclopedia is devoted to an alphabetical list of dinosaur genera. Each entry tells the date of discovery, name derivation, occurrence, age, and diagnosis; gives a list of key print references; and refers to important museum specimens that have furthered the study of dinosaur paleontology. The black-and-white illustrations are mainly photos of museum specimens and reconstructions, with a deliberate avoidance of fanciful interpretation. The emphasis on museum collections makes this a unique work. Both titles are recommended for academic and larger public libraries.?Amy Brunvand, Univ. of Utah Lib., Salt Lake City
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 869 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1 edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0122268105
• ISBN-13: 978-0122268106
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #67,859 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, up to date information on dinosaurs!, September 15, 1998

By A Customer

We've all read the bylines: the public loves dinosaurs. And it's true. But we're also not all that discriminating. As a result, many dinosaur books are very out of date. The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs is a notable exception to this. Each topic is written not only by a paleontologist, but by a dinosaur paleontologist who specializes in that particular subject. The result? A compendium of information that could otherwise be obtained only by attending perfessional meetings for years. And of course, at professional meetings technical laguage is the norm. Anyone want to decipher "the relevance of the arctometatarsilian pes to the phylogenetic analysis of coelurosaurian theropods"..? The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs is written plainly and clearly. Any interested adult or teenager could master the knowledge within much easier than, say, highschool algerbra. As a student of paleontology, and someone who has attended numerous professional meetings, I can say with confidence that this book will equip any aspiring paleontologist with the knowledge needed to reach the "next leve" of understanding of the dinosaurs.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This definitely belongs on the shelf of any dino-lover., January 23, 1999

By	Jordan Mallon ([e-mail]) (Canada) - See all my reviews

When I first received this book for Christmas, I was shocked! The book was the size and weight of a telephone book! It's packed with skeletal drawings, cladograms, paintings... You name it, it's in the text.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Questions about dinosaurs that go deeper than the surface?, April 15, 2001

By	Bronson Barton "bjmonkeyman" (Panguitch, UT USA) - See all my reviews

If so, then this is the book for you! The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs is a wonderful, up-to-date book that covers most, if not all, topics concerned with dinosaurs. Well put-together, beautifully illustrated, and written by today's top paleontologists, the Encyclopedia is well worth the price. Although it doesn't get too technical, this book is not for the uninformed. A must have for any serious dino-enthusiast - believe me, it will answer your questions, and lead you to ask more! 5 stars may not be enough for this one! (Plus it's massive enough to knock some sense into the not-so-dino-loving loved one or associate in your life!)