Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World

Description

This book presents the first visualizations of dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles as they really looked. Up to now, colours were imaginary, but here we draw on the newest research to present stunning images where every detail of colour, pattern, feather, scale and scute are explained from first-hand evidence. Dinosaurs are not what you thought they were - or at least, they didn't look like you thought they did. The world-leading palaeontologist Michael J. Benton brings us a new visual guide to the world of the dinosaurs, showing how rapid advances in technology and amazing new fossil finds have changed the way we see dinosaurs forever. Stunning new illustrations from palaeoartist Bob Nicholls display the latest and most exciting scientific discoveries in vibrant colour. No book before this has been so rigorous in its use of new data that finally tell us how dinosaurs actually looked. From Sinosauropteryx, the first dinosaur to have its colour patterns identified - a ginger and white striped tail - by Benton's team at Bristol University in 2010, to the recent research on the mixed feathers and scales of Kulindadromeus, this is the first book to be based on cutting-edge scientific research. Each chapter focuses on one particular species, featuring a specially commissioned illustration that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs, with accompanying text exploring how palaeontologists have become able to determine new details such as the patterns on skin and the colours of feathers of animals that lived millions of years ago. This will be a visual compendium to surprise and challenge everything you thought you knew about what dinosaurs looked like and how they lived. With over 150 illustrations in colour

Michael J. Benton is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology and head of the world-leading Palaeobiology Research Group at the University of Bristol. He has written more than fifty books, including The Dinosaurs Rediscovered and When Life Nearly Died, both published by Thames & Hudson. Bob Nicholls is one of the leading palaeoartists in the world. His work is regularly used to illustrate the latest discoveries in both science journals and the general press.

'Want to know what dinosaurs really looked like? Leading palaeontologist Michael Benton and renowned palaeoartist Bob Nicholls join forces to show you dinosaurs like you've never seen them before. You'll see dinosaurs in full technicolour, covered in feathers, with camouflaged bodies, iridescent heads, rings on their tails, wings on their arms, and sometimes even their legs. And best of all, it's real. This gorgeous book belongs on the bookshelves of any science enthusiast, and any movie director or television producer looking to bring dinosaurs to the screen' - Steve Brusatte, professor and palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh and bestselling author of 'The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs' 'World-leading palaeontologist Michael J. Benton cracks open the fossil evidence to reveal the truth behind what dinosaurs looked like in this fascinating and remarkably illustrated guide' - How it Works 'The illustrations by expert palaeoartist Bob Nicholls make this coffee table book a real treasure' - BBC Science Focus