ANCIENT SEA REPTILES

Subtitle Plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, mosasaurs and more

Darren Naish
Price £20.00
Description Description Since the early 1800s, when Mary Anning discovered spectacular marine reptile skeletons on Dorset’s ‘Jurassic Coast’, these enormous, strange and often ferocious underwater creatures have enthralled the public imagination. Expert palaeontologist Darren Naish introduces these monstrous marine reptiles, such as the mosasaur, known as the ‘T-Rex of the deep’, giant fish bigger than any others that have ever lived, and enduring predators such as sharks, who survived extinction events to become the ocean’s apex predators.
He examines their anatomy and behaviour, their diversity and lifestyle, and charts their evolutionary rise and domination of the Mesozoic seas which spanned over 150 million years.
He reveals how these reptiles moved in water, the anatomical advantages of their soft tissue, skin, and blubber, as well as their reproduction, social life and sensory world. Later chapters focus on each of the major lineages: the shark-shaped ichthyosaurs, the long-necked plesiosaurs; the crocodile-like thalattosuchians, the fast swimming mosasaurs, and the first sea turtles.
The book is richly illustrated with striking specimens and photography, as well as artistic reconstructions which bring these terrible creatures to life.
Format:
Format Hardcover Book 192 Pages
ISBN:
ISBN 9780565095345
Size:
Size7.56 in x 9.96 in / 192.00 mm x 253.00 mm
Published:
Published Date February 28th, 2023
Darren Naish
Darren Naish is a palaeozoological researcher and author affiliated with the University of Southampton and the BBC Natural History Unit. He is the co-author of Dinosaurs: How they lived and evolved and regularly blogs and podcasts at www.tetzoo.com.
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