Mesozoic Vertebrate Life:
"A useful book for many paleontologists, at a reasonable price." —Choice, March 2002Research papers on dinosaurs continue to increase in number, and many bring readers new and thoughtful ideas about the biology of these ancient, dramatic animals. A growing number of books for public and professionals focus on Mesozoic animals, dinosaurs in particular; this one is for professionals. The 33 papers essentially cover dinosaurs of North America, but there are papers on Chinese and Patagonian dinosaurs. Most papers are systematic studies, and some include descriptions of new taxa, but there are also useful studies on dinosaur anatomy, biomechanics, gastroliths, and even sociobiology. A section on ichnology (footprints) examines traces of other animals than dinosaurs; four papers discuss paleopathologies, showing how much about extinct animals can be gleaned from the condition of preserved bones, and another treats dinosaurs in fiction, with many illustrations derived from novels, comics, and other literature sources. About 20 color paintings, restorations of important dinosaurs in lifelike settings, are included along with photographs of the critical feather—like features on some recently discovered Chinese dinosaur fossils. Unfortunately, many of the black—and—white photographs are rather muddy. A useful book for many paleontologists, at a reasonable price. Upper—division undergraduates and up.D. Bardack, emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2002mar CHOICE