A Field Guide to Dinosaurs: The Essential Handbook for Travelers in the Mesozoic

A Field Guide to Dinosaurs: The Essential Handbook for Travelers in the Mesozoic
by Henry Gee

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Book Summary Information

Author: Henry Gee
Illustrator: Luis V. Rey
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2003-03
ISBN: 0764155113
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series

Book Reviews of A Field Guide to Dinosaurs: The Essential Handbook for Travelers in the Mesozoic

Book Review: Average Information But An Up To Date Dinosaur Collection
Summary: 3 Stars

See all my reviews on dinosaur books.

The "Field Guide to Dinosaurs" by Henry Gee is an average beginner book; the information is thin and questionable. Even the author apologises about this in his introduction: "We'll finish with a warning to the reader: Those who choose to believe what follows do so at their own risk". However, the dinosaurs it covers is very up-to-date.

Set out in the typical beginner-book fashion: initial pages (about 15) providing a context followed by dinosuar profiles; the 'field guide' presents a chronological perspective beginning in the Triassic and ending in the Cretaceous. Saddly, the information on each dinosaur stretches only so far as
* Description (for example - "Medium to large theropod")
* Length
* Distinguishing Features
* Habit and Habitat. About 200 words per dinosaur.

But what is unfortunate is the provocative style of writing backed up with no evidence. Take Allosaurus for instance: "The most common species, Allosaurus fragilis, generally shows a mottled yellow-green "combat camouflage" pattern on the back, neck, and tail and is a dull gray on its limbs and underparts...Males and females look very similar and are notable for their general lack of plumage or ostentatious scale ornamentation - presumably an adaptation to streamlined pursuit. The exception is observed during the brief springtime breeding season, when males assume luxuriant plumage, including showy crests and wattles, and long, vaned feathers on the forearms and tail." Allosaurus has been the most commonly found fossil, and there has been absolutely no evidence whatsoever for feathers. Also, it is not closely related enough to the dromeosaurs (the usual suspects) to have feathers; there are a number of species inbetween allosaurs and dromeosaurs that don't have feathers, so why would you draw an allosaurus with feathers?

If you are looking for something scientific, this isn't it. There is no balance in arguments, there is just one side given and its not backed up with any evidence. It is OK to speculate, but there needs to be a more concrete basis for doing so. Speaking as a science teacher, it is important for children to receive information that is scientifically accurate, that is, theory that is backed up with observational evidence, or alternatively; balanced argument based on inference, neither of which this book provides.

Rey is an excellent paleoartist. I especially like his pencil sketches. However, he has some provocative illustrations in this book. For example, the feathered Allosaurus I mentioned earlier and a furry juvenile T-rex. But I guess we were warned in the introduction. He is implying that all dinosaurs are colourful, but if we look at the animals and birds alive today what fraction are actually really colourful? A very small number - most are gray or brown.

Overall, it is not too bad because it is recent. I prefer "The Kingfisher Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia" by Burnie or even "National Geographic Dinosaurs" by Barrett. If you really do like feathered dinosaurs, Rey's work can be found in a much better book: "Dinosaurs" by Holtz, but this isn't a beginner book.

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Summary of A Field Guide to Dinosaurs: The Essential Handbook for Travelers in the Mesozoic

This beautifully produced and illustrated volume is the result of sophisticated scientific research. However, it has been written in clear laymen's language for nonscientists who have serious interest in paleontology. Author Henry Gee provides naturalists' notes on more than 50 different dinosaur species. His information is supplemented with dramatic, anatomically accurate full-color illustrations of each dinosaur. Material in this book is based on findings of dinosaur remains in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Antarctica, and is divided according to time periods: Triassic, Jurassic, Early- and Mid-Cretaceous, and Late Cretaceous. At-a-glance icons convey key information about each animal, including size, taxonomy, geological period of origin, and geographical location of discovered bones. The book also presents general background information on the 180 million years of the dinosaur-dominated Mesozoic era, including details on Mesozoic plants and animals and the modern story of dinosaur discovery. More than 500

vivid illustrations are all in full color.

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