Glorified Dinosaurs: The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 192 pages
• Published by: Wiley-Liss
• Edition: 1st Edition February 2, 2007
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0471247235
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0471247234
• Book Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 2.9 pounds

Product Review
"Construction of the book is superb; it is well made and lavish with color photographs and figures on glossy paper. The author provides a glossary, an index, and references for specific readings in support of the dinosaurian origin of birds. The chapters are organized and well written in an authoritative tone by one of the top experts in the field." (PALAIOS, April 2008)

"should be on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the early evolution of birds. Chiappe’s acquaintance with virtually all of the Mesozoic fossils he writes about makes it a competent review of the subject which will stand for years to come." (Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, December 2007)

"Chiappe is to be congratulated on this great bookit will appeal to a wide audience…" (American Scientist, November-December 2007)

"Chiappe's gorgeously illustrated book…is nothing more or less than a celebration of the feathered dinosaurs." (The Quarterly Review of Biology, September 2007)

"Chiappe, one of the world's leading authorities on birds, offers a thorough, careful, often exhaustive exposition on the anatomy, biology, and paleontologic record of birds and their ancestors." (CHOICE, July 2007)

"'Glorified Dinosaurs' is a book you will not want to miss." (Fossil News, June 2007)

"This book is bound to appeal not only to scientists, but also to anyone with an interest in dinosaurs, ornithology, evolution and natural history." (Nature, 10th May 2007)

"an invaluable resource for every paleontologist, ornithologist, evolutionary biologist, geology and life sciences student and professional. It is also exciting readingfor all those with a general interest in the topic." (SirReadaLot.org, March 2007)

"the best summary yet of how dinosaurs evolved into birds." (Books-On-Line)

"…Chiappe's breaking deep ground, escorting us across the threshold of many new and intriguing realms…the full-color illustrations are breath-taking." (Electric Review, March/April 2007)

Product Description
The last few years have witnessed an unparalleled rate of discoveries of early birds and their dinosaurian predecessors. Written by a recognised authority in the field, Glorified Dinosaurs: The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds provides a comprehensive summary of these discoveries and addresses the fascinating topic of how modern birds evolved from fearsome dinosaurs akin to the celebrated Velociraptor. The book focuses on an evolutionary approach and presents current research and fossil discoveries. The title includes coloured photographs of fossils and fossil localities, many of which have been rarely reproduced elsewhere.

Glorified Dinosaurs: The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds is an invaluable resource for every palaeontologist, ornithologist, evolutionary biologist, geology and life sciences student. It is also an exciting reading for people interested in dinosaurs and avian evolution and for all those with a general interests in the topic.

Reader Reviews
I think it has come to be pretty well accepted by most scientists that the songbird outside your window is a descendent of the dinasaurs that once reigned supreme. This book by a renowned paleornithologist, gives the best summary yet of how the dinosaurs evolved into birds. It begins with the development of feathers, and continues with the earliest fossil samples, including the famous archaeopteryx. (As best I can tell there is only one archaeopteryx in the United States at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Thermopolis. At this date the display for these fossils is being built. It should be open sometime in May, 2007, but check with them first.) This book is current as to early 2007, reflecting all of the latest findings (especially in China) of the steps in the descent of the modern bird. This book is lavisly illustrated with hundreds of illustrations from color photographs of fossils to line drawings showing the variations in skeletal structure as the birds developed. It uses high quality paper, printing and binding to insure a long useful life.