Birds of the Mesozoic: An Illustrated Field Guide

Birds are the most diverse tetrapod group today, but they have a rich and complex evolutionary history beyond that of their modern radiation. Appearing during the Jurassic, more than 160 million years ago, birds took to the skies and evolved into a plethora of forms during the Age of the Dinosaurs. This comprehensive and up-to-date illustrated field guide, by palaeontologist Juan Benito and palaeoartist Roc Olivé, aims to illustrate in unprecedented detail the staggering diversity of avialans (modern birds and their closest fossil relatives) that lived from the origin of the group until the Mass Extinction that ended the reign of the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago: the Birds of the Mesozoic.

Key Features

• Over 250 full-color illustrations covering more than 200 types of birds that populated the world during the Mesozoic Era.
• Detailed fact files on the diverse Mesozoic avifauna, including information on each species’ name, location, size, period, habitat, and general characteristics.
• Explanation of the origins of the group and their evolution from other feathered dinosaurs to the origins of modern birds in the Late Cretaceous.
• Detailed coverage of their phylogenetic, morphological, and ecological diversity.
• Introduction to bird skeletal anatomy and several recent and cutting-edge methods paleontologists use to reconstruct fossil bird color, diet, and biology.

Content

• Easy-to-use and pleasant to contemplate, this book on Mesozoic birds is a must for both bird and paleontology enthusiasts.
• Detailed description of Mesozoic birds, covering their evolution, diversity, and anatomical features.
• Incorporation of new methods to reconstruct the behavior and biology of prehistoric birds.