Darren Naish Ancient Sea Reptiles Paperback Book

In the Mesozoic Era, while dinosaurs roamed on land, giant carnivorous reptiles ruled the seas. These enormous underwater creatures have enthralled the public imagination since Mary Anning discovered spectacular reptile skeletons on Dorsets Jurassic Coast in the early 1800s. Join palaeontologist Darren Naish on a tour of these incredible animals, ranging from sharkshaped ichthyosaurs and longnecked plesiosaurs to gigantic, predatory mosasaurs. Occupying roles similar to those of modern sharks, seals and whales, they filled the ancient oceans for a period of 180 million years. Naish charts the evolutionary rise of the ancient sea reptiles and their domination of the Mesozoic Seas. He reveals how these reptiles moved in water, the anatomical advantages of their soft tissue, skin and blubber, how their jaws were specialized for aquatic prey, and the sensory organs that enabled them to see, smell or hear underwater. Later chapters focus on each of the major lineages the sharkshaped ichthyosaurs, the longnecked plesiosaurs the crocodilelike thalattosuchians, the fastswimming mosasaurs, and the first sea turtles. The book is richly illustrated with photographs of striking specimens and artistic reconstructions which bring these giants of the sea to life. | Darren Naish Ancient Sea Reptiles Paperback Book