The Sauropod Dinosaurs: Life in the Age of Giants
Mark Hallett, Mathew J Wedel Johns Hopkins University Press £26 Size isn’t everything – except when it comes to dinosaurs. The largest were the longnecked sauropods, of which Diplodocus is arguably the best-known example. Despite their bulk, these herbivorous giants have received less coverage than their scarier, carnivorous cousins, such as Tyrannosaurus, but this remarkable book helps to redress this imbalance. Blending hard evidence with informed speculation, it offers a complete guide to the science of the sauropods, from the history of their discovery and evolution to their biological basics. From this flows a plausible and readable reconstruction of lifestyle and behaviour, including how they might have moved, fed, socialised and interacted with the Mesozoic world around them. A must-have for any dinosaur enthusiast. Paul Chambers Palaeontologist