Dinosaurs, Spitfires, and Sea DragonsChristopher McGowan sets out to solve some of the enduring mysteries about dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles. He makes fascinating comparisons between living and extinct animals while presenting topics that range from gigantism to intellect. In addition to exploring the natural history of the Mesozoic Era, McGowan draws on science and engineering concepts to explain curiosities such as the similarities between the aerodynamics of pteranodons and Spitfire planes. |
Contents
How the Vertebrate Skeleton Works | 40 |
Reading a Dinosaur Skeleton | 53 |
A Matter of Scale | 91 |
Whats Hot and Whats Not | 129 |
Brains and Intellect | 168 |
Not Wholly a Fish | 185 |
The Mechanics of Swimming | 200 |
The Sea Dragons | 219 |
The Winged Phantom | 257 |
Out with a Whimper or a Bang? | 291 |
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Common terms and phrases
aerobic Albertosaurus amino acids angle animals Apatosaurus appears Archaeopteryx aspect ratio birds and mammals blood body temperatures body weight bolide bone bony Brachiosaurus brain carnivores collagen crest Cretaceous crocodiles Cymbospondylus dentine dinosaurs dorsal edge elephant endocast endothermic energy estimated evidence extinct fairly feathers feet fibers fins fishes flight fluid flying fossil function Geological hadrosaurs head herbivores hindlegs Holzmaden ichthyosaurs impact increase iridium Journal K-T boundary Lambeosaurus larger length Liassic ligaments limb living lizard lobe locomotion Lower Jurassic mammals mass material Mesozoic metabolic rate Mixosaurus modern moving muscles Museum Natural Ophthalmosaurus Ostrom oxygen paleontologists pelvis posture predators pressure prey probably Pteranodon pterosaurs relatively reptiles reptilian sauropods saurs shape sharks similar skeletal skeleton skull species specimens speed stiff stress stride suggested surface swimming tail tailbend teeth thermal theropod trackway Triassic tuna Upper ventral vertebral column wing membrane Young's modulus