Jurassic West, Second Edition: The Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation and Their World (Life of the Past)

"The famous bone beds of the Morrison Formation, formed one hundred and fifty million years ago and running from Wyoming down through the red rock region of the American Southwest, have yielded one of the most complete pictures of any ancient vertebrate ecosystem in the world. Jurassic West, Second Edition tells the story of the life of this ancient world as scientists have so far been able to reconstruct it. Aimed at the general reader, Jurassic West, Second Edition recounts the discovery of many important Late Jurassic dinosaurs such as Apatosaurus, Allosaurus, and Stegosaurus. But dinosaurs compose barely a third of the more than 90 types of vertebrates known from the formation, which include crocodiles and turtles, frogs and salamanders, dinosaurs and mammals, clams and snails, and ginkgoes, ferns, and conifers. Featuring nearly all new illustrations, the second edition of this classic work includes new taxa named since 2007, updates to the naming and classifications of some old taxa, and expanded sections on numerous aspects of Morrison Formation paleontology and geology"-- Provided by publisher The Famous Bone Beds Of The Morrison Formation, Formed One Hundred And Fifty Million Years Ago And Running From Wyoming Down Through The Red Rock Region Of The American Southwest, Have Yielded One Of The Most Complete Pictures Of Any Ancient Vertebrate Ecosystem In The World. Jurassic West, Second Edition Tells The Story Of The Life Of This Ancient World As Scientists Have So Far Been Able To Reconstruct It. Aimed At The General Reader, Jurassic West, Second Edition Recounts The Discovery Of Many Important Late Jurassic Dinosaurs Such As Apatosaurus, Allosaurus, And Stegosaurus. But Dinosaurs Comprise Barely A Third Of The More Than 90 Types Of Vertebrates Known From The Formation, Which Include Crocodiles And Turtles, Frogs And Salamanders, Dinosaurs And Mammals, Clams And Snails, And Ginkgoes, Ferns, And Conifers. Featuring Nearly All New Illustrations, The Second Edition Of This Classic Work Includes New Taxa Named Since 2007, Updates To The Naming And Classifications Of Some Old Taxa, And Expanded Sections On Numerous Aspects Of Morrison Formation Paleontology And Geology. Dedication Epigraph Contents Foreword • Dale Russell Preface Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations 1 Rainbow Country: An Introduction to Morrison Formation Geology 2 Setting the Stage: Vertebrates and the Jurassic World 3 The Start of It All: The Morrison Vertebrates Come to Light 4 Renaissance: The Picture Fills In 5 Fins, Scales, and Wings: The Morrison Menagerie, Part I 6 Gargantuan to Minuscule: The Morrison Menagerie, Part II 7 The Mess and the Magic: Vertebrate Paleoecology of the Morrison Formation 8 Many Rivers to Cross: A Late Jurassic Journey across the Morrison Floodplain Epilogue: The Morrison Fauna in World Context Appendix A Appendix B Glossary Notes References Index About the Author Aimed at the general reader, Jurassic West, Second Edition recounts the discovery of many important Late Jurassic dinosaurs made at the famous bone beds of the Morrison Formation.