The Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia is an unmatched reference work distinguished by its erudition and beauty—an illustrated who's who of prehistoric life and a sourcebook of more than 500 million years of evolution on Earth.

With entries for more than 600 species, each arranged in its evolutionary sequence, this book presents a panorama of enormous diversity, from predatory dinosaurs to primitive amphibians, from giant armored fish to woolly mammoths, saber-tooth tigers, and dire wolves. Each entry features a specially commissioned full-color painting prepared according to today's best research in close collaboration with world renowned paleontologists.

The records of rocks—fossil bones, teeth, skin, hair, and even footprints and nests—have been combined with knowledge of the anatomy and behavior of present-day descendants to arrive at informed judgments about posture, color, and other aspects of appearance. Lively and informative "biographies" of the creatures accompany these remarkable illustrations: how they moved, what they ate, where they ranged, and the habitats and ecological niches they occupied.

Comparisons are made wherever possible with familiar living animals, highlighting both the contrasts and similarities. Also included are articles on subjects such as the time scale of evolution, fossil formation and interpretation, and convergent evolution. Truly a magnificent sourcebook, The Illustrated Dinosaur Encyclopedia is both a triumph of scholarship and a work of art.