The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World: The Definitive Dinosaur Encyclopedia with Stunning Illustrations, Embark on a Prehistoric Quest!

Steve Brusatte, a paleontologist who has discovered ten new species and conducted groundbreaking scientific fieldwork, presents a history of dinosaurs spanning more than 200 million years. The book traces dinosaur evolution from their origins as small creatures in the Triassic period through their dominance in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, when thousands of species thrived and winged, feathered dinosaurs emerged as prehistoric ancestors of modern birds. Brusatte describes how dinosaurs became the dominant species on Earth, including well-known forms like T. rex, Triceratops, and Brontosaurus. The narrative concludes with the Cretaceous period's extinction event, when a giant asteroid or comet struck the planet and caused the death of nearly every dinosaur species, marking one of Earth's most significant extinction events. The book draws on current scientific understanding to explain dinosaur origins, diversity, extinction, and their living legacy.