- Home
- NON-FICTION
- Popular Science
- Spinosaur Tales
Spinosaur Tales
The Biology and Ecology of the Spinosaurs
Spinosaur Tales
The Biology and Ecology of the Spinosaurs
For information on how we process your data, read our Privacy Policy
Thank you. We will email you when this book is available to order
You must sign in to add this item to your wishlist. Please sign in or create an account
Description
The spinosaurs – the dinosaur group that includes the largest land predator of all time, the awe-inspiring Spinosaurus – star in this cutting-edge review.
The giant sail-backed carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus is one of the most famous of all dinosaurs; a staple of documentaries, books and video games, and the beast that bested the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex in Jurassic Park III. But what do we actually know about this crocodile-headed monster and its relatives, the spinosaurs?
The spinosaurs were some of the strangest predatory dinosaurs, combining a long low skull with powerfully clawed hands. Some species had huge sails over their backs, as well as fin-like tails. A great deal of scientific mystery surrounds them. Their fossil remains are highly fragmentary, many aspects of their appearance uncertain, their evolutionary relationships elusive, and interpretations of their ecology and behaviour are hotly contested.
Spinosaur Tales explores the exciting, sometimes controversial world of spinosaur science. Bringing these creatures back to life with stunning illustrations, world-renowned palaeontologists David Hone and Mark P. Witton present the latest views on the evolution, anatomy and lifestyles of an enigmatic yet charismatic dinosaur group.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. History
3. Origins and Background
4. Species and Relationships
5. The Spinosaur Fossil Record
6. Spinosaur Anatomy: The Head
7. Spinosaur Anatomy: The body, Limbs and Tail
8. Spinosaur Anatomy: Life Appearance
9. Standing Tall, Getting Around: Posture and Locomotion
10. Feeding the Mouth, Fuelling the Body
11. Spinosaur Ecology
12. The Life of a Spinosaur
13. The Fascination and Frustrations of Spinosaurs
Product details
| Published | Jan 27 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 320 |
| ISBN | 9781399412469 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Sigma |
| Illustrations | 60 black and white illustrations and diagrams; 8 page colour plate section |
| Dimensions | 9 x 5 inches |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
-
Dave Hone and Mark Witton bring dinosaurs to life. Blending rigorous science with accessible ideas they put more than flesh on fossilised bones, they animate these ancient creatures, extrapolate behaviour, give them character and personality. And here they use all the evidence to reshape some of paleontologies most enigmatic yet mysterious animals - the bizarre big-finned , curly clawed spinosaurs. After years of lost specimens, dodgy deals and ferocious scientific debate Dave and Mark bravely confront the controversies and introduce us to what we know and what it means. Its a joyous journey from the past to the present as these magnificent species rise from the pages to inhabit our prehistoric dreams!
Chris Packham
-
The lineage of an elusive yet fascinating dinosaur is teased apart with thoughtfulness and rigor ... Spinosaur Tales will delight dinosaur fanatics and casual readers alike. Its balance of science and speculation is well suited to its unique subject matter.
The Washington Independent Review of Books
-
Hone and Wilson's lucid narrative not only informs readers about spinosaurs and where they fit into the Cretaceous ecosystem, it also demonstrates how modern paleontologists manage to draw plausible inferences from the scattered bits and pieces ancient life leaves behind.
Natural History magazine
-
Hone and Witton are adroitly informative and entertaining in explaining everything science currently knows about spinosaur anatomy, biology, and behavior. The book has imaginative color illustrations, bone cross-sections, and most-likely anatomical reconstructions. The use of that signature spinal ridge? The strength of those dangling claws? The evolutionary development of that long toothy snout? Hone and Witton cover it all in fast-paced prose entirely accessible to non-specialists. pinosaur Tales brings together most of what's known about this remarkable group and crafts it all into a handy, informative overview.
Open Letters
-
Hone and Witton are adroitly informative and entertaining in explaining everything science currently knows about spinosaur anatomy, biology, and behavior. The book has imaginative color illustrations, bone cross-sections, and most-likely anatomical reconstructions. The use of that signature spinal ridge? The strength of those dangling claws? The evolutionary development of that long toothy snout? Hone and Witton cover it all in fast-paced prose entirely accessible to non-specialists. pinosaur Tales brings together most of what's known about this remarkable group and crafts it all into a handy, informative overview.
Open Letters
-
Spinosaurus and relatives are some of the strangest flesh-eating dinosaurs and they are contenders with T. rex for the title of scariest dinosaur. Hone and Witton provide an authoritative account of the recent rush of new specimens and news research that seeks to understand how these remarkable animals hunted and swam.
Michael J. Benton, author Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World
























