Pterosaurs or flying reptiles were the first vertebrates to evolve flight. These distant relatives of modern reptiles and dinosaurs lived from the Late Triassic (over 200 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago) a span of some 135 million years. When they became extinct, no relatives survived them and as a result these prehistoric animals cannot readily be compared with our modern-day fauna. So what do we know of these highly succsessful animals? The present summary answers this and many more questions based on the most recent results of modern scientific research. After a short introduction to palaeontology as a science and its history related to pterosaurs, it explains what pterosaurs were, when and where they lived, and what they looked like. Topics such as disease, injury and reproduction are also discussed. Separated from this text are 'Mark explains' boxes. Each of these explanations puts one specific species in the spotlight and focuses on its lifestyle. They show how diverse pterosaurs were, from small insectivorous animals with a wingspan of nearly 40 centimetres to the biggest flying animals ever to take to the air, with wingspans of over 10 metres and with a way of life comparable to modern-day storks. The text is illustrated with many full colour photographs and beautiful palaeo-art prepared by experts in the field.

Introduces various winged creatures that lived in the time of the dinosaurs.

This series about dinosaurs covers different types of dinosaur, from the incredibly ferocious T-Rex, to the smaller (but just as deadly) Coelophysis. Children can learn about their anatomy, behaviour, eating habits, and imagine what life might have been like in the prehistoric world in an informative way. It includes Internet links to take children to relevant sites on the Net. It also includes the most up-to-date information on the latest fossil discoveries.

Examines some of the flying reptiles, including the Pteranodon, Sordes, and Tapejara.

Explore the world of dinosaurs--take flight with prehistoric flying creatures! Did you know a Caelestiventus had more than 100 pointy teeth? Or that a Tupandactylus had wings that were made of one long finger bone? Millions of years ago, many strange animals lived on the earth--and some of the most amazing inhabitants were the prehistoric flying creatures! From the tiny and colorful Eurotrochilus to the airplane-sized Quetzalcoatlus, you'll find tons of facts on wild winged dinosaurs and pterosaurs, plus amazing illustrations that give you a look at some of the awesome flying creatures that ruled the air. Beyond Dinosaurs! My First Book About Flying Creatures includes: Dozens of dino-mite facts! Incredible full-color illustrations! Fun, fact-filled profiles on 30 flying creatures! Take a time machine to the world of dinosaurs, and fly alongside the prehistoric flying creatures.

“A tour de force…highlights the odd reptiles that roamed all corners of the earth millions of years ago.”—Sydney Morning Herald From the outback of Australia to the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and the savanna of Madagascar, the award-winning science writer and dinosaur enthusiast John Pickrell embarks on a world tour of new finds, meeting the fossil hunters who work at the frontier of discovery. He reveals the dwarf dinosaurs unearthed by an eccentric Transylvanian baron; an aquatic, crocodile-snouted carnivore bigger than T. rex that once lurked in North African waterways; a Chinese dinosaur with wings like a bat; and a Patagonian sauropod so enormous it weighed more than two commercial jet airliners. Other surprising discoveries hail from Alaska, Siberia, Canada, Burma, and South Africa. Why did dinosaurs grow so huge? How did they spread across the world? Did they all have feathers? What do sauropods have in common with 1950s vacuum cleaners? The stuff of adventure movies and scientific revolutions, Weird Dinosaurs examines the latest breakthroughs and new technologies that are radically transforming our understanding of the distant past. “This history of the discovery of some of the most outlandish creatures that ever lived, and the excitement of paleontological research, will be sure to both entertain and instruct.”—Spencer Lucas, author of Dinosaurs: The Textbook, Sixth Edition “Fascinating.... Readers learn of beautiful opalised dinosaur bones from Australia and a crested dinosaur found approximately 13,000 feet up Antarctica's Mt. Kirkpatrick, demonstrating that dinosaurs were widely distributed across the globe.”—Publishers Weekly

Provides a glimpse into the lives of the flying reptiles, explaining what they were, what they looked like, where they lived, and explores the latest discoveries from paleontologists.

Facts about different kinds of dinosaurs accompany a story about a boy who brings various prehistoric animals to school for show-and-tell.

It is time for young Neffy to go for her first, beautifully illustrated solo flight--but she doesn't know how!

Discusses the physical characteristics and behavior of the flying dinosaurs called pterosaurs and the prehistoric birds that came after them.