Looking forward to reading “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs”.  This book explores the real behaviours of prehistoric animals as revealed in remarkable fossils.  Written by Dr Dean Lomax and with beautiful illustrations by palaeo-reconstruction artist Bob Nicholls, it tells the real-world stories of creatures that lived in the past.  The book has been endorsed by Slash of Guns N’ Roses fame.

The front cover of “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs” by Dr Dean Lomax which is beautifully illustrated by palaeo-reconstruction artist Bob Nicholls. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

“The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs”

The book is published by Columbia University Press and is a follow-up to the hugely successful “Locked in Time” that was published a couple of years ago.  After a short prologue, our accomplished author takes us on an exploration of the lives of prehistoric animals covering subjects like diets, finding food, eggs, babies and reproduction.  Despite the title, there is a veritable smorgasbord of prehistoric animals featured.

Various aspects of behaviour are revealed using remarkable fossils and exquisite illustrations.

A female ammonite deposits her fertilised eggs whilst her mate, the much smaller male, strokes her shell. The opposite page shows examples of ammonite egg sacs and other fossil evidence. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Visit the publisher’s website and search for author Dean Lomax to order: Columbia University Press Website.

Dinosaur Dung and Digestion

For Dean and illustrator Bob Nicholls it has been a busy time.  For example, both have pursued numerous projects including collaborating with Everything Dinosaur with the development of the Everything Dinosaur Evolution 1:33 scale Tyrannosaurus rex figure.  The display base features a tyrannosaur coprolite and in “The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs” the fossil evidence, a whopping forty-four centimetres in length is discussed in detail.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Occasionally, two projects overlap.  We wanted to include a tyrannosaur coprolite on our model’s display base, and Bob and Dean wanted to feature the remarkable fossil evidence in their highly informative chapter on digestion.”

The Everything Dinosaur Evolution T. rex display base. There is a metal rod to help secure the model to the base. In addition, the base, which represents a dried-up lake contains two tyrannosaur tracks and a pile of dinosaur dung. Both the tracks and dung are based on real fossils. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the Everything Dinosaur Evolution range: Everything Dinosaur Evolution Models.

Distinctive Fossils Provide Remarkable Insights

“The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs” outlines the amazing tales of the lives of prehistoric animals through some of the most remarkable fossil specimens ever found.  These specimens, provide a glimpse into the lives and behaviours of long extinct animals. Author Dean Lomax provides a breathtaking glimpse through a window in deep time, and his engaging writing style and wit keeps the reader entertained and informed.  Dr Lomax’s passion for palaeontology comes across on every page.  The stunning artwork contributed by Bob Nicholls makes this new book a double delight and a worthy sequel to the award-winning “Locked in Time”.

Allosaurus pathology in the famous “Big Al” specimen and a battle-hardened Dilophosaurus feature in the chapter on health and mortality. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

This is a wonderful book.  Aimed at students, dinosaur fans and the general reader, it is highly recommended.