Triassic Life on Land: The Great Transition

Critical Moments and Perspectives in Earth History and Paleobiology

by Hans-Dieter Sues, Nicholas C. Fraser

The Triassic period is generally viewed as the beginning of the Age of Dinosaurs. For paleontologists, however, it also marks the rise of the world's first modern land ecosystems.

Over the past three decades, extensive, worldwide fieldwork has led to the discovery of many new species of Triassic animals and plants, suggesting that faunal and floral changes already began in the Middle Triassic and were more protracted than previously thought. The Late Triassic is a pivotal time in the evolution of life on land, with many of the major groups of present-day vertebrates and insects first appearing in the fossil record. This book provides the first detailed overview of life on land during the Triassic period for advanced students and researchers. Noted vertebrate paleontologists Hans-Dieter Sues and Nicholas C. Fraser also review the biotic changes of this period and their possible causes.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Palaeontology

236 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Miroslav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dobre aj zle zároveň... Dobre, že ide o prvú knihu tematicky sa venujúcu geologickému obdobiu Trias (pred 252-201 miliónmi rokov), o ktorom nevieme my, laici, prakticky nič, hoci dĺžka tohto obdobia je porovnateľná s dĺžkou paleogénu a neogénu dokopy... Cítiť v knihe snahu rozdeliť svet podľa území (Gondwana, Laurázia atď.) a odprezentovať miestnu faunu, čo je veľké plus, ale ako to robí, je jednoducho zle.

V prvom rade, sú názvy zvierat neprehľadne pomiešané na jednej kope a druhá vec, kniha vôbec nepracuje s podobizňami, neporovnáva druhy, veľkosti ani tvary. Keď pracujete s názvami ako dicynodonty, cynodonty, phytosaury, lystrosaury (ani jeden názov nespadá do dinosaurov) a podobne, laik neznalý tematiky si sotva vie predstaviť, o aké zvieratá vlastne ide... kniha asi predpokladá, že ju budú čítať vedecky podkutí jedinci, ale úprimne, podobných kníh trebárs o dinosauroch sú tucty, no na taký štýl si z nich trúflo len minimum. Pri tak neznámych skupinách zvierat sa pokúsiť zaobísť bez vyobrazení a komparácie... tak to bola fakt odvaha

[Donato Colangelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a casual reader, passionate about ancient life, well… this might not be the book for you. The text reads more like a long and detailed technical review of the geology and the fossil record rather than an account of the implications of the discoveries and the current state of the art. I’ll try to make myself clear: the content is amazing, but the book is not destined to normal readers. It is rather an academic essay. It follows that many sections of the book are long and detailed lists of names, geological formations, clusters, horizons etc. The reader is soon lost.
I personally appreciated the first chapters and the last two, where the discussion becomes less academic and more “down to earth”.
Bottom line: if you like to learn but you have not a PhD in paleontology, this book might not be for you.

[Jayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. I adore this book. I am truly worth investigating this book. Whatever by essayist and must recommend for this book.