A fun, pocket-sized book presenting the remarkable dinosaurs and other creatures that roamed Earth billions of years ago Smithsonian Dinosaurs and Other Amazing Creatures from Deep Time traces the journey of life on Earth from its origins some 4.6 billion years ago. Beginning with the first evidence of life in the form of single-celled microbes, it moves through the Cambrian era's explosion of biodiversity around 540 million years ago through the mass extinction event 252 million years ago that cleared the stage for the first turtles, pterosaurs, and other dinosaurs and mammals of the Triassic era. It offers a rare look at some of the world's most fascinating creatures: from sauropods, the largest creatures to ever walk the land, to the top carnivorous predator Tyrannosaurus rex, as well as the mastodons, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, walrus-whales, and other beasts that seem outlandish to us now. Profiling these and many other fascinating creatures throughout prehistory, the book is sure to delight young dinosaur enthusiasts.

A companion volume to the 3-D "Sea Monsters" film reveals the terrifying predators that lurked in the underwater Cretaceous world, in a volume that also profiles the scientists who study these ancient monsters and the technology that made the film possible.

A fun introduction to prehistoric creatures that are not dinosaurs, and why! Everyone knows what a dinosaur is, right? Well, maybe not. Dinosaurs are actually just one type of extinct animal from prehistoric times. So, what sets them apart? Here, readers are introduced to ten prehistoric animals. Each one looks like a dinosaur. But it’s missing at least one key characteristic of all true dinosaurs. Animal by animal, each of those characteristics is added to a growing list, until, by the end of the book, readers know just what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur! A dinosaur by any other name is . . . not a dinosaur, of course!

"Provides information and step-by-step drawing instructions for 30 dinosaurs"--Provided by publisher.

"Let's explore the prehistoric sea and meet some of the species who lived and swam there."--Back cover.

This book is the most authoritative encyclopedia ever prepared on dinosaurs and dinosaur science. In addition to entries on specific animals such as Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, and Velociraptor, the Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs covers reproduction, behavior, physiology, and extinction. The book is generously illustrated with many detailed drawings and photographs, and includes color pictures and illustrations that feature interpretations of the best known and most important animals. All alphabetical entries are cross-referenced internally, as well as at the end of each entry. The Encyclopedia includes up-to-date references that encourage the reader to investigate personal interests. The most authoritative encyclopedia ever prepared on dinosaurs Includes many detailed drawings, photographs and illustrations in both color and black-and-white Contains comprehensively cross-referenced alphabetical entries with internal references, as well as references at the conclusion of each entry Provides in-depth references, allowing readers to pursue independent interests Includes sixteen plates and 35 color illustrations