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Prehistoric Australasia

Visions of Evolution and Extinction
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Prehistoric Australasia is a fascinating exploration of the ancient natural history and lost ecosystems of Australasia. The book delves into the diverse and unique prehistoric life forms that once roamed this part of the world. It seamlessly combines scientific insights with captivating illustrations to bring this vanished epoch to life, offering readers an intriguing glimpse into the past landscapes and creatures of the region.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this fascinating dive into the prehistoric world of Australasia if you are intrigued by palaeontology and the ancient life forms that once roamed the region. It's perfect for readers captivated by the mysteries of evolution and the rich tapestry of Australia's ancient past, offering detailed insights from leading experts in the field.

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Discover some of the most extraordinary prehistoric creatures the world has ever seen.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

For most of the past 300 million years, the world's continents were interlinked as the supercontinents Pangaea and then Gondwana. Around 50 million years ago, Australia tore itself free from Antarctica to become the huge, splendidly isolated island it is today. Over time, its creatures began to evolve in ways not seen anywhere else on Earth, with tree-climbing crocodiles, gigantic venomous lizards, walking omnivorous bats and flesh-eating kangaroos roaming the continent.

Prehistoric Australasia: Visions of Evolution and Extinction presents some of the most extraordinary creatures the world has ever seenβ€” all unique to Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and their surrounding islands.

Over 100 meticulously painted panoramas by palaeoartist Peter Schouten are accompanied by descriptions of the unique environments and features of these animals, written by four of Australia's foremost palaeontologists. This book explores the nature and timing of extinction events in the Southern Hemisphere, considers whether some of these losses might be able to be reversed, and how we can use the fossil record to help save today's critically endangered species.

Through stunning artwork and fascinating text, Prehistoric Australasia brings this globally unique transformation over time to glorious, colourful life.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Prehistoric Australasia vividly brings more than 500 million years of evolution across the continent to life, beautifully illustrated by the palaeo artist Peter Schouten. Cosmos praises the artwork's ability to illuminate this extensive evolutionary history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780643108059

Publisher: CSIRO Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 03 April 2023

Country: Australia

Imprint: CSIRO Publishing

Illustration: 110 colour illustrations, 27 maps

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Peter Schouten

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 200.0mm

Height: 260.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 1459

About the Author

Michael Archer, Professor at UNSW Sydney, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, a Member of the Order of Australia and a recipient of the Romer-Simpson Medal of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Suzanne J. Hand, Emeritus Professor at UNSW Sydney, has described more than 125 new fossil taxa. She is a Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales and the Royal Society of New South Wales.

John Long is Strategic Professor in Palaeontology at Flinders University, and the author of many scientific publications as well as popular and scientific books.

Trevor H. Worthy, Associate Professor at Flinders University, is a global authority on fossil birds, and an Elected Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union.

Peter Schouten is a wildlife illustrator and palaeoartist who has co-authored or illustrated many popular and scientific books over the past 50 years.

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