Only mammals chew most have complex teeth. Such true mammals did not appear for 100 million years, and these features do not fossilize well, but Brusatte excels in explaining how paleontologists figured matters out. Readers who remember high school biology know that mammals have warm blood, hair, and mammary glands that produce milk. This small lizardlike creature evolved into two major lineages, one eventually becoming reptiles (including birds), the other mammals. In fact, both share a common ancestor that appeared perhaps 325 million years ago. This is correct except that mammals not only succeeded dinosaurs they existed alongside them back to their beginning.

According to the popular belief, dinosaurs ruled the Earth until they were wiped out by a meteor strike 65 million years ago, whereupon mammals succeeded them.

However, mammals are his first love, and this delightful account will convert many readers. Another outstanding work of paleontology from the author of The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs.ĭinosaurs fascinate everyone, and Brusatte, professor of paleontology and adviser to the Jurassic World film franchise, has named more than 15 new species.

Steve brusatte dinosaurs