Mark Paul Witton

The giant sail-backed carnivorous dinosaur Spinosaurus is one of the most famous of all dinosaurs; a staple of documentaries, books and video games, and the beast that bested the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex in Jurassic Park III. But what do we actually know about this crocodile-headed monster and its relatives, the spinosaurs? The spinosaurs were some of the strangest predatory dinosaurs, combining a long low skull with powerfully clawed hands. Some species had huge sails over their backs, as well as fin-like tails. A great deal of scientific mystery surrounds them. Their fossil remains are highly fragmentary, many aspects of their appearance uncertain, their evolutionary relationships elusive, and interpretations of their ecology and behaviour are hotly contested. Spinosaur Tales explores the exciting, sometimes controversial world of spinosaur science. Bringing these creatures back to life with stunning illustrations, world-renowned palaeontologists David Hone and Mark P. Witton present the latest views on the evolution, anatomy and lifestyles of an enigmatic yet charismatic dinosaur group.

Extinct worlds live again in palaeoart: artworks of fossil animals, plants and environments carefully reconstructed from palaeontological and geological data. Such artworks are widespread in popular culture, appearing in documentaries, museums, books and magazines, and inspiring depictions of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals in cinema. This book outlines how fossil animals and environments can be reconstructed from their fossils, explaining how palaeoartists overcome gaps in fossil data and predict 'soft-tissue' anatomies no longer present around fossil bones. It goes on to show how science and art can meet to produce compelling, interesting takes on ancient worlds, and it explores the goals and limitations of this popular but rarely discussed art genre. --Back Cover

304 pages of stunning illustrated, scientifically accurate, and dynamically designed content. This book allows you to flood your games with palaeontology-themed content and also provide digestible scientific information about our world’s past. The book includes: - 57 new Mesozoic creatures with dynamic stat blocks, with a further 55 alternative magical variants. - 20 new Mesozoic plant species with in-game rules. - 20 new palaeontology-themed NPCs. - 6 new playable races. - 3 new subclasses. - 3 new backgrounds. - 4 holistic environments with in-game effects. - 8 new feats. - 30 new items. - Plot hooks and story ideas. - Tables for evolutionary mutations. - Tables for realistic behaviour. - Tables for naming dinosaurs. - Rules for taming and riding dinosaurs. - An introduction to palaeontology and palaeontological reconstructions. - Stunning full-page artwork.