Pterosaurs, Mark P. Witton author and illustrator, Princeton University Press, hardcover, 290 pages, amply illustrated, list of references, index, $35.
If you had been around during a very early period of Earth's natural history —100 to 300 million years ago — and had a penchant for listing flying creatures, pterosaurs would have been perfect for you. One-hundred and thirty species known so far, with many distinguishing characteristics. No ID book at that time, but this book will do nicely now.
Pterosaurs flew, but they are not related to birds. They were flying lizards, reptiles with wings.
This is not light reading. Determination is required for the layman. You get to meet, however, a fascinating family of creatures that once dominated the skies. Witton, artist as well as writer, gives the reader a set of pterosaur portraits that draw heavily on supposition and imagination, given the lack of fleshed out models. The paintings are really cool.
And, they would have made a great show-off list.
(I have no photos.)
