{"title":"Michael J. Benton","description":"\u003cp\u003eMichael J. Benton offers an insightful exploration into the ancient world through detailed works on dinosaurs, their behaviour, and the broader context of vertebrate palaeontology. His books blend scientific rigour with accessible writing, making complex topics in \u003cem\u003escience and nature\u003c\/em\u003e approachable for readers fascinated by Earth’s prehistoric life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCovering themes from mass extinctions to evolutionary history, Benton's writings serve both educational and reference purposes. They provide a compelling journey through geological time, appealing to those interested in natural history and the ever-changing story of life on our planet.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"extinctions-by-michael-j-benton-9780500025468","title":"Extinctions","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA journey through the great mass-extinction events that have shaped our Earth.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on the latest research, this timely and original book lays out the current scientific understanding of mass extinction on our planet. Cutting-edge techniques across biology, chemistry, physics and geology have transformed our knowledge of the deep past, including the discovery of a previously unknown mass extinction. This compelling evidence, revealing a series of environmental crises resulting in the near-collapse of life on Earth, illuminates our current dilemmas in exquisite detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the oldest, Professor Michael J. Benton takes us through the 'big five' die-outs: the Late Ordovician, which set the evolution of the first animals on an entirely new course; the late Devonian, apparently brought on by global warming; the cataclysmic End-Permian, also known as the Great Dying, which wiped out over 90% of all life on Earth; and, book-ending the age of the dinosaurs, the newly discovered Carnian Pluvial Event and the End-Cretaceous asteroid. He examines how global warming, acid rain, ocean acidification, erupting volcanoes and meteorite impact have affected conditions on Earth, the drastic consequences for global ecology, and how life in turn survived, adapted and evolved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBenton's expert retelling of the scientific breakthroughs are illustrated throughout with photographs of fossils and fieldwork, scenes from the laboratory and artistic reconstructions of ancient environments that bring us face to face with long-lost life forms. We learn how scientists have developed revolutionary new tools to uncover ancient extinction events and processes in forensic detail, how they model evolving systems, and how they are honing their methods to improve our understanding of the deep past. New research allows us to link long-ago upheavals to crises in our current age, the Anthropocene, with important consequences for us all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46832882155756,"sku":"9780500025468","price":60.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/75543482366.jpg?v=1758419236"},{"product_id":"the-dinosaurs-rediscovered-by-michael-j-benton-9780500295533","title":"The Dinosaurs Rediscovered","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you want to know how we know what we know about dinosaurs, read this book! Steve Brusatte\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'I defy anyone who is, like me, a non-scientist to read it and not feel a sense of wonder' Tom Holland, Guardian\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStartling new fossil finds are the lifeblood of modern palaeobiology. Giant sauropod dinosaur skeletons from Patagonia, dinosaurs with feathers from China, and even a tiny dinosaur tail in Burmese amber—complete down to every detail of its filament-like feathers, skin, bones and mummified tail muscles—inspire awe in a global audience enthralled by the idea of these great creatures walking the earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDinosaurs are of perennial interest to all ages, as illustrated by the huge range of dino-themed films, books and live attractions, from the enduring popularity of the Jurassic Park franchise to the success of London's immersive 'Dinosaurs in the Wild' experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the past twenty years, dinosaur study has changed from natural history to testable science. New technologies have revealed secrets locked in the bones in a way nobody predicted—we can now work out the colour of dinosaurs, their bite forces, speeds, and parental care, as well as how they came to die out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis groundbreaking book, \u003cem\u003eThe Dinosaurs Rediscovered\u003c\/em\u003e, illustrates how science has replaced speculation and how our understanding of dinosaurs and their world has completely changed. The subject has never been so vigorous, has never changed so fast, and has never been so attractive to so many.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House Distribution","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46833619927276,"sku":"9780500295533","price":48.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2776193482366.jpg?v=1758469028"},{"product_id":"dinosaurs-by-michael-j-benton-9780500298046","title":"Dinosaurs","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn illustrated guide to our astonishing new understanding of dinosaurs, with the latest science and the most accurate and visually stunning palaeoart.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDinosaurs\u003c\/em\u003e are not what you thought they were - or at least, they didn't look like you thought they did. The world-leading palaeontologist Michael J. Benton brings us a new visual guide to the world of the dinosaurs, showing how rapid advances in technology and amazing new fossil finds have changed the way we see dinosaurs forever.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStunning new illustrations from palaeoartist Bob Nicholls display the latest and most exciting scientific discoveries in vibrant colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNo book before this has been so rigorous in its use of new data that finally tell us how dinosaurs actually looked. From Sinosauropteryx, the first dinosaur to have its colour patterns identified - a ginger and white striped tail - by Benton's team at Bristol University in 2010, to the recent research on the mixed feathers and scales of Kulindadromeus, this is the first book to be based on cutting-edge scientific research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEach chapter focuses on one particular species, featuring a specially commissioned illustration that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs, with accompanying text exploring how palaeontologists have become able to determine new details such as the patterns on skin and the colours of feathers of animals that lived millions of years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a visual compendium to surprise and challenge everything you thought you knew about what dinosaurs looked like and how they lived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46854456049900,"sku":"9780500298046","price":61.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/0efd88c7c407ebd8e74e377e30541cc9.jpg?v=1759269939"},{"product_id":"extinctions-by-michael-j-benton-9780500298633","title":"Extinctions","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eExtinctions\u003c\/em\u003e is a journey through the great mass-extinction events that have shaped our Earth: 'Deeply informed and readable' \u003cem\u003eNature\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this vast sweep of our Earth's history, Michael Benton brings the deep past to life as never before. Deploying the cutting-edge tools in biology, chemistry, physics, and geology that are transforming our understanding of previous environmental cataclysms—including the incredible new discovery of a hitherto unknown extinction event—he uncovers not only their lethal effects but also the processes that brought about such large-scale destruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the oldest extinction, Benton investigates the Late Ordovician, which set the evolution of the first animals on an entirely new course; the late Devonian, brought on by global warming; the cataclysmic End-Permian, which wiped out over 90 per cent of all life on Earth; and, book-ending the age of the dinosaurs, the newly discovered Carnian Pluvial Event and the End-Cretaceous asteroid. He examines how global warming, acid rain, ocean acidification, erupting volcanoes, and meteorite impacts have affected conditions on Earth, the drastic consequences for global ecology, and how life in turn survived, adapted, and evolved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis expert retelling of scientific breakthroughs allows us to link long-ago upheavals to our modern crises. As today's climate scientists and political leaders grapple with understanding these processes and our planet enters the sixth great extinction, these insights from the past may hold the key to survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46986259366124,"sku":"9780500298633","price":47.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2807193482366.jpg?v=1762996743"},{"product_id":"introduction-to-paleobiology-and-the-fossil-record-by-michael-j-benton-9781119272854","title":"Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIntroduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record\u003c\/em\u003e presents a comprehensive overview of the science of the history of life. Paleobiologists bring many analytical tools to bear in interpreting the fossil record. The book introduces the latest techniques, from multivariate investigations of biogeography and biostratigraphy to engineering analysis of dinosaur skulls, and from homeobox genes to cladistics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll the well-known fossil groups are included, including microfossils and invertebrates. An important feature is the thorough coverage of plants, vertebrates, and trace fossils, together with discussion of the origins of both life and the metazoans. Key related subjects are introduced, such as systematics, ecology, evolution and development, and stratigraphy, and their roles in understanding where life came from and how it evolved and diversified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnique features of the book include numerous case studies from current research that lead students to the primary literature, analytical and mathematical explanations and tools, together with associated problem sets and practical schedules for instructors and students.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNew to this edition:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe text and figures have been updated throughout to reflect current opinion on all aspects.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eNew case studies illustrate the chapters, drawn from a broad distribution internationally.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eChapters on Macroevolution, Form and Function, Mass extinctions, Origin of Life, and Origin of Metazoans have been entirely rewritten to reflect substantial advances in these topics.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThere is a new focus on careers in paleobiology.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000652120300,"sku":"9781119272854","price":126.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13675603482586.jpg?v=1763293831"},{"product_id":"when-life-nearly-died-by-michael-j-benton-9780500291931","title":"When Life Nearly Died","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome 250 million years ago, 90% of life on earth was wiped out. It was the greatest mass extinction ever. What caused this catastrophe? In this revised and expanded edition of a classic account, Michael J. Benton assesses the competing claims for a meteorite impact or a volcanic eruption in Siberia and brings the story thoroughly up to date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHundreds of geologists and palaeontologists have been investigating all aspects of this astonishing event, conducting fieldwork around the world, especially in South China and Russia. New details allow us to demonstrate the close tie between the acid rain crisis on land and the anoxia in the oceans. Importantly, our view of the timing of the crisis has advanced enormously, with not only far greater precision in dating, but also the demonstration that there were two peaks of extinction, and then repeated crises for 5 million years afterwards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA great deal of new research has focused also on the slow recovery of life to a more normal state. New sections explore how the great Mesozoic sea dragons became established at the tops of the marine food pyramids, and how, unexpectedly, the crisis set in motion one of the greatest events in palaeontological history: the origin of the dinosaurs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Thames and Hudson (Australia) Pty Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072394969324,"sku":"9780500291931","price":48.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/221f77c1b13681fbfa72e36813ef4c5b.jpg?v=1765103589"},{"product_id":"vertebrate-palaeontology-by-michael-j-benton-9781394195084","title":"Vertebrate Palaeontology","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAll-new edition of the world’s leading vertebrate palaeontology textbook, now addressing key evolutionary transitions and ecological drivers for vertebrate evolution.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRichly illustrated with colour illustrations of the key species and cladograms of all major vertebrate taxa, \u003ci\u003eVertebrate Palaeontology\u003c\/i\u003e provides a complete account of the evolution of vertebrates, including macroevolutionary trends and drivers that have shaped their organs and body plans, key transitions such as terrestrialization, endothermy, flight, and impacts of mass extinctions on biodiversity and ecological drivers behind the origin of chordates and vertebrates, their limbs, jaws, feathers, and hairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis revised and updated fifth edition features numerous recent examples of breakthrough discoveries in line with the current macroevolutionary approach in palaeontology research, such as the evolutionary drivers that have shaped vertebrate development. Didactical features have been enhanced and include new functional and developmental feature spreads, key questions, and extensive references to useful websites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by a leading academic in the field, \u003ci\u003eVertebrate Palaeontology\u003c\/i\u003e discusses topics such as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ePalaeozoic fishes, including Cambrian vertebrates, placoderms (‘armour-plated monsters’), Pan-Chondrichthyes such as sharks and rays, and Osteichthyes (‘bony fishes’).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eThe first tetrapods, covering problems of life on land, diversity of Carboniferous tetrapods, and temnospondyls and reptiliomorphs following the Carboniferous.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eMesozoic reptiles, such as Testudinata (turtles), Crocodylomorpha, Pterosauria, Dinosauria, great sea dragons, and Lepidosauria (lizards and snakes).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eMammals of the southern and northern hemispheres, covering Xenarthra (sloths, anteaters), Afrotheria (African mammals), Laurasiatheria (bats, ungulates, carnivores), and Euarchontoglires (rodents, primates).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA highly comprehensive and completely up-to-date reference on vertebrate evolution, \u003ci\u003eVertebrate Palaeontology\u003c\/i\u003e is an ideal learning aid for palaeontology courses in biology and geology departments. The text is also highly valuable to enthusiasts who want to experience the flavour of how modern research in the field is conducted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47433260237036,"sku":"9781394195084","price":133.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781394195084.jpg?v=1774765319"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/michael-j-benton.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}