Dinosaurus: A Prehistoric Dictionary -- Rhys Charles, Hardcover

Dinosaurs, fossils, and reptiles, oh my... The whole family can become paleontology experts with this illustrated dictionary of 100+ terms for prehistoric animals!

This delightful prehistoric dictionary defines more than 100 words and phrases alongside informative entries, phonetic spellings to help pronounce the names of prehistoric creatures, and detailed anatomical illustrations.

Meet incredible dinosaurs, from the iconic to the lesser known.

• Carnotaurus This Cretaceous predator from what is now South America is regularly cast as a villain in dinosaur pop culture.

Discover the many prehistoric beasts who coexisted with dinosaurs.

• Pliosaurs With mouths up to 6.5 feet in length filled with 8-inch teeth, these marine reptiles were amongst the most formidable-looking predators the world has ever known.

Break down "deep time" to understand the rise and fall of dinosaurs.

• Carnian Pluvial Event: About 234 million years ago, the rock record shows a huge increase in global rainfall that had staggering implications for the future diversity of life.

Learn about Mesozoic geography and contemporary locations where fossils have been discovered.

• Tanis: A fossil site in North Dakota where remains from the day the asteroid struck are thought to have been discovered.

Learn scientific terms to understand how modern paleontology works

• Melanosomes: Microscopic structures that help detect color in dinosaurs.

The ultimate reference guide to the prehistoric era, Dinosaurus belongs on every dinosaur buff's bookshelf.

Author: Rhys Charles
Publisher: Smithsonian Books
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
ISBN: 9781588347985

About the Author
RHYS CHARLES is the Public Engagement Associate for the Faculty of Science, and Engagement Officer for Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, where he also runs the Bristol Dinosaur Project. Rhys completed his masters degree in Palaeontology & Evolution at Bristol and has previously worked in curation at Bristol Museum, and as a ranger at Bristol Zoo. He is the author of The Little Book of Dinosaurs and Frozen in Time.

SAVANNAH STORM is a freelance illustrator based in the UK.