Many of us have seen dinosaur bones and skeletons, maybe even dinosaur eggs...but what did those fearsome animals really look like in the flesh? Soft-tissue fossils give tantalizing clues about the appearance and physiology of the ancient animals. In this exciting book, paleontologist Phillip Manning presents the most astonishing dinosaur fossil excavations of the past 100 years—including the recent discovery of a remarkably intact dinosaur mummy in the Badlands of North Dakota.

Bone structure is just the beginning of our knowledge today, thanks to amazing digs like these. Drawing on new breakthroughs and cutting-edge techniques of analysis, Dr. Manning takes us on a thrilling, globe-spanning tour of dinosaur mummy finds—from the first such excavation in 1908 to a baby dinosaur unearthed in 1980, from a dino with a heart in South Dakota to titanosaur embryos in Argentina. And he discusses his own groundbreaking analysis of "Dakota," discovered by Tyler Lyson.

Using state-of-the-art technology to scan and analyse this remarkable discovery, National Geographic and Dr. Manning create an incredibly lifelike portrait of Dakota. The knowledge to be gained from this exceedingly rare find, and those that came before it, will intrigue dinosaur-loving readers of all ages.

Dr. Phillip Manning teaches vertebrate paleontology and evolution at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He has built an international reputation for his work on dinosaur trackways and biomechanics, with extensive field experience at Jurassic and Cretaceous sites in North and South America and the British Isles. He is recognized for his leading role in engaging the public’s interest in the wonders of science.

Publisher: National Geographic Society
Distributor: Random House, Inc.
Publication Date: 01-08-2008
Pages: 320
Measurements: 9.3in X 6.24in X 1.15in X 1.315lb