Dinosaurs of the Isle of Wight edited by David Martill and Darren Naish, The
Paleontological Association, 拢16
A HOLIDAY spot for a palaeontologist? Unlikely as it sounds, an unassuming
little island off the coast of southern England could be ideal. You might find
more dinosaur remains in the badlands of the American West, the Gobi Desert or
the wilds of Patagonia, but only a few people want to spend vacations in utterly
remote desolation. The Isle of Wight hides a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils
in its coastal rocks, exposed as the sea continually erodes the cliffs. 鈥淣o
other site in Europe yields dinosaurs in such profusion,鈥� say palaeontologists
David Martill and Darren Naish.
Dinosaurs doesn鈥檛 stop at the water line. It puts the island in context,
showing where the same rock formation is exposed in England, as well as where
its dinosaurs fit into the overall scheme of evolution.
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Field guides are a special tradition of the earth sciences. Their contents
are often exhaustive, and they can be exhausting to read鈥攂ut they鈥檙e not,
of course, intended to be digested all at one go. Martill and Naish have compiled
an excellent one.
An abundance of clear line drawings and sharp black-and-white photos
illustrate and identify the fossils. The terminology can be hard going for
novices, but the authors include a glossary that cuts through the verbal
thickets. If you鈥檙e curious about the dinosaurs that wandered the island, or the
teeth and bones they left behind, this will answer your questions. It鈥檚 a
must-have if you鈥檙e a serious amateur or professional.