Reveals the fascinating behaviors and social lives of dinosaurs. What do we truly know about the intelligence of dinosaurs? In What Did Dinosaurs Think About? paleontologist Jean Le Loeuff takes us beyond these captivating animals' cinematic portrayals in Jurassic Park to illustrate how these creatures truly lived, hunted, socialized, and survived. Based on the latest paleontological discoveries, Le Loeuff examines dinosaur intelligence, social behaviors, and sensory experiences, offering a fresh view of their world. Could T. rex truly smell its prey from miles away? How did Triceratops and Velociraptors interact with each other and their environments? And could some dinosaurs communicate with sounds-or even colors? With advancements like CT scans and 3D imaging, scientists are uncovering new insights into dinosaur brains, senses, and vocalizations. Le Loeuff explores topics like the intricate structure of the dinosaur brain, the colors and patterns of their skin, and what their fossilized footprints reveal about their social lives. Readers will also learn how today's birds and reptiles provide clues to the habits and behaviors of their ancient relatives. From the scaly giants that roamed prehistoric landscapes to the swift predators that stalked their prey under moonlight, this fascinating book offers a captivating glimpse into the lives of these extraordinary animals.
Jean Le Loeuff is the director of the Musee des Dinosaures d'Esperaza and the author of T.rex Superstar.
Series Editor's Foreward Introduction: The Life of Dinosaurs, from Cinema to Science 1. Dinosauria: Preliminary Concepts 1.1. Dinosaurs' Placement on the Vertebrate Family Tree 2. Dinosaur Meninges 2.1. Iguanodon at the Beach 2.2. And One, and Two, and Three Brains 2.3. Measuring Intelligence 2.4. Encephalization Quotient and Its Variants 2.5. Walnut-Sized 3. In Search of Lost Senses 3.1. The Scent of Hadrosaurs in the Air 3.2. See T. rex and Die 3.3. The Soprano and the Raptor 3.4. The Song of the Dinosaurs 3.5. Ampelosaurus Couldn't Say No 3.6. Tyrannosaur Kisses 3.7. Dinosaur Nociception 3.8. Argentinosaurus's Siesta 4. Mesozoic Sociology 4.1. Antisocial Dinosaurs 4.2. Lifelong Groups 4.3. The Cretaceous Wildebeest 4.4. Youth Gangs 4.5. Recognition Signals 4.6. Hunting 4.7. Absence of Proof and Proof of Absence 4.8. Defense Strategies 4.9. Parasaurolophus's Dietary Supplements 4.10. Tongue-Tied 5. Banter Between Lovers 5.1. Courtship Rituals 5.2. The Age of Consent 5.3. Mating 5.4. The Interior of a Dinosaur's Cloaca 5.5. After Love 5.6. Heyuannia's Blue Eggs 5.7. Good Mothers 5.8. Life in the Egg 5.9. Did T. rex Play? An Outlandish Hypothesis 5.10. Painful Lessons Final Thoughts The Dinosaur Family Tree : The Very First Dinosaur : Theropods : Sauropodomorphs : Thyreophorans : Ornithopods : Marginocephalians Acknowledgements Notes
Reveals the fascinating behaviors and social lives of dinosaurs.
Entertaining and erudite, What Did Dinosaurs Think About? provides us with the current state of knowledge about the intelligence, perception, and behavior of these animals. -Delphine Chayet, praise for the French edition, Le Figaro We mammals perceive the world in our own way. But what was it like for the dinosaurs, who ruled the earth millions of years ago? That's what Jean Le Loeuff invites us to discover in What Did Dinosaurs Think About? He draws on the latest scientific research, yet his tone is anything but academic, finding the right balance between scholarship and playful wit. -Herve Morin, praise for the French edition, Le Monde Thanks to Le Loeuff-both knowledgeable and mischievously funny-the reader will learn everything there is to know about these enormous beasts: their tiny brains, their voices, their diseases, and their sexuality. -Jean-Claude Perrier, praise for the French edition, Livres Hebdo
