Locked in Time: Animal Behavior Unearthed in 50 Extraordinary Fossils

by Dean R. Lomax and Robert Nicholls

Fossils allow us to picture the forms of life that inhabited the earth eons ago. But we long to know more: how did these animals actually behave? We are fascinated by the daily lives of our fellow creatures—how they reproduce and raise their young, how they hunt their prey or elude their predators, and more. What would it be like to see prehistoric animals as they lived and breathed?

From dinosaurs fighting to their deaths to elephant-sized burrowing ground sloths, this book takes readers on a global journey deep into the earth’s past. Locked in Time showcases fifty of the most astonishing fossils ever found, brought together in five fascinating chapters that offer an unprecedented glimpse at the real-life behaviors of prehistoric animals. Dean R. Lomax examines the extraordinary direct evidence of fossils captured in the midst of everyday action, such as dinosaurs sitting on their eggs like birds, Jurassic flies preserved while mating, a T. rex infected by parasites. Each fossil, he reveals, tells a unique story about prehistoric life. Many recall behaviors typical of animals familiar to us today, evoking the chain of evolution that links all living things to their distant ancestors. Locked in Time allows us to see that fossils are not just inanimate objects: they can record the life stories of creatures as fully alive as any today. Striking and scientifically rigorous illustrations by renowned paleoartist Bob Nicholls bring these breathtaking moments to life.

• ISBN10: 0231197284
• ISBN13: 9780231197281
• Publish Date: 18 May 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Columbia University Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 296
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Locked in Time is an engaging layman accessible monograph on function and the behavior of prehistoric animals based on the fossil records written by Dr. Dean R. Lomax. Released 18th May 2021 by Columbia University Press, it's 296 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a really beautifully illustrated and fascinating look at prehistoric animals' behaviors and lives from information gleaned from the fossil records they left behind. The book is layman accessible, and I found it a fascinating read. The chapter bibliographies are well annotated and make for fascinating further reading, but it doesn't get bogged down in overly academic language. This is popular science writing - not a textbook.

The photographs of fossils throughout are fascinating especially with the expert interpretation and extra notes from the author. The thing that elevated the whole book for me were the beautifully and realistically rendered illustrations.

This would make a superlative selection for library acquisition or for fans of science writing, especially those interested in paleontology.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.