For 150 million years the skies didn't belong to birds--they belonged to the pterosaurs. These flying reptiles which include the pterodactyls shared the world with the nonavian dinosaurs until their extinction 65 million years ago. Some pterosaurs such as the giant azhdarchids were the largest flying animals of all time with wingspans exceeding thirty feet & standing heights comparable to modern giraffes. This richly illustrated book takes an unprecedented look at these astonishing creatures presenting the latest findings on their anatomy ecology & extinction. Pterosaurs features some 200 stunning illustrations including original paintings by Mark Witton & photos of rarely seen fossils. After decades of mystery paleontologists have finally begun to understand how pterosaurs are related to other reptiles how they functioned as living animals & despite dwarfing all other flying animals how they managed to become airborne. Here you can explore the fossil evidence of pterosaur behavior & ecology learn about the skeletal & soft-tissue anatomy of pterosaurs & consider the newest theories about their cryptic origins. This one-of-a-kind book covers the discovery history paleobiogeography anatomy & behaviors of more than 130 species of pterosaur & also discusses their demise at the end of the Mesozoic. The most comprehensive book on pterosaurs ever published Features some 200 illustrations including original paintings by the author Covers every known species & major group of pterosaurs Describes pterosaur anatomy ecology behaviors diversity & more Encourages further study with 500 references to primary pterosaur literature