King tyrant A natural history of Tyrannosaurus rex

Arguably, Tyrannosaurus rex is the best-known dinosaur. With a generous fossil record and a sheer majesty that elicits fascination, the creature undoubtedly deserves a book of its own. Witton (Univ. of Portsmouth, UK) has created a superb one, assembling essentially all that is known about the iconic "king tyrant" and packaging it into seven detailed chapters. Witton's writing and artistic skills, along with the undeniable allure of T. rex, turn a highly scientific book into a page turner. King Tyrant is bountiful with diagrams that detail T. rex anatomy, accompanied by charts, tables, and Witton's amazing artwork. Current topics--e.g., skin characteristics, the presence or absence of filamentous feathering, the use of the seemingly tiny arms, and the presence of lips--are thoroughly discussed and illustrated. There is an outstanding discussion of the likely physiology of T. rex, including an excellent analysis of its growth pattern from juvenile to adult. Topics such as sex, parenting, and face biting are also discussed with illustrated evidence. Witton believes there is sufficient evidence to suggest that T. rex was alive when the asteroid impact occurred, ending the Cretaceous Period and Mesozoic Era. Amazingly imaginative pictures illustrate the event. The book ends with an essay on the afterlife of T. rex. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --John Kricher, emeritus, Wheaton College (MA)