friesen@psivax.UUCP (Stanley Friesen) (09/19/85)
Today I will give brief reviews of three publications that
are essentially just lists of dinosaurs. Two are popular publications,
the third is a professional one(though it is not in a real refereed
journal).
"The New Dinosaur Dictionary"
by Donald F. Glut
Citadel Press, 1982
This is a remarkably accurate and up to date dictionary containing all
genera of dinosaurs known at the time of publication. It also includes
all names given to dinosaur or dinosaur-like footprints. It includes
reproductions of many pictures and illustrations from other sources,
including a number of excellent recent reconstructions. Of some
importance is the fact that, in areas of significant dispute, the book
remains quite noncommittal - leaving the conclusion open. The
disadvantage of this is that it often leaves the relationships and
significance of some forms rather obscure. This book is thus a good
*starting* place for tracing down information about some type of
dinosaur, since the few statements actually made can generally be
relied upon. But for greater detail or deeper understanding some other
source is necessary.
"A Field Guide to the Dinosaurs"
by David Lambert
Avon Books, 1983
Also a very up-to-date and complete list of dinosaur taxa. Often more
detail is given than in the previous book, including a tentative,
complete classification. An excellent source for at least one set of
conceptions about the relationships among the various forms. Of course
in pinning these matters down it is not as noncommittal as Glut's book,
making it less reliable in the long run. One of the most outstanding
features of this book is the inclusion of silhouettes showing the
*relative* *sizes* of the genera in each family. These sihouettes are
*not* intended to show the actual shape of the organisms, as can be
seen by noticing that for many families all the silhouettes are
absolutely identical except for size. In most cases they seem to be
based on the best known genus in the family.
"The Archosaurian Taxa, (excluding Crocodylia)"
by George Olshevsky
in "Mesozoic Meanderings", 1978
(Available from G&T Enterprises
260 Wellesley St #2203
Ontario, Canada M4X 1G6)
This is a complete taxonomic listing of all *species* of Archosaurs,
including those now considered junior synonyms of other species. In
fact the pamphlet provides a complete synonymy for all forms. By
including the information from the addendum and three supplements it
can be brought almost up-to-date(ca. 1981). It is a rather technical
paper, being nothin but a taxonomic listing in the form used in
professional taxonomic publications. If you know how to read these,
however, it can be quite informative. Since this mode of listing
includes the author and date of each taxon, you can even track down
the original descriptions for each(with enough effort). The main
problem I found was having to wade through all those supplements to
get the current status of any taxon(since any taxon may appear in the
supplements, if it has changed status). Another minor problem, more of
a nit really, is that Dr Olshevsky consistantly fails to apply the
Rule of Priority with regard to species described on the basis
inadequate material. This is clearly in violation of the official
Rules of Zoological Nomenclature. So for those of you who are
interested in a less "dramatic" presentation of some real data, this
is a really excellent place to start.
(The whole bundle, with all supplements, costs about $3.00)
--
Sarima (Stanley Friesen)
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