Larson, P. & K. Carpenter. Eds. 2008. Tyrannosaurus rex, the Tyrant King. - Bloomington, Indiana University Press

Abstract

Over a century has elapsed since Henry Fairfi eld Osborn described the enormous theropod Tyrannosaurus rex. Since that time, it has come to represent the archetypal dinosaur, at once horrifying and fascinating. A symposium in 2005 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its debut convened researchers from around the globe and updated both scientists and the general public on the state of knowledge about the world’s favorite dinosaur. The fruit of this symposium is a comprehensive volume that covers various aspects of the anatomy, biology, and history of the magnifi cent T. rex. The book is edited by Peter Larson, founder of the institute responsible for the discovery of the largest collection of T. rex fossils, and veteran editor Kenneth Carpenter, who has compiled volumes of similar scope about armored dinosaurs, dinosaur babies, and long-necked sauropods. Although not explicitly subdivided as such, the chapters seem logically to be organized into historical perspectives (chapters 1–2), stratigraphic and taphonomic descriptions (chapters 3–6), and integrative biological pieces (chapters 7–20). The fi nal chapter provides a smart, historical epilogue that chronicles the rise of T. rex in popular culture from an unknown fossil to a Cretaceous celebrity. Read more...