A comprehensive new reference book that gives fascinating insight into the world of dinosaurs and other prehistoric beasts. Researched and compiled by a team of experts in dinosaurs and other prehistoric life, DK's Dinosaur Encyclopedia answers thousands of intriguing questions about the dangerous world of dinosaurs. It presents an amazing variety of creatures, including early flying reptiles, the first fist, and the ape-like animals that set the scene for the evolution of the first humans. See the ferocious T-rex battle a gentle therizinosaur, or witness a giant, ground-dwelling bird chasing an early horse -- frighteningly realistic models and exceptional photography transport you straight into this ancient and terrifying world. Magnificent full-page reconstructions of prehistoric environments show these fascinating creatures in their natural habitats, from the Silurian seas to the grasslands of Pliocene America. This superb encyclopedia is divided into sections according to cladistics, making it easy to understand how different groups of animals evolved from common ancestors. A useful introduction provides an overview to understand fossils and evolution, followed by extensive sections covering different groups of prehistoric animals. Easy-to-use timeline bars on each page allow quick identification of the time period featured. At-a-glance scale indicators and fact boxes combine to provide the essentials on the prehistoric world. In addition, there is a comprehensive reference section providing a survey of the geological timescale, a biography section covering leading paleontologists, and an accessible glossary and index, making this a truly remarkable and compelling guide to all things prehistoric.