Chased by Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Predators of the Deep

This fascinating, if somewhat unsophisticated companion volume to the Discovery Channel program showcases some of evolution's most telegenic aspects, namely size and teeth. BBC-TV producers Marven and James (who also collaborated on Walking with Dinosaurs) survey the last half-billion years of marine life to rank the""seven most deadly seas"" (i. e., geological epochs) in order of the scariness of their sea creatures. Marine marauders include yard-long sea-scorpions, giant proto-squids, and the 33-foot, bone-plated, piranha-like Dunkleosteus; top honors goes to the""Hell's aquarium"" of the Cretaceous Period, epitomized by the giant mosasaurs, 56-foot marine reptiles capable of leaping from the sea to spear low-flying pterodactyls. The monsters are brought vividly to life in photo-realistic computer-generated renditions, complete with the wet-suited Marven swimming alongside or peering into their maws from a flimsy shark cage to give a sense of scale and dread. The text highlights hunting techniques and feeding frenzies, but beside the grizzly details is a wealth of paleontological lore about the evolving earth. Readers follow the evolutionary arms races as the top spot in the sea-food pyramid passes from arthropods and molluscs to fish, then reptiles, then mammals; sidebars explore the background of climate change and continental drift, and cast an occasional glance at life on dry land. The book's combination of sensationalism, lurid graphics and solid scientific exposition is well judged to stimulate budding paleontologists.