ABOUT THE GUIDE
AT A GLANCE
12 ANIMAL SPECIES HIGHLIGHTS
325+ IDENTIFIED
FOSSILS
1300+ COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS
PRECISE ANATOMICAL IDENTIFICATIONS
PEER REVIEWED CONTENT
CONTENT OVERVIEW
Fossils found in the beach environment are different from those freshly dug near riverbanks or from roadside cuts, quarries, and construction sites. The difference lies in the fact that beach fossils have been exposed to physical weathering from waves and repeated collisions with shells and other fossils. They therefore often appear as remnants of more intact fossils of the kind typically found in excavated sites. Nevertheless, beach finds contain clearly definable features and often are surprisingly complete. The photos and descriptions in this book reflect these characteristics, including small details, remarkably well.
We hope that the unique format provided in A Beachcomber’s Guide to Fossils helps you come quickly up to speed in beach fossil recognition!
IDENTIFICATION PAGES
The heart of A Beachcomber’s Guide to Fossils occurs within the 325+ fossil Identification Page entries. Sections include Shark Teeth, Bones, Osteoderms, Mouthparts, Teeth, Vertebrae, Miscellaneous, and Look-Alikes (pseudofossils). Differing colored backgrounds and icons representing these features on the upper outside page corners help readers quickly locate the desired identification section.
The major focus is on high-quality photographic images that can be used to facilitate immediate comparison and identification of your fossil samples.
SPECIES HIGHLIGHTS
A series of twelve animal Species Highlights are spaced throughout the guide. Each provides background on the featured animals’ earliest known appearance in the fossil record and the evolutionary paths they followed from ancestral development to their modern descendants. Included are artistic renderings and photos relating to the extinct species. Each animal group has its own fascinating story, and these stories are intended to be interesting and informative.
"DID YOU KNOW?" FACTS
Located at the bottom of each identification page is a fun, short fact about the animal or bone featured on that page. These Did you Know? facts are intended to bring fun, humorous anecdotes into the text so that this book can reach all audiences and learning styles.