A marvelously illustrated look at the fossil evidence of color in extinct life, from dinosaurs and mammoths to ancient insects and plants—revealing the amazing technologies and fossils that allow us to visualize the prehistoric world in more detail than ever

The colors of dinosaurs and other extinct organisms are typically considered as being lost to time. Rare fossils, however, contain remnants of ancient pigments or structures that manipulated light to create color, allowing scientists to make predictions about the hues and patterns of species extinct for millions of years. The study of such fossils, first collected centuries ago, has been revolutionized in recent decades as new technology has allowed for increasingly sophisticated assessments of colors in dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles, as well as fish, mammals, invertebrates, and even plants and microbes. This book explores the evolution of color across billions of years of evolution, explaining how extinct color palettes can be reconstructed as well as what details still elude us. Written and illustrated by one of the world’s leading paleoartists, The Color of Dinosaurs blends an artist’s eye for the nature with a paleontologist’s expertise to present prehistoric life as you have never seen it before.

• More than 150 illustrations, photographs, and graphics that showcase the amazing array of color and pattern data found in the fossil record
• Reconstructs extinct species and environments with the hues and tones predicted by paleontological science, showing the appearance of feathered and scaly dinosaurs, flying and swimming reptiles, ancient reefs, Ice Age mammals, the early days of Earth, and more
• Reveals the diverse means used to predict ancient coloration, from analyses of ancient pigments to mapping the distribution of biological color on evolutionary trees, and even using cave paintings to inform depictions of prehistoric mammals
• Outlines the long history and modern science of paleocolor restoration and explores what reconstructing color in ancient organisms tells us about ancient ecology and behavior
• Traces the brilliant diversity of color of the modern natural world to their evolutionary roots

Mark P. Witton is a paleontologist, author, and artist based at the University of Portsmouth. He designs and advises on extinct creatures for films and documentaries, including the hit Apple TV+ series Prehistoric Planet and the Walking with Dinosaurs series, and his artwork is widely featured in books and museums around the world. His books include King Tyrant: A Natural History of Tyrannosaurus rex and Pterosaurs: Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy (both Princeton).