"Nature's Metal Side: 79 Shocking Pictures and Illustrations"

A list of 79 pictures and illustrations of extinct creatures, including dinosaurs, bugs, reptiles, and rodents, showcases the exceptional size and features of these creatures. Paleontologists study fossils to understand the history of life, and some of the first fossils recognized as dinosaur remains date back to the 1830s. While most fossilized remains are of beings that have been long gone for ages, some species of animals became extinct as recently as just a few years ago. Nearly 41,500 species are included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, more than 16,000 of which are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and over-exploitation of wildlife for commercial purposes.