Water Reptiles of the Past and Present

"Water Reptiles of the Past and Present" by Samuel Wendell Williston is a deep study of water reptiles, both those that exist today and those that only exist as fossils. The book shares Williston's experiences digging up ancient reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs. It aims to teach people about these creatures without making things too complicated, while still being correct about the science. The book starts by talking about what people usually get wrong about reptiles and clarifies that there is much more to know, including how reptiles, amphibians, and mammals are linked. These early chapters set the stage for later discussions that get into the details of how reptiles are categorized, how their bodies work, and what we know from fossils.