There I was talking about the concept of zoogeography: what animals live in what areas and what parts of the world, and why are they different from one another?

Research conducted in the museum covers a wide range of topics — evolution, behaviour, ecology, zoogeography, physiology and biochemistry and taxonomy.

Again, I wanted to do the same sort of thing but, this time, I was aiming to create a popular-level book on zoogeography, using fictitious examples to show what the dinosaurs might perhaps be like if they hadn’t become extinct.

On balance, it was the pushing of the zoogeography – a fairly unfamiliar aspect to so many people – that was the main impetus here.

Were you coming up with the speculative animals first, or were you led by the zoogeography angle?