Dinosaur Planet

by Anne McCaffrey

A survey team visits fictional planet Ireta to survey its mineral wealth. Several anomalies are discovered, including some decidedly large animals that resemble prehistoric beings from Earth's history and legend. Before all can be explained, the Heavyworlder "muscle people" mutiny after gaining a taste for flesh and blood.

The Death of Sleep is a prequel to this book, and the fourth section delivers the characters to Ireta, intersecting some of the same plot points.