Reviews (1)

Technical Descriptions of Cichlids, Some New Types
This book gives technical descriptions of collected (and pickled) specimens, and location information.Drawings of scale patterns and gill arches helped me understand how the work of species identificationis done, when done by specialists in ichthyology. Not a book for aquariumhobbyists until they have had their curiosity roused by the debates overwhich name appliesto which fish.

I read it cover to cover, however. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Comprehensive work on a beautiful, misunderstood predator
Richard Ellis does a wonderful job treating his subject with respect, revealing the Great White Shark as a predator whose reputation is largely undeserved. The book reveals many facets to a powerful animal that can be extremely dangerous to people who intrude upon its domain. But there is no malice toward humans on the shark's behalf, and the book tells it like it is with text that is comprehensive and fun to read. Great White Shark biology is featured in detail, and shark attacks and the reasons behind them (they aren't what most people would think!) are researched with great attention to detail.

The photographs and paintings (done by the author) are superb. Two of the most fascinating sections of the book feature the study of the extinct Charcaradon Megalodon (a massive relative to the Great White whose only earthly remains are fossilized teeth) and the thus-far unsuccessful attempts to keep Great Whites in captivity. The story of "Sandy," a female Great White who was released following an ill-fated tenure in a public aquarium, is actually very touching. It shows how many in the public wished to see the shark's best interests served, while others spoke out against it, seeing only an evil monster.

A wonderful volume on one of nature's most beautiful and infamous creatures.

EXCELLENT BOOK ABOUT MOST MISUNDERSTOOD CREATURE
I found GREAT WHITE SHARK by RICHARD ELLIS to be one of the best books about GREAT WHITES ever written. I can see why STEVE ALTEN the author of MEG recommendeds it. It talks about the GREAT WHITE'S hunting instincts, swimming instincts and breeding instincts with more information about GREAT WHITE'S, like no other book before it. I admit that when I started reading it I thought I would be bored with it quickly, how wrong I was. The book was fascinating and informative, I felt that the author had really done a lot of research about GREAT WHITE SHARKS before writing it. He even goes into the remote possibility of the GREAT WHITE SHARK'S ancestor. The CHARCHRADON MEGLADON"S existence in the modern era. I felt he also researched those sharks greatly as well. All in all this book gives you a greater appreciation of these maginificent creatures and the importance of thier continued survival. If you love sharks this book is definitley a must read.

Comprehensive GW Ref
Excellent, excellent book. Will please anyone from those who are serious students of the GW to shark attack fans (contains a long, comprehensive chapter on GW attacks). Oh yeah, beautiful pictures too, eh.

FANTASTIC
Never have I read such an amazing book dedicated to one particular species of animal. Well written, this book disspells the "Jaws" myths about this spectacular creature. The great white is not a mindless beast that eats just for the hell of it. It is one of the most complex predators on our planet that should be saved from extinction just like the giant panda and mountain gorilla.

A big book for a big subject
From the moment you pick this book up, you know a lot of research has gone into it. Mr Ellis knows his subject. He traces the evolution of sharks in general and the Great White in particular and provides a fascinating and in-depth look at the incredible animal. The photogaphs and diagrams are excellent and the narration is never dull. If you like sharks, then buy this book. You will not regret it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Been waiting for this one!
If the previous "Reef Fish Identification" edition (Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas) is an indicator of this book's quality, I'm all for it! I used to dive in the south Atlantic and used that edition exclusively (after checking out several others) because of the quality of photographs, information, and species coverage. I now dive the south Pacific and have not been satisfied with the current coverage. This book provides a great addition to the Tropical Pacific diver! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

The perfect reference for saltwater anglers !
This book has been a constant companion on nearly all of my fishing trips, regardless of location. I am currently on my second copy- the first was worn out from repeated use ! When a question arises about habitat,water preference, etc., we whip out the ole' McClanes to settle the argument.The pictures offer a true rendition of the fish which aides in rapid identification.The descriptions give vital information, while remaining brief enough to allow the book to function as a true "field" guide.I highly recommend this book to any angler or saltwater fish enthusiasts in need of a pocket guide.

Complete and Comprehensive
This book is very useful in every facet of salt water fishing, from fish physiology and habits to tackle selection. A must for every salt water fisherman.

No saltwater tacklebox is complete without it
McClane's saltwater fish identification guide is a must for every angler -- sunburned beginner or salty old pro -- who casts a line into our bays and oceans. The most outstanding among this guide's many strengths are its clear, concise writing in the description of each fish, and the strikingly life-like, full-color artistic renditions of most of the fish. The fish are organized by family; so where there are related species on the Atlantic and Pacific sides (e.g., among sea bass), the book does jump somewhat to and fro. However, with its thorough index and vivid illustrations, any saltwater angler should be able to locate that "mystery fish" in McClane's within less than a minute. This book accompanied me on every fishing trip in my years of angling in South Florida and the Keys; and many an unknown fish was revealed through McClane's pages. With this book, the difference between sheepshead and spadefish (for example) is obvious -- in feeding habits, location, water preferences and any characteristic of appearance. Whether you catch a Spanish mackeral, ladyfish, jack crevalle or even the ugly (but tasty!) guitarfish, McClanes can teach you all the important information about it, quickly. It's the perfect size for the tacklebox; but be sure to put it in a freezer bag to keep it dry. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1938, an alert young South African museum curator named Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer came upon a curious specimen in a fisherman's nets: a fish with "four limb-like fins and a strange little puppy dog tail," one that she thought resembled not a living being so much as a china ornament. When she could turn up no written descriptions of the find, she turned to other scientists for help, touching off a worldwide wave of interest in the creature that would come to be called the "coelacanth," long thought to be extinct, and now celebrated as one of the world's oldest species.

That interest took many forms, writes journalist Samantha Weinberg in her entertaining and instructive case study in scientific detective work. It spurred the development of new deep-sea craft to explore the farthest reaches of the ocean; it touched off more than one controversy over the coelacanth's lineage, and even over which nation claimed sovereignty over its oceanic haunts; and it launched or advanced the careers of dozens of researchers. The coelacanth continues to make news. In 1998, a young American scholar found a specimen in Indonesia, far from the western Indian Ocean waters where the coelacanth was thought to dwell. Although some scientists decried the discovery as a hoax at worst and an aberration at best, the find showed that the creature's range was widespread. It demonstrated, too, that international cooperation was necessary if the coelacanth were to be protected in the future, "continuing to exist," as Weinberg writes, "after this extraordinary duration of time." --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (21)

It kind of makes you wonder.
I had read an account a few years back about the initial discovery of the coelacanth off the coast of South Africa and the tracking down of its habitat to the waters around Madagascar. It captured my imagination.

It was great to find out that the story didn't end with the Madagascar discovery. Upon reading this book, I was thrilled to hear about the confirmation of coelacanths living off Indonesia. The theory put forth in the book that there might be populations in the Philippines or even off the Atlantic coast of the United States stirs the imagination as well.

The book is very easy to get thru. It gives you just the right amount of scientific information and includes more human elements, namely the stories of the people involved in discovering, studying and protecting the coelacanth.

Something like this definitely makes you wonder. I mean, if a fish that was thought to be extinct for millions of years escaped detection by humanity till the beginning of the twentieth century, what else might still be out there?

A Fish Caught In Time
Samantha Weinberg has written a wonderful book outlining the history of the coelacanth. This "living fossil" fish, which predates the dinosaurs, was believed to have been extinct for millions of years until one was pulled from the sea in 1938. This incredible discovery has been referred to as the "number one zoological find of the twentieth century." The coelacanth, with it's primitive limbs, is a fascinating member of our evolutionary past. Much more than just a fish story, A FISH CAUGHT IN TIME tells an exciting tale of the many individuals involved in expanding our knowledge of the coelacanth--and hopefully preventing it's extinction as we enter the twenty-first century.

This is one of those special books that was hard to put down and ended far too soon!

A wonderful book
This is a wonderfully written book, which blends science with excellent character development and story telling. If you enjoy books that teach you about science, but read like a good novel, then this is a perfect book for you.

It is the story of a serendipitous discovery, and how the passion and perseverance of a few overcame politics, personal egos, and various challenges to preserve a fish. Weinberg wrote a wonderful book; I learned a great deal, and I cannot wait to read her next book.

Behold a Living Dinosaur!
Hairy Hominoids and Big Foot, Giant Fish and Loch Ness Monsters, Gigantic Birds and other strange creatures - Science Screams "Neigh!!, Evolution has made them extinct!" but this book is what proves science wrong. In fact Darwin once believed that in order for evolution to work these relics of the past should be with us today, but he never could prove it. Then in 1938, Marjorie Courtney-Latimer, a museum curator, discovered an odd looking fish on board a trawling boat in South Africa... a fish that was thought extinct for 400 MILLION YEARS!

Could it be that this Coelacanth was nothing more than an artefact of evolution fished up from the depths of some frozen suspended animation? When science searched for populations of this fish it suddenly appeared in the Comoros and then later on near Java. Not only had they found a living fossil but they had also found what could prove to be the missing link.

The Coelacanth, because of its structure is a very good candidate for a fish that could eventually walk on land. Its fins even look like legs. Not only was the Coelacanth a good candidate for reptiles and mammals but as the precursor to mankind and here man holds the Coelacanth in his arms!

The book however is not really about crytozoology. It is all about the Coelacanth, its discovery by Marjorie Courtney-Latimer in 1938, the science and pursuit of the fish that followed as Professor J.L.B Smith sought to find more specimens. The politics of international law and science trying to find and acquire the first live Coelacanth and the subsequent analysis of the Coelacanth underwater in late 20th century by new wave submersibles.

"A Fish Caught in Time" reads like a great adventure story and is a must for anybody looking for a very interesting topic with some red hot escapades to boot. The characters in the search span some 60 years and are all fully fleshed out. It is Coelacanths, Coelacanths and more Coelacanths along the way.

This is a mandatory read for anyone even remotely interested in evolution. It speaks volumes about what science has yet to learn and how many of its 20th century evolutionary claims are in fact clearly wrong and the real scientists are those who the extra mile in the face of blunt reason and logic.

A wonderful book! A wonderful, wonderful book!

Race for a Fish
In a South African town, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, a museum curator, finds a strange fish with unique fins. J.L.B Smith identifies the fish as a coelacanth, which originated from 400 million years ago and thought to become extinct with the dinosaurs. Samantha Weinberg describes how the 'scientific find of the century' triggered debates over evolution. The race for the ancient animal is portrayed with firsthand accounts and entrancing detail in A Fish Caught in Time.

After the scientific world reached word about the coelacanth, expeditions and searches were initiated in hopes of claiming it for themselves. Smith traces the origin to the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean, and generous awards were set up, alerting fishermen of the great creature. Despite a fight between France and South Africa, one and soon several more were discovered through techniques, some derived from a couple amazing inventions by Hans Fricke and others. However, the question of evolution remains: did the coelacanth evolve from the sea to be the first creature to walk on land?

The portrayal of many such questions leads the readers diving through the pages, informed of many new facts but through the element of a story. In fact, the reader can relate to the work as a thriller, pondering, 'what will happen next?' Weinberg clearly displays a love and fascination of the living fossil, using her talent as a British reporter who writes for American, African, and European periodicals and newspapers. From the eyes of renowned people involved with the search of the coelacanth, she shows the arduous process that goes along with a new scientific discovery'having to piece together the facts, finding the money for research funding, and convincing and competing against others. Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer states a problem dealing with the coelacanth, 'It really is a remarkable creature, and I hope that the new interest in it will prompt us to find a way to save it, once and for all.'

On the other hand, the book's chapters are somewhat disconnected from each other, making each seem like a separate narrative. The reader may find that the chapters are too long, the format of the book uncomfortable, and the illustrations do not effectively depict the points attempted to be conveyed.

However, the criticism is minor, and Weinberg does a great job informing the public of the search and discovery of the ancient fish. It is evident that she spent much time on the topic, not even being a scientist. Besides the information scattered across the story, the appendix at the end gives more background information of the coelacanth. In addition, the tale makes me wonder'if a 400 million year old fish had survived all this time, what else is hiding out there? ... Read more

Book Description

An encyclopedic reference for setting up, stocking, and maintaining a saltwater aquarium.

Nothing rivals the color and appeal of a saltwater aquarium. The Complete Encyclopedia of the Saltwater Aquarium simplifies the complexities of setting-up and maintaining a successful saltwater aquarium.

The book illustrates and explains: - Specific characteristics of invertebrates and marine fish- Important differences between tropical and freshwater fish - Choosing a tank: advantages and disadvantages of glass and acrylic, different shapes, and critical construction details - Accessories such as aquarium heaters, lights, and filters - Water testing and maintaining the correct chemical balance

More than half of the book is a directory that covers species from 34 fish families. Details include their characteristics, natural environment, diet and feeding, size range, and aquarium behavior.

Coldwater aquariums are covered in a separate section that shows how to establish an artificial habitat for fish requiring temperate saltwater.

This full-color reference will appeal to saltwater tropical fish enthusiasts at any level. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good book for someone starting the hobby
This is a very good book for saltwater beginners and experts alike. The information on saltwater fish and invertebrates is very accurate and is essential to the success of a reef aquarium. The book also describes the steps of setting up a reef tank, along with maintenance and testing water parameters. I would highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 600 species are described in detail, with more than 525 illustrations. This is the guide for quick, reliable identification of fishes that you'll encounter while fishing, snorkeling, diving, or even strolling along a Pacific Coast beach. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Peterson solid installment.
This Peterson's Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes is extremely concise and contains countless family, genus, and species entries. Also, this is one of the very few field guides that adds deepsea and pelagic fishes to their list. This section is enough for the price right there! The deep ocean fishes illustrated are stunning, and inspire the reader to explore the deep domain sometime in the future. An example of a deep sea fish is the Daggertooth: a bizarre, 20 inch rodlike fish with a mouth full of razor sharp, daggerlike teeth. This is only a single of the many deep sea families listed.
Another completely amazing but unknown fish family listed are the Poachers. These fish are difficult to describe, but have a few traits of an alligator, to put it simply.
There are dozens more stunning species to be found here, but you will have to read it to find the most mysterious and exhilarating ones. Also, this ocean field guide uses the best identification tool, drawings. Whether for the interested fish worshipper, or the expert marine biologist, this book will please all fascinated by the ocean.

Another great guide from Peterson
I bought this book in anticipation of a SCUBA trip down the west coast next year. Why? Because I have good luck with Peterson guides and know that they are concise, well written and all inclusive. So far, as I try to gain some familiarity with the fishes of the west coast before I go I have not been disappointed. I'm sure that this book is to the west coast what the Atlantic guide is to the east and gulf coast. I'll write another review after I finish my trip.

Peterson Field Guides Pacific Coast Fishes
This is a well-written, well-organized field guide, like all other Peterson Field Guides. The book is divided into five parts: 1. About This Book, a very brief introduction of the book; 2. Collectin and Observing Fishes, again, a brief chapter, but very useful. The next three chapters are divided into: 3. Jawless Fishes; 4. Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras and 5. Bony fishes, which is where the bulk of the book is about. The book also contained an excellent glossary, and a limited number of references. Particularly useful are the detailed habitat information of each fish described, ways to identify them, and of course, the 48 pages of color and black and white drawings of the fishes. The book is an invaluable sources of information not only to ichthyologist, naturalist, but also to the comercial fisherman, professional anglers and recreational angler. The only complaint I had is that this field guide uses artists' drawing for the fishes instead of the actual picture of the fish. With the actual picture of the fish, it will make the identification of an unknown fishe much easier for the amateurs and weekend angler. Overall, an excellent book. ... Read more

Book Description

Myron Arms, author of the best-selling Riddle of the Ice, is a sailor and environmentalist. This book, ten years in the making, describes an environmental crisis in minute detail, through the eyes of Newfoundland's fishermen, politicians, and scientists. It is gripping reading, and a cautionary tale that demonstrates how vulnerable our environment is to even the best-intentioned human activity. ... Read more

Book Description

Presents an entertaining and authoritative look into the little-known world of jellies. ... Read more

Book Description

From the acclaimed Rick Carey ("a humanist and a journalist of considerable depth" Washington Post), a fascinating chronicle of a fast-disappearing fish-and of the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on it.

Since the days of the Persian Empire, caviar has trumpeted status, wealth, prestige, and sex appeal. Today it goes for up to one hundred dollars an ounce, and aficionados will go to extraordinary lengths to get their fill of it. According to acclaimed writer Richard Adams Carey, that's just the problem. In this spectacular jaunt, Carey immerses himself in the world of sturgeon, the fish that lays these golden eggs. What he finds is disturbing: Sturgeon populations worldwide have declined 70 percent in the last twenty years, most drastically in the Caspian Sea. The beluga sturgeon, producer of the most coveted caviar, has climbed to number four on the World Wildlife Fund's most-endangered species list.

Armed with a novelist's eye for human eccentricity and an investigator's nose for trouble, Carey takes us on an illuminating journey across the globe to uncover the secrets of the sturgeon. On that trek we meet the fascinating real-life characters both profiting from its scarcity and fighting to save it. A high-stakes cocktail of business, diplomacy, technology, and espionage, The Philosopher Fish is, at its heart, the epic story of a 250-million-year-old fish struggling to survive. ... Read more

Book Description

With colored pencils, graphite, and painstaking attention to scientific detail, Joseph Tomelleri has created 163 magnificent illustrations that are both technically and aesthetically satisfying, capturing subtle differences among fishes that are lost to the camera lens.

More than one hundred species are illustrated in full color--some for the first time ever, some for the first time as male/female pairs and juveniles. Included are the fishes of the entire central U.S.--from the Great Lakes through the Mississippi Valley to the southern tip of Texas, and west to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

To write the accompanying text, which focuses on the ecology and natural history of each species, Tomelleri teamed up with fellow biologist Mark Eberle. Their species-by-species accounts are informative but not technical, and interwoven with folklore and anecdotes.

Do you know, for example, what fish looks like "Mother Nature's hand-held vacuum cleaner?" Can you name a minnow that reaches five to six feet in length? Or the fish that sometimes turns up in farmers' fields--alive? What fish has a gizzard? Which one swims a victory lap after it catches its prey? Tomelleri and Eberle solve these mysteries and many more in this lavishly illustrated compendium of fish facts and lore. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A must for any angler and fish lover
Some time ago, I wrote a great review of this book, but I see that it'sbeen removed for some reason.Nonetheless, I have to again state that thisis an indispensible field guide and reference book for anyone who lovesfishing and learning more about the natural histories of the freshwaterfish in the central United States.Peterson, Golden, and Audubon guidescover all of North America which makes most of their books cumbersome anduseless to those of us in the heartland, non-ocean states.The picturesare the most lifelike depictions of fish I've ever seen of any NorthAmerican fish.It's also full of interesting tid bits of each fishspecies.Again, great book.It's in a class of it's own.

A must for any angler and fish lover
Some time ago, I wrote a great review of this book, but I see that it's been removed for some reason. Nonetheless, I have to again state that this is an indispensible field guide and reference book for anyone who loves fishing and learning more about the natural histories of the freshwater fish in the central United States. Peterson, Golden, and Audubon guides cover all of North America which makes most of their books cumbersome and useless to those of us in the heartland, non-ocean states. The pictures are the most lifelike depictions of fish I've ever seen of any North American fish. It's also full of interesting tid bits of each fish species. Again, great book. It's in a class of its own.

midwest must
This book is the best I have in my library.All the important information on fishes in the Missouri or Mississippi drainage are well covered.The color pencil drawings are flawless. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Covering tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, this field guide by C. Lavett Smith (curator emeritus, Department of Ichthyology, American Museum of Natural History in New York) sets the tropical-fish standard. There are 417 truly magnificent color photographs evincing the glories of the coral reefs and full-text descriptions for more than 400 species, each with its own range map. In addition, the guide includes maps of the regions, more than 100 fish anatomy illustrations, and close to 800 more brief species descriptions. Easy to use and understand, lightweight, and sturdily constructed for travel, the field guide is a great boon for one's snorkeling or scuba-diving vacations. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Necessary installment.
The Audubon Guide to Tropical Marine Fishes is used for identifying brightly colored fish that are most likely to found in the open ocean or on reefs. This guide is different from its predecessor, "Audubon Guide to Fishes" in many ways. First off, the range is quite different, containing a wider variety of fish. This book also takes up where "Fishes" left off. There were so many species to cover that there needed to be more explanation in a second book, "Tropical Marine Fishes".
So, this is the correct field guide to take along on a scuba trip to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, or other places that the guide covers. Since it is much smaller than "Reef Fish Identification" by Paul Humann, it is much easier to carry along in a smaller pack, and one does not have to worry about the bulkiness of other guides.
Now for the content: There are over four categories of fish, including : bass like fishes, sharks & whales, and Eels. The butterflyfish and damselfish are the most colorful part of the entire guide. There are a nice amount of frequently seen sharks talked about here, but not as many as in "Audubon Guide to Fishes, Whales, and Dolphins", which is a follow up. So, if you basically want a straightforward guide to saltwater fish, take a look at this and the original Guide to Fishes.

The best one out there
This is the best book I've seen for identifying fish in this region when snorkeling, diving, or tide-pooling. I own & use several, but if you're only going to buy one guide, this is the one to get.

The illustrations alone would make this better than anything else on the market. Most guides rely on artists' renderings or studio photographs of dead fish. This book illustrates each of over 400 species with a close-up color photograph of a live fish in the water. Incredible.

The lay-out is good for identification; fish are grouped together by shape. That means you don't have to know much about fish to quickly look up something you saw. You can then cross-reference it to a complete description.

The physical manufacture of the book is also a plus. Its small size and flexibility make it almost unnoticable in luggage or a beach bag. It's also a little water-resistant: my copy has seen more than its fare share of dunkings, and still acts like a book instead of a soggy mess.

Of the few criticisms I have of this book, one would be that the index isn't too good (if Rainbow Runner isn't listed under "R", then where is it?). This isn't too much of a shortcoming, though, given that a field guide is usually used to identify species by appearence, not the other way around.

If you plan on observing fish in this region, I highly recommend this book.

Pretty Good
This book contains wonderful photographs of many tropical marine species. Some of the descriptions of the species, though, use complicated terminology and can be confusing. Other than that, all the features are excellent. After the description of each family of fish, there is a list of genera in that family and information on those genera. Also, each species has its own range map. Species that do not have a photograph are also described briefly. A pretty good book, especially since it has information on so many fish including sharks, rays, eels, and others.

divingnut
I did find this book very useful, however it is slightly cumbersome to use if you are in a hurry (on the dive boat between sites) so be sure to write down your description of what you saw and look it up later in your hotel. The photos are fairly good (some are a little dark for my taste) and really useful for a beginning diver or snorkler. I would buy it again and plan on getting the campanion Coral Reefs.

Indespensible
As a diver and as a hobbyist of home reef systems, I find this book to be indispensible in identifying various reef fishes located in our Eastern waters. The book provides and focuses on distiguishing characteristics and certain behaviors that a diver or a hobbyist might see in encounters with these fish. Contains a great full-color plate section as well as basic outlines/silhouettes and of course brief yet detailed descriptions. An excellent work, now if I could just find its companion for corals.... ... Read more

Book Description

Barron's Complete Owner's Manuals offers the largest selection of dependable, high-quality pet care manuals available. Each book provides information on all aspects of pet care for new and prospective pet owners, and each has been individually written by an expert breeder, trainer or veterinarian. All books are filled with handsome, full-color photos, instructive line art, and easy-to-read tables and charts.Many stingrays are small enough for home aquariums, but hobbyists must know how to protect against stingray venom.Features a special chapter: Understanding Your Stingray. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Full Title Says It All
The title of this book says it all. Freshwater stingrays need more care and attention than most other freshwater fishes. This book covers the precautions regarding usage of heaters (esp. submersible), pH, diet, disease, etc. and watch out for their stings (spines), breeding, etc. It's a good collection in a small book. Some readers may find information that are easily found in other beginner fish books like filtration, etc, but all information are well-presented. I have been searching information for freshwater rays and compare with the info in this book, there are some things that I had not known or realize before, for example, regarding the sensitivity of the china rays and also regarding selection---avoid rays showing "death curl" and undernourishment.... which is the first step in starting the hobby.

Anyone thinking of keeping freshwater stingrays should read this book first as these fishes needs much care and attention and also to avoid making expensive mistakes.

About time!
Finally, a book that addresses one of the most interesting of the freshwater aquarium fish. Richard Ross obviously loves the ray. I wish I had this book when I got my first stingray, I would have known what I was in for. Covering everything from the many types of rays and the imprecise naming system to the proper way to administer antibiotics, this book gives you the information that you just don't get at your local fish store. Stingrays aren't goldfish, they take lots of care, but they can make a great addition to your large aquarium. And talk about a conversation starter! This is a must read for anyone looking for something a little more interesting in the tank. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

My Very Favorite Fish Book
I do a lot of fishing and own quite a few books on fish. I also keep a life-time fish list, a list of every species of fish I have ever caught that I was able to correctly ID. I have found Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Gar Goodson in particular to be very useful for ID purposes, but I also find it to be very good writing, highly interesting, and full of information that most other fish ID books usually lack. For example, he tells you here if a fish is considered good eating, or not. He tells you where they are found, in how deep of water, locals, tidbits of history about the fish, and also what they eat.
I recently bought two new books on fish, one about fish of the Gulf of Mexico and another on fish of the Atlantic Ocean and looking them over I kept finding things missing; I suddenly realized how much better this book of Goodson's is.
The many illustrations by the artist Phillip J. Weisgerber are all excellent and every single one of them is in color. I am a writer myself, author of some 5 published books now,... and I appreciate books that are put together with care, appreciate writing that is fun and interesting and highly informative. Fishes of the Pacific Coast is an inexpensive book and a darn good one. If you fish in the Pacific you'll want to own this book and will find that having it, and bringing it along on fishing trips will add a great deal to your pleasure. Also, I would certainly recommend this book as a present for anyone who is interested in nature,in fish, in fishing. A marvelous book and one of my favorites for sure!

Fishes of the Pacific Coast by Gar Goodson
Fishes of the Pacific Coast is an excellent reference guide with beautiful full color illustrations of approximately 450 fish. I truly appreciated the inclusion of the fish of the upper Sea of Cortez. Small ecological and historical blurbs are fascinating. The handbook size makes it a must have on your diving or fishing boat.

An excellent handbook for identifying fishes of the Pacific.
As a volunteer for the new Long Beach (CA) Aquarium of the Pacific, I needed to quickly learn about fishes of the Pacific coast and how to identify them. This book exactly suits my needs. It is interesting and informative, without being too technical. The color illustrations are beautiful. This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn more about Pacific coast fishes. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Expanded and updated to include an additional 44 species, this is a handy guide to those fishes that are likely to be observed by anybody visiting or diving on the coral reefs of the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific to a depth of sixty meters. Accessible to amateur marine life enthusiasts, this book is the first comprehensive guide of its kind. It enables the reader to quickly identify 2,118 species of fish and includes over 2,500 color illustrations depicting the major forms of each species--male, female, immature, or geographical varieties. The text proceeds according to region, depicting each species and its varieties, and offering information on its geographic range and where on the coral reef itself the fish may be found. Important identification characteristics are highlighted on every color plate. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I should get this book
This book has to be about the coral reef and I am so obsessed with Finding Nemo. This book should know all about the coral reef and the great barrier reef. (where Nemo lives)

a little treasure
this one is a real must. if I had to choose a single fish ID book to bring along in a dive trip, this handy book would be the one. it is probably more usefull for indo-pacific fishes but also atlantic/caribbean fishes part is pretty good. i guess it is the most complete book on fish identification i ever bought. ... Read more

Book Description

Fifteen years in the making, this updated edition raises the high standard of Bigelow and Schroeder's 1953 reference by drawing from a much larger base of information. Thirty-eight experts in fisheries biology and ichthyology clearly distill the enormous amount of knowledge gained during the past fifty years, including distribution figures from thirty years of annual trawl surveys; food habits accounts from surveys of the stomach contents of more than 30,000 fishes; and egg distribution data from a survey exceeding 10,000 samples. The contributors update Bigelow & Schroeder's 1953 material while presenting a wealth of new information, including thirty-three additional species accounts. By adding 50 percent more material and focusing the volume on data, the editors address the needs of today's biologists and commercial fishers, and ensure that Bigelow and Schroeder's Fishes of the Gulf of Maine, Third Edition will become the standard work in the field for the next fifty years. ... Read more