Book Description

Now available in paperback, the first comprehensive reference on Great White sharks separates fact from fiction and presents real evidence of the ecology and behavior of these remarkable animals. The volume begins with the evolution of the white shark and its relatives and continues with sections on its anatomy, behavior, ecology, distribution, population dynamics, and interactions with humans. Included in the volume are many illustrations, maps, diagrams, graphs and photos.

Key Features
* Covers all biological aspects of Great White sharks
* Includes contributions from an international team of leading authorities
* Heavily illustrated with maps, diagrams, graphs, and photos ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The most thorough book ever about Great Whites
It's absolutely great! You will learn everything about biology, behaviour and social interaction of the Great Whites. This is a MUST have!

shear brilliance
I think this book is great but a bit too expensive for my liking Danielle Mullins

Want to really know everything about the Great White?
In recent years, public opinion on the Great White Shark has turned away from the fierce bloodlust inspired by fiction and returned to the more civilized sense of awe and wonder at the amazing size and ferocity of these giant predators common to the days before Hollywood brought us 'Jaws' in its technicolor (mostly red) splendor. With specials common to PBS and the Discovery Channel, public awareness of the GW is higher now than ever before, making the shark more and more popular to study. The results of this scrutiny are brought to light in 'Great White Sharks : The Biology of Carcharodon carcharias', a collection of scientific papers edited by A. Peter Klimley and David G. Ainley. In this fascinating work, the picture of the GW as bloodthirsty killer is erased and replaced with the image of the predator's role as king of the sea. There are papers dedicated to nearly every scientific aspect of the animal from its ancestry to its behavior to its populations in oceans around the world. Nearly every serious question about the GW is explored, if not answered. The only thing that makes this book a little inaccessible is the fact that is geared for academic use and research. It is not a book written for the masses, such as Ellis and McCosker's 'The Great White Shark', another excellent book on the subject. But if it is depth you are looking for, Klimley and Ainley & Co. provide it. This book is not to missed by serious students of the GW. ... Read more

Book Description

Once a staple of the American diet, the eel has, with the exception of upscale fusion restaurants and sushi houses, disappeared from our menus. In Consider the Eel, Richard Schweid reveals the eel's amazing natural history and opens our eyes to the global importance and demand for this curious fish by taking us from the coastal backwoods of America to England, Spain, China, Japan, and Italy-where the eel is a delicacy that can be found grilled, smoked, stewed, jellied, skewered, fried, baked, sautŽed, and even cooked into an omelet. In graceful prose, Schweid raises the eel from riverbed and pond bottom and serves up a delectable look at one of our oldest and least understood gifts from the sea.

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Reviews (2)

Icky no more!!
Sure eels are slimy and weird, but that doesn't mean you can't learn to love them!

Read this book and instead of retching at the thought of a mouthfull of broiled eel, you'll find yourself smacking your lips (at least I did).

Overall, this book seems well researched. It's well written and an overall fun read. Like an eel, it's sluggish some times. But page after page it remains fascinating.

Buy it.

Tales of the Elusive Eel
If you are an American, it is unlikely that you have ever eaten eel. You are more likely to have eaten eel if you are a European, and if you are Japanese, you may well eat it regularly. It is hard to figure out just why Americans now have an aversion to eating eels and other countries do not, especially since eels are part of our Pilgrim heritage, they were enjoyed by our founding fathers, and they formed an important commercial catch earlier in the last century. It's all very mysterious, but if you read _Consider the Eel_ (University of North Carolina Press) by Richard Schweid, you will quickly realize that almost everything connected to eels is mysterious indeed. It isn't just that humans deal with eels in peculiar ways; the fish itself is full of paradoxes and unsolved questions.

Schweid's topic is the Atlantic eels of two species, the European and the American. These eels reproduce in the open sea, and early development of the young takes place there, but they drift to different fresh water sources to feed and grow to adult sizes, over a period of up to twenty years. (This is opposite to the life cycle of the salmon.) Then they stop eating forever and head to sea, changing their eyes to adapt to ocean dark, and changing body chemistry to put up with salt water and the change of water pressure. It was only in 1924 that a Danish researcher found eel larvae in the Sargasso sea, the huge area of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Azores. All the Atlantic eels go there to mate, and then they die, but no adults have ever been seen swimming there; the only two eels found there had been eaten by other fish. We can only guess at what they are up to deep below the surface. The larvae look like little oval leaves. Depending on currents, the larvae float for thousands of miles and for years until they reach estuaries and mouths of rivers. Once they find a river with a muddy bottom and food sources, they take control of their lives. They can even cross land to get to a lake or pond over a mile away. Farming eels is quite possible, and can be lucrative, but must be done under an extraordinary disadvantage which no other farm animal presents. Eels cannot be bred in captivity. No one has been able to make them forgo their trip to the Sargasso for reproduction.

American eel fishermen and dealers, many of whom Schweid talked to in preparation of this book, have a peculiar business of trading in a product that no one they know likes. Many of them have been in business for decades, although catches are declining and sales which have to be to Europe or Japan are profitable or not based on exchange rates. Many are simply revolted by the idea of eating their product. Schweid offers to fry some for supper, and a woman who has caught eels for decades replies, 'I would never eat one. Looks too much like a snake.' Another fisherman, when Schweid brought up the long migration of the eels said, 'I know what all the scientists say about what they do, and the trip they make. It may be right, but it ain't reasonable.' Whether the facts are reasonable are not, this readable account of a very strange fish and the strange people who make their living from it is full of facts that are entertaining and astounding. ... Read more

Book Description

Don Phillips takes the reader on a broad tour of all the issues that are threatening the long-term survival of our coastal fisheries.Don's three years of research for this book have included dozens of interviews with fishery managers and biologists around the country in order to provide a balanced perspective on the health of our marine fish populations.

Book Description

Written by a marine biologist and illustrated in colour by a prizewinning underwater photographer, Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest is the only comprehensive field guide to marine fishes of BC, Washington, and southern Alaska. It is also a useful reference for marine fishes of Oregon and Northern California.Each fish is identified by its common name, and is illustrated with a full-colour photograph and labelled sketch. Special sections present catching tips for anglers and commercial fishermen; location hints for divers, beachcombers, and pleasure boaters; and cooking ideas for seafood gourmets. The information included in these sections provides a brief but detailed description of each fish's habitat, physical characteristics and behavior - everything that a fisherman or an amateur naturalist needs to know! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Long known as the definitive fish ID book for divers.
What kind of fish was that we saw? What should we be looking for? Where do we look? What haven't we seen yet? Even experienced divers run into fish they haven't seen before or can't immediately identify. Knowing what to look for and where to find it makes for more dive satisfaction. Coastal Fishes by Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell has long been the definitive Pacific Northwest fish ID book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're a scuba-diving or tropical-fish enthusiast, you'll want this well-illustrated, comprehensive guide to the reef fishes of the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific, where creatures with lime skeletons form giant underwater structures. No coral reef is quite like the next, but most abound in life. Ewald Lieske and Robert Myers catalog 2,074 fish species, each with a color plate, description, and notes on range and ecology. Bigeyes, snooks, stargazers, sweetlips: the names are a song, and this compendium makes a wonderful symphony.END ... Read more

Book Description

Sharks have a reputation of being the most feared creatures of the sea, and in this fantastic new book, we learn the myths and facts of these exciting animals--and that they aren't as deadly as they seem. Of the more than 850 shark species, 80 percent would not hurt people, or would rarely encounter them.Sharks and their kin--skates and rays--have remained essentially the same for hundreds of millions of years, and their existence is now threatened by man and his fears. Thomas Allen takes us through the evolution of the shark, its folklore, its commercial uses, and gives us a detailed look at shark attacks--where they happen, why, and how to protect yourself from them. He describes over one hundred shark species--their behavior, appearance, size, and distribution--and provides helpful scientific illustrations. He offers current information on scientific research (including the recent studies on shark cartilage in cancer research), current population findings, and the continuing conservation efforts.With over twenty-five color photographs of familiar and unusual sharks, interesting and fact-filled sidebars, and useful appendixes, The Shark Almanac is a comprehensive overview and the perfect book for anyone interested in these fascinating creatures. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very Nice Book, but not complete
Mr. Allen has written a good introductory book on sharks. The pictures are nice and he makes a good attempt at getting the reader to realize sharks aren't "bad fish".

This book is not a book on "shark species" though. Mr. Allen only covers about 15% of all shark species.

Another hit for Thomas Allen
Thomas B. Allen has done the impossible, and written a book better than his "Shadows in the Sea". This time out, he expands on ideas expressed in his first book, adding a modern view of the shark...no longer a feared monster, but a creature that is feeling the strain of Man's dominance of the Earth, a creature that needs our help if it is to endure as it has for countless centuries.

Shark Almanac
I've read as many shark books as I can and this is definately the best and most up to date that I've found. It's just incredible. The picture section in the middle is an added bonus.

Excallent
Sharks have a reputation of being the most feared creatures of the sea, and in this fantastic new book, I learn the myths and facts of these exciting animals--and that they aren't as deadly as they seem. Of the more than 850 shark species, 80 percent would not hurt people, or would rarely encounter them. Sharks and their kin--skates and rays--have remained essentially the same for hundreds of millions of years, and their existence is now threatened by man and his fears. Thomas Allen takes us through the evolution of the shark, its folklore, its commercial uses, and gives us a detailed look at shark attacks--where they happen, why, and how to protect yourself from them. He describes over one hundred shark species--their behavior, appearance, size, and distribution--and provides helpful scientific illustrations. He offers current information on scientific research (including the recent studies on shark cartilage in cancer research), current population findings, and the continuing conservation efforts. With over twenty-five color photographs of familiar and unusual sharks, interesting and fact-filled sidebars, and useful appendixes, The Shark Almanac is a comprehensive overview and the perfect book for anyone interested in these fascinating creatures. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book is a inspirational tale of growing and changing.
As a young kindergarten teacher, I looked forward to our lessons each year on the life cycle of frogs. Reading Tim Tadpole and the Great Bullfrog to my students was always a fun experience, as the children identified so closely with the growth and change that Tim was experiencing. The triumph of the ending, when Tim emerges from the water using his strong new legs, was thrilling for the children. The copy I used from our school library in the early 80's was already quite old. I've scoured used book sales and thrift shops in vain, hoping to find a copy for my self. Maybe one day this book could be reprinted, perhaps with colorful new illustrations to appeal to today's 4-6 year olds. I would be first in line to buy it! ... Read more

Book Description

This informative field guide allows the reader to become familiar with the seven species of Pacific salmon and their habitats. It traces the life cycle of the salmon in their epic journey from stream to ocean and home again, and shows how pollution and human encroachment threaten the existence of this once-abundant fish. Proceeds from this book help support Adopt-A-Stream Foundation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Short & Sweet
I enjoyed this book as it was concise and full of rich detail. A highlight is that it compares and contrasts the many salmon species. It is an excellent resource for a classroom! ... Read more

Book Description

Compact guide to marine fish you're likely to encounter while fishing or diving along the Pacific Coast. Includes information about the biology of fish, the marine food chain, and distribution of fish species. Detailed black-and-white illustrations of the fish, plus egg cases of sharks and skates, and shark teeth. Covers the waters off the Pacific Coast, from the Bering Straits to Cabo San Lucas (the southern tip of Baja California.) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Aesthetics & Taxonomy
In short, this is a good way to find a fish you have picked up
while you have been fishing. Or it is a nice view of the variety
of Fish in AR.
It functions well as a text book or a coffee table book.
Plus, It is an especially good ice breaker if you have taken
classes which the author taught at Southern Arkansas University.

Incredible Diversity Documented with Beautiful Pictures
Even as the Clinton presidency draws to a close, Arkansas remains the undiscovered state. Fishes of Arkansas is a visual treat--a species by species documentation of the incredible diversity of freshwater fish found in that state's streams and waterways. Arkansas is an inland state, so one might imagine that a fish survey would document only a narrow array of green and brown game fish, of little interest to those outside the bait and hook hobbies. Fishes of Arkansas demonstrates instead the incredible biodiversity found in the numerous fish species located in Arkansas. Here are pictures of gorgeous fish, large and small, including many of intense beauty and tremendous color. The darter section of the book, featuring many species endemic not only to Arkansas but in many cases to a single river in Arkansas, shows the reader spectacular, unforgettable fish. The narrative is simple and straightforward--each entry is a separate species, usually with a picture. The grouping is organized by family, and the authors provide judicious use of light explanatory and summation material to tie the individual entries together. If you need something on your coffee table or shelves which is light, pleasant picture-filled reading but not fluff, try Fishes of Arkansas. ... Read more

Book Description

Scrupulously accurate nontechnical guide offers the amateur (or experienced) herpetologist all the information needed to identify any frog or toad likely to be found in ponds and streams throughout North America. Physiology, ecology, phylogeny, life history, metamorphosis, plus extensive finding keys to seven families and thorough descriptions and life habits for identification. 58 species. 290 photographs, 16 color plates.
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Book Description

"This book is an outstanding contribution to our understanding and enjoyment of frogs by an eminent leader in the field of amphibian biology. It is written in an engaging style, which reflects the author's long interest in popularizing natural history subject matter."--Robert C. Stebbins, Emeritus Professor of Zoology and Emeritus Curator in Herpetology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley

Australia is home to some of the most interesting and unusual frogs in the world and Michael J. Tyler is acknowledged to be the foremost expert on them. This lavishly illustrated new edition of Australian Frogs is the definitive resource on the subject, with updated tables and supplementary text on the fossil record which is vital to historical understanding. Tyler covers the origins, environment, nomenclature, habits, and biology of frogs. Tyler writes conversationally about the amphibian creatures he clearly loves, and his book does not require detailed technical knowledge. He does, however, provide a wealth of information on the ways and needs of Australian frogs in all their fragile variety. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent book of Australian frogs, beautifully written
A wonderful piece of work - but I would have preferred the genus Litoria to be split into the various genera that Wells and Wellington (1985) used, as it is just so much easier to understand the relationships of each from a zoogeographic point of view. Nevertheless, all good things come to those who ask often enough, so here's asking for a revised edition ! ... Read more