A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species

A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species
Average customer rating:

Great guide and a great resource!

Great guide

Good pocket guide

Good book at a good price

Great book

A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates: 500+ Essential-to-Know Aquarium Species
Ronald L. Shimek
Manufacturer: Microcosm.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fish & Aquariums | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:

A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species

A PocketExpert Guide to Reef Aquarium Fishes: 500+ Essential-to-Know Species (Microcosm/T.F.H. Professional)

Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History

Reef Invertebrates: An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibility

The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide

ASIN: 1890087661

Book Description

Following in the wake of the hugely popular PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes is this eagerly awaited title in the Microcosm/T.F.H Professional Series. Interest in marine invertebrates is exploding as saltwater fishkeeping technology makes it ever easier to sustain these environments in home aquaria, and A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates is the ultimate reference for these "hooked" hobbyists. The book is a compact, fact-filled guide for recognizing and keeping a host of beautiful and bizarre invertebrates- shrimps, crabs, corals, anemones, sea stars, clams, snails, sponges, ornamental worms, and many others.

Customer Reviews:

Great guide and a great resource!.......2007-10-05

I found this to be a great tool in researching general information on everything from corals to sea stars. The photos are great too. For a guide to things that you've purchased or are considering purchasing it's a great tool to get an overview of the requirements of the different inverts. Very helpful, and a great deal for the price. I'd highly recommend it to anyone with a saltwater reef tank.

Great guide.......2007-04-03

The pictures are clear and the descriptions are very good. I like the size, it's easy to carry along with you to the store. I have really enjoyed having this kind of information handy.

Good pocket guide.......2007-03-12

This is an excellent pocket guide for quick search. Small, well-presented and easy to use. On the other hand the book is quite complete with pictures, genus & species, aquarium compatibility, captive care tips and useful information.

Some of the captive care tips are a little bit old-fanshioned, an actualization on some feeding procedures & tech available today would be neccesary. In general terms is a must-have book.

Good book at a good price.......2007-02-19

Great color pictures and accurate descriptions on marine life. Good price.

Great book.......2007-01-12

This is a very good book with lots of info on invertebrates that are frequently kept in the home aquarium and lots of others that are not.
Detailed info on lighting, feeding, compatiblity, and difficulty in keeping these animals. Great picture quality for identification, highly recommended.

A Field Guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes : North America (Peterson Field Guides)

Average customer rating:

Can't Escape It
Not your typical Peterson Guide
A Field guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes
Good reference book
A must of a field guide

A Field Guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes : North America (Peterson Field Guides)
Carleton Ray , and C. Richard Robins
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fish | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

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Southeastern & Caribbean Seashores
A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes : North America (Peterson Field Guides)

ASIN: 0395975158

Book Description

The more than 1,000 species descriptions in this guide include information on range and habitat such as depths, bottom types, water temperatures, and salinity. The almost 1,100 illustrations use the Peterson Identification System for quick, accurate field identification.

Customer Reviews:

Can't Escape It.......2007-08-16

No matter what, this ultimately ends up the guide I am obliged to use when identifying a fish. I have always felt that a photographic guide MUST be easier to use for identification but in the end it is the Peterson guide that always has the final word. The paintings emphasize distinguishing species characteristics while the white background makes the image clear. Many images are in black and white but mostly, these are illustrations of fish lacking in color or readily identifiablbe without referencing the color. With numerous similar fish presented on the same page, identification is usually swift, especially if you have reviewed the manual prior to use. On the last trip, the new sighting was a creole wrasse. The guide made identification a breeze. I think it is helpful to peruse the guide first to have a rough understanding of the difference in appearance between a grouper and a goby or an angelfish and a wrasse. The descriptions are terse as in all Peterson guides, basically just enough to let you know for sure if your ID is correct or perhaps you have encountered a fish that has strayed outside its range. Also, for some reason, information on whether or not it is in commercial use. Information, too, on hazards. The introduction contains information on external fish anatomy.
My own copy is crinkled and warped from getting soaked in water but it still holds together and is fully functional. You may hope for better but I do not think there is a better book currently available that covers such a broad range of fishes. For the casual diver or fisherman, one of the plastic fish ID cards may hold enough information but it is always good to have Peterson's along for the final word.

Not your typical Peterson Guide.......2007-03-01

I have a few Peterson Guides (such as one for birds, and one for reptiles and amphibians) and I swear by them. I have always been able to count on Peterson Guides to provide detailed color illustrations with clearly defined identifying marks. This guide was a huge disappointment. The majority of the illustration plates are in black and white! I have no idea what possessed the editors to settle for a grayscale version from a guide series so well known for its colorful illustrations! (Wish I'd read the review below mine before I purchased this!)

The few color illustration plates are excellent as is usual for Peterson Guides. Even the black and white images are very well drawn (but tremendously less helpful than their color counterparts). The descriptions of each species are generally well-written and helpful, though not as extensive as the descriptions in other Peterson Guides.

In short, you won't find this guide to be totally useless, but it would be worth looking around for (and probably not hard to find) something better. It's clear to me that the Peterson editors either (a.) have a distinct bias towards terrestrial animals and don't care much for ichthyology, or (b.) were in a great rush to finish this guide quickly at the expense of quality. Whatever the explanation, one thing is for sure: the negligence apparent in the making of this guide is very out of character for Peterson.

A Field guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes.......2007-01-10

We were disappointed in this particular guide. We have Peterson bird guides that are great but the fishes guide is mostly black and white images and many varieties of fish had no image at all. Written information was available for all species.

Good reference book.......2006-08-07

This is a pretty good book for identifying the different species of fish, and giving a very brief overview of each species mentioned. however, with 1100 species packed into one book, the descriptions are brief, and the advertised information like temperature and salinity are not listed for all of the species - in fact I would say water temperature and depth are not listed for most.

75% of the illustrations are full color and are very good. however, the rest are black and white sketches, which make identification by sight pretty difficult. Even on those though, the identifying features are pointed out where appropriate.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone interested in identifying fish of the Atlantic Coast. If you're a fisherman looking for information on habitat, water temperatures, depth, etc - you might need some other books in addition to this one.

A must of a field guide.......2001-03-10

If there is one book that will link people interested in fishes along the Atlantic coast of the US or the Gulf of Mexico... this is it. If you SCUBA dive, fish, keep saltwater aquariums or are an amature or professional naturalist or marine biologist you should have this book.
The Field guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes is an excellent treatise on the diversity of fishes in this area. The multitude of species are discussed in a logical manner with valuable information presented for each. The artwork is superb, with the each fish shown next to similar fish and critical points to identification highlighted. You should own three copies, one for your home, one for your office and one for your boat.

Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Encyclopedia of Invertebrates, Seaweeds And Selected Fishes

Average customer rating:

Amazing production
hard to top...
Wonderful Resource
An impressively thorough collection of the majestic ocean life associated with the Pacific Northwest
Amazing and well worth it!!!

Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Encyclopedia of Invertebrates, Seaweeds And Selected Fishes
Andy Lamb
Manufacturer: Harbour Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Encyclopedias | Reference | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest
The Beachcomber' S Guide to Seashore Life in the Pacific Northwest
Coastal Fish Identification: California to Alaska
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Guide to Marine Invertebrates: Alaska to Baja California

ASIN: 1550173618

Book Description

With 1,700 superb colour photographs of over 1,400 species, Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Encyclopedia of Invertebrates, Seaweeds and Selected Fishes is the most comprehensive collection of photographs of Pacific Northwest marine life ever published. It is designed to allow the reader to recognize virtually any coastal organism that might be encountered from southern Alaska to southern Oregon--from sea lettuces and feather boa kelp through to the leopard ribbon worm, Pacific red octopus, spiny-thigh sea spider and gutless awning-clam. Each species is identified with photographs and includes a description with information on range, habitat, appearance and behaviour.
Andy Lamb and Bernard Hanby have spent most of their lifetimes studying and recording Pacific Northwest marine life and have completed over 4,000 scuba dives between them. Some of the species included in this volume have never been featured in print before. Colour-coded for quick reference and including a glossary and full index, Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest is a must-have for serious biologists, scuba divers, beachcombers or anyone interested in marine life and beautiful underwater photography.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing production.......2007-09-19

This book is one of the most amazing publishing accomplishments I have seen. The authors and their friends have accumulated 1700 superb photographs of marine life, especially the tiny and obscure invertebrates that almost no one has even seen or suspected, let alone photographed. (Where else are you going to find photos of neon sea-fleas and parasitic copepods in the wild?) Many of the animals herein are not even described scientifically. I studied fisheries development for years and thought I knew something about marine life, but I never knew there were so many worms and snails and tunicates out there, let alone did I ever see them or photos of them. Everyone interested in nature or biology should have this book, or at least look at it, just to see what amazing things there are in the world. It is of interest far beyond the narrow confines of Northwest Coast shores.

hard to top..........2007-06-30

so I'm no expert on marine life, but I'm very interested in the subject. I got this book and had high expectations that were more than met. The photography is excellent, the organization is excellent, and the contents extensive. I really like how they tell you both the common and the scientific names, and how they have some short descriptions of behaviors or charactoristics. I actually got it for my boyfriend because he wants to study to be a marine biologist and i saw the other reviews by people who were in related fields, and they made it sound like a book that would be useful even to an expert but not only useful to an expert. And it is. He loves the book (says its one of the best gifts he has ever gotten) and was very impressed by the quality of the contents, he uses it all the time. Bottom line the book is awesome i would reccommend it to ANYONE who loves ocean life.

Wonderful Resource.......2007-06-27

This book is a blessing for us tidepool/beach explorers in the Pacific Northwest because of its wonderful, clear photographs. It saves us many hours of tedious and frustrating puzzling over technical jargon trying to figure out the identity of whatever amazing creature has captured our hearts. The volunteers at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington have already practically worn out their first copy from looking up critters and plants that show up in the tanks via the flow-through seawater system. Many mysteries have been solved, and many fascinating tidbits of natural history gleaned to share with the visitors to the exhibits. Books like this will open the eyes of a society blind to our own environment, like the Peterson guides did a couple generations ago.
All praises and cliches apply: "a picture is worth a thousand words", "greatly needed and long over-do"... Consider this a definite rave review for a timely book. Now all we need is a waterproof edition!

An impressively thorough collection of the majestic ocean life associated with the Pacific Northwest.......2006-07-10

Enhanced with 1,700 superb color photographs, Marine Life Of The Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Encyclopedia Of Invertebrates, Seaweeds And Selected Fishes by Andy Lamb (Marine naturalist and educator) features the photography from Bernard P. Hanby (recipient of the Vancouver Natural History Society's 2003 Davidson Award for Conservation) and is an impressively thorough collection of the majestic ocean life associated with the Pacific Northwest. Featuring a "user friendly" and alphabetically organized listing of diverse fish, seaweed and invertebrate aquatic life, Marine Life Of The Pacific Northwest offers a comprehensive compendium of more than 1,400 saltwater plants and animals, and includes a quick reference usability with guide, maps, glossary, index, and color-coded pages for easy information access and identification, as well as entries that include the common name, scientific name, size, range, depth, description, picture, description and comments, and more. A core reference work for professional and academic library reference collections, Marine Life Of The Pacific Northwest is very strongly recommended for all marine-savvy explorers of the Pacific Northwest area.

Amazing and well worth it!!!.......2006-03-09

I work for a West Coast marine lab and I purchased this both for my work and for my own enjoyment. Twenty years in the making, there is nothing close to this in terms of illustrated guides for the region. Being that I work in the lesser known of the invertebrates, I was glad to see that the minor phyla are paid just as much attention to as the more common ones. I showed my copy around the lab, which led at least four more copies to be purchased. Upon opening the cover and flipping to any page, the first-time reader is speechless at the quality of the photos and the overall organization of the work. Yes, reference books like these are a bit more expensive than the everyday field guide, but this has so much more: Common name, scientific name (and limited synonymy), distribution, special remarks on each species... Very recommended!

Average customer rating:

seashell book
Stunning Shells
One Hundred Seashells
One Hundred Seashells
The Intrinsic Beauties of Seashells

One Hundred Seashells
Harold Feinstein , and Sydney Eddison
Manufacturer: Bulfinch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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One Hundred Flowers
The World's Most Beautiful Seashells (Worlds Most Series)
Beaches
Beach Stones
Shell Chic: The Ultimate Guide to Decorating Your Home With Seashells

ASIN: 0821262068

Book Description

This follow-up to One Hundred Flowers features gorgeous color photographs of seashells both familiar and exotic. ONE HUNDRED SEASHELLS features close-up portraits of seashells by acclaimed photographer Harold Feinstein, author of the critically acclaimed gift book One Hundred Flowers. Large in format and luxuriously produced, ONE HUNDRED SEASHELLS brings forth the intricate and subtle beauty of shellstheir luminous array of colors, their every twist and turnto an unprecedented degree. Feinsteins images are accompanied by identifying captions and are breathtaking in their detail and appreciation of form. The book features a broad range of shells both familiar and obscurefrom Abalone to Zambos Murexand will appeal to nature and beach lovers, photography fans, and fine art collectors alike. Nature writer Sydney Eddison writes about her passion for collecting seashells and about their astonishing architecture in her introduction to the book. In his brief foreword, the photographer also turns to architecture to describe his passion: I wish that Louis Kahn, the renowned architect for whom I photographed, were alive, so that I could hear his observations on these remarkable structures born of the creatures that inhabit them.

Customer Reviews:

seashell book.......2007-07-26

I used this book as my sign in book at our wedding 2 weeks ago and everybody loved it. they loved so much that i have to order another one for a close friend who is opening a new restuarant and wants one for the table in the lounge. The rest. is beach house theme is go so well there. The photograpghs are so beatiful. thank you c.f. from ft.lauderdale

Stunning Shells.......2007-07-23

This is an absolutely gorgeous book. I learned of its existence at a beach wedding we attended recently where it was used as a Guest Book. People were expected to select a page and sign in on a shell with a big Sharpie pen. Naturally, when we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at the Yacht Club with a beach/shell/nautical theme last week, we used the book in the same way. People loved looking through the impressive photographs and it will be a beautiful memory maker for years to come!

One Hundred Seashells.......2007-01-10

I purchased this for my friend who has a condo on the water in Naples and it looks beautiful on her coffee table. Everyone who visits admires it. It's a very beautiful book and the perfect hostess gift. We really enjoy it!

One Hundred Seashells.......2006-07-10

Although this book has some compelling and beautiful photographs, they fall short of the high resolution photos we have all become used to. The photos (or perhaps the printing) lacks the clarity and detail that high-res photos (or printing) would have given.

The Intrinsic Beauties of Seashells.......2006-03-28

Photographer Harold Feinstein has an eye for detail, a gift he uses to produce this very polished and beautiful book of the mysteries of shells. The book is not meant to be a resource for shell collectors or a scientific treatise on the development and geographical influences on the presence of types of shells that strew the ocean floor as well as the secret beachcombing regions of the world. Feinstein elects to approach the shell as an art form and in doing so he has edited a dazzling assortment of the sizes and intricacies of his subject.

After a brief but eloquent introduction by Sydney Eddison who shares her passion for seashells and their complex and astonishing architecture, the remainder of this volume is devoted to full color photographs of every type of shell imaginable. The cover piece is the Nautilus shell and that shell is explored more fully inside the book. The clarity of the photographs is excellent and the studio lighting Feinstein uses allows the viewer to examine the myriad shells from both the inner aspects, the outer form, and a combination of both with backlighting and sensitive illumination seemingly from within.

This is one of those books to while away hours of contemplation. Recommended as an art book. Grady Harp, March 06

Hawaii's Fishes : A Guide for Snorkelers, Divers, and Aquarists

Average customer rating:

Undersea Eye Candy!
One Fish, Two Fish...
A good way to ID all those little fishies on the reef
A Great Snorkelers Guide
Why you might want to buy this book

Hawaii's Fishes : A Guide for Snorkelers, Divers, and Aquarists
John P. Hoover
Manufacturer: Mutual Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fish | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Hawaii's Sea Creatures, a Guide to Hawaii's Marine Invertebrates
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ASIN: 1566470013

Book Description

Underwater photographs and informative descriptions of over 240 species, including classification, evolution, and best locations to spot them.

Customer Reviews:

Undersea Eye Candy!.......2007-10-08

A comprehensive and visually delightful treat for snorkelers and scuba divers, alike. Lot's of pictures and they're all labeled with the area where each specimen was photographed. A must for anyone planning to spend time exploring the sealife in Hawaii!

One Fish, Two Fish..........2007-05-18

The photography in this book is amazing. Beautiful, clear color shots are on every page of this book. The information is good and relevant. I was able to identify many of the fish I saw snorkeling in Maui in this book.

A good way to ID all those little fishies on the reef.......2007-04-17

I recently went to Hawaii and decided to do some snorkeling for the first time in my life. What a blast!! The variety and colors of fishes and corals are truly stunning and if your are like me you may not be satisfied with just seeing all the pretty colors, you may in fact want to identify the things you are seeing. If thats the case then this book is hands down the most affordable and reliable guide you can purchase when planning that snorkeling vacation in Hawaii.

I found the photos and the text to be very well done and informative. Each family of fish is given a good life history account and species accounts are nice and succinct. There is also great info on where to dive and snorkel while you are in Hawaii and also the fish names are given in English, Latin and Hawaiian.

For a novice like me this book was a great find and it helped me immensely in making some sense of the great variety of fish life I found on the reef. A word of warning however: while its great to be able to identify the fish species you are seeing don't get too caught up in trying to ID everything you come across. For one thing its next to impossible without having a much more technical book than this one. Still this is a great little introductory level book for appreciating the diversity of fish life in Hawaiian waters. Sometimes it is just as rewarding to relax and enjoy the spectacle of the reef life itself without having to try and remember the color patterns on every little fish you encounter. So, purchase this book if you are heading to Hawaii and enjoy the truly stunning world of the coral reef.

A Great Snorkelers Guide.......2007-04-02

This book is wonderful. It has beautiful, clear photos and lots of useful information. We are enjoying using it to prepare for a vacation to Kauai.

Why you might want to buy this book.......2005-08-18

I bought this book when I was about to go to Hawaii for the first time in my life, to snorkel for the first time in my life. The book made a huge addition to my experience. The pictures are more accurate for fish identification than the cards they give you when you rent snorkel equipment, and of course much more complete. I became personally acquainted with almost 3 dozen different species of fishes; I wouldn't have been able to identify most of them without the book. There is also some interesting background information. If you want to do some serious snokeling in Hawaii and don't already know your fishes, I think you should have this book.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures (Audubon Society Field Guide)

Average customer rating:

Good field guide and beautiful picture book
If Frosted Flakes are grrrrrreat, this is so much better
OK for the Basics
Excellent
Great for Nature Watchers

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashore Creatures (Audubon Society Field Guide)
Norman A. Meinkoth
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells (National Audubon Society Field Guide Series)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Tropical Marine Fishes: Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Bahamas, Bermuda
The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (Audubon Society Field Guide)

ASIN: 0394519930
Release Date: 1981-12-12

Book Description

Each of the 690 identification pictures is a full-color photograph of a seashore creature. Arrangement by shape and by color makes identification quick and easy. 666 species are covered in full detail.

Customer Reviews:

Good field guide and beautiful picture book.......2005-05-31

Perhaps I am going overboard in giving this guide a five star review but even a book with an adequate selection of color photos of marine invertebrates is just so darn beautiful I can't help but cause me to rave and this bok offers a selection that is more than just adequate. There is no way one can include all of the seashore creatures of US into one volume let alone a field guide and Audubon guides are not the best things to use for taxonomy. That being said it is a gorgeous little book and certainly helpful to the average beachcomber. Even if you are a Midwestern landlubber this is a great little volume. If nothing else consider it a mini coffee table book.

If Frosted Flakes are grrrrrreat, this is so much better.......2002-04-09

I live in North Carolina and catch and keep a lot of Invertebrates we we go to the beach. So far, every Invert that we've caught has been in this book, easy to find and we found out alot about it by reading. Anyone who sees something cool at the beach often should get this book. In fact, it's a Must-Have.
Shredda Out

OK for the Basics.......2001-08-18

I think that all of North Americas sea shore critters can not be described in a single book. Certainly not in a book of this size. The publishers where quite bold in the scope and as such much information has been left out. That said let me tell you what is good about this book. The pictures are GREAT! Much better than looking at technical drawings. However, they are not better for identification. The descriptions of animal groups are excellent. For the person with little biological background this will go a good way toward explaining the complexities of ocean life. The method of identification, sorting by superficial appearance is handy, again for the inexperienced. To sum it up, if you want one book to carry during your first summer of beach combing get this one. If you need a companion for a marine zoology class stay away, unless you already have everything else.

Excellent.......2000-11-30

Anyone who has used the National Audubon's Field Guides knows just how great they are. This one is no exception. Great picture plates and acccurate descriptions of organisms. For the biologist to the beach hopper, this book is easy to use and very informative.

Great for Nature Watchers.......2000-04-03

I found out about Marine creatures in my Marine Bio. class, and I loved them, so I got this book to further my looking into their world, and it's great. A must have for any person interested in going to the seashore, and just watching what runs around in those tidepools and on the beach.

Average customer rating:

I am a Marine Biologist and this is the best book for the West Coast - Period!!
A timeless classic
A Slightly Defaced Masterpiece
Still & always the classic
The standard field guide for the Pacific Coast of the USA

Between Pacific Tides
Edward Flanders Ricketts
Manufacturer: Stanford University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The Log from the Sea of Cortez (Penguin Classics)
Beyond the Outer Shores: The Untold Odyssey of Ed Ricketts, the Pioneering Ecologist Who Inspired John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell
The Intertidal Wilderness: A Photographic Journey through Pacific Coast Tidepools, Revised Edition
Pacific Intertidal Life: A Guide to Organisms of Rocky Reefs and Tide Pools of the Pacific Coast (Nature Study Guides)
Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast: An Illustrated Guide to Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia

ASIN: 0804712298

Customer Reviews:

I am a Marine Biologist and this is the best book for the West Coast - Period!!.......2007-02-23

This is a timeless classic, very readable as the author puts you in a place (rocky intertidal or a mudflat) and then describes the animals you will see. It is written with a wise eye and wry humor. The long lived sea anemone in Scotland that was done in after 80 some years by the "ineptitude of (we suspect) a botanist".
It is more specific to central California, but still useful in Southern Calif and the northern coast as well.

A timeless classic.......2005-11-27

This is an amazing book. It was a landmark in its time, and is still useful today.

A Slightly Defaced Masterpiece.......2004-08-18

This book, as it was written, is a masterpiece of natural history. It is a contribution to humanistic biology that has style and description that is uncrippled by the invidious academic flatulence of the professional "scientist". It makes no pretensions. It was written by a man fascinated by the tidal seashore and the animals found therein. Read it and read it well.
Then read "Beyond the Outer Shores" by Eric Enno Tamm an unconventional biography of Ricketts that does full justice to the man and the myths.
Having gone through these impressive volumes I hope you will join me in despising Stanford University Press for what they did to Ricketts before his death and for allowing David Phillips to desecrate his memory in Edition Five.

Still & always the classic.......2003-07-13

This is probably THE serious book to have if one is going to immerse oneself in the California intertidal. Originally produced by Ed Ricketts (of Steinbeck/Cannery Row/Log From The Sea Of Cortez fame) the book has been upgraded, revised, re-edited by a plethora of "co-authors" since Ricketts' untimely death. It still retains much of Ricketts' then-revolutionary Habitat focus, which will either work for you (it does for me) or annoy the hard-core systematists out there. This ISN'T a light book to lug into the field or a light book to read -if you are just day-tripping The UC Press has a number of smaller & more accessibly illustrated field guides that I would reccomend, But if you are seriously into mmarine Bio and have some time on your hands along the California Coastline, you owe it to yourself to get this book. Even here on the Coast of Maine and twenty years removed from the West I still fid myself referring to it...

The standard field guide for the Pacific Coast of the USA.......1999-05-19

I can't believe that someone else has not reviewed this excellent guide to the intertidal biota of the Pacific Coast. This book has set the standard for reference guides to marine life along the Pacific Coast, as well as other locations. It is much more than a field guide -- though it also serves that role. This book describes the intertidal zonation patterns of the Pacific Coast as well as the ecology and aspects of the natural history of the organisms that live there. The book contains good taxonomic references as well. This is the book that many of the country's marine scientists cut their professional teeth on. If you are interested in marine biology, the diversity of life, or the ecology of nearshore habitats, this book is definitely for you. The main strength of the book is the logical organization by type of habitat and vertical elevation on the intertidal zone. The main challenge of a book like this is to remain up to date, which the publisher has managed by producing revised editions on regular basis. This book is a must for any field or arm chair marine naturalist!

Average customer rating:

Good on details
Simply Beautiful
Informative as a textbook, entertainment like a novel
A Book written By Rachel Carson

The Edge of the Sea
Rachel Carson
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Sea Around Us
Under the Sea-Wind (Penguin Classics)
Silent Spring
The Sense of Wonder
Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson

ASIN: 0395924960

Book Description

"The edge of the sea is a strange and beautiful place." A book to be read for pleasure as well as a practical identification guide, The Edge of the Sea introduces a world of teeming life where the sea meets the land. A new generation of readers is discovering why Rachel Carson's books have become cornerstones of the environmental and conservation movements. New introduction by Sue Hubbell. (A Mariner Reissue)

Customer Reviews:

Good on details.......2006-12-10

Carson takes a more detailed look at life on the edge of the sea. Having been near one of the areas she mentnioned helped make the subject matter more personal. However, she didn't drag me into this book like I was when I read some of her other works. I felt it to be a little dull in places, even though the the information was interesting throughout the book. Certainly worth reading if you're looking for an introduction to life on the edge of the ocean.

Simply Beautiful.......2004-05-07

Having never heard of Rachel Carson except in relation to "Silent Spring", I was pleasantly surprised on first reading her writing in this book by the masterly and near-poetic elegance of her prose. Written in the 1950s, before nature documentaries allowed most of us to see the wonders of marine life with our own eyes, Carson's ability to introduce those wonders to us through evocatively-written description alone (with occasional illustrations) remains truly amazing. The problem is that a generation raised on visual stimuli would probably find it quite difficult to sustain enough patience to go through the whole book, since it does make substantial demands on one's sense of imagination. I found myself struggling by the time I had finished two chapters - even though each chapter is generally about a different kind of seashore (rock, sand, or coral reef), trying to visualise one fascinating organism after another just got rather tedious and confusing. My recommendation to other readers would be to maximise your enjoyment of this book by reading it at the seaside, or in conjunction with a relevant documentary on the Discovery Channel.

Informative as a textbook, entertainment like a novel.......2002-03-09

I just finished this and I can't wait to read the rest of the author's work. Carson has a gift for describing the world around her and a command of the language that few seem to appreciate today. This is basically a natural history book written as if it where a novel. In "Edge of the Sea" she describes seashores, the environment and how it defines the animals and plants that a visitor will see. She concentrates on America's East Coast. The text left me with a longing to be there. Where modern writers would use pictures, Carson uses words. This book would be good (4 stars) for anyone who enjoys written imagery. If you already love the sea then it deserves 5.

A Book written By Rachel Carson.......2000-05-30

I thought this book was very mature and detailed. She is an excellent writer and I am doing a report on her! She was a wonderful person. And I enjoyed this very much.

Average customer rating:

Reef Fishes Volume 1
Volume 2 is available
Waiting with Bated Breath
Reef Fishes Volume 1 by Scott W. Michael
Great Beginning--Where's Volume 2?

Reef Fishes Volume 1
Scott W. Michael
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Basslets, Dottybacks and Hawkfishes: Plus Seven More Aqarium Fish Families with Expert Captive Care Advice for the Marine Aquarist
Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes: Reef Fishes Series
Aquarium Corals : Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History
Reef Invertebrates: An Essential Guide to Selection, Care and Compatibility
The Reef Aquarium: Science, Art, and Technology, Vol. 3

Product Features:

by Scott W. Michael. Definitive work on the fishes of the coral reef

ASIN: 1890087211

Product Description

624 pages, hardcover. By Scott W. Michael. Covering 68 families and thousands of species, Reef Fishes is an authoritative guide designed to be a lifelong reference for saltwater aquarists, divers, and amateur reef naturalists.

Customer Reviews:

Reef Fishes Volume 1.......2005-10-14

This book is a excellent reference, one that every saltwater fish enthusiast should have in their library. It goes into great detail about each reef fish, including their captive care, disorders and diseases, compatibility, reproduction and many other topics, way too many to list. Plus, the pictures are awesome! A must for anyone of enjoys saltwater aquariums.

Volume 2 is available.......2004-05-28

It should be noted that you will find it on Amazon under the name "Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes: plus seven more aqarium fish families with expert captive care advice for the marine aquarist", but it's obviously Reef Fishes Vol 2 as confirmed by the Microcosm website.
Now we are all waiting volume 3 !!

Waiting with Bated Breath.......2004-04-02

This is one of the best fish books I've ever owned. The author succeeds admirably in his goal of providing a comprehensive reference to reef fishes. There are a couple of things prospective buyers should note:

1) There is more in-depth information about each species than I've seen in any other fish book---by this, I mean pages instead of a paragraph or two.

2) This is only volume 1 of an eventual 3 volume set that will provide a comprehensive reference to virtually all reef fishes. What this means is that all kinds of bizarre fishes are covered in detail----even those that most of us would never consider for our own aquarium and those that we will never see unless we take up scuba diving. Many (most?) of the fishes that the amateur aquarist might own will be covered in future volumes.

The text is well-written and fun to read. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on frogfishes, even though I can't imagine myself owning one. Additionally, the book is profusely illustrated with excellent color photographs. It's really astounding that one person could do all the research, compilation, and writing that went into this. Whatever Mr. Michael is making from this book, it's not enough.

Over-all, a really terrific book, and I'm waiting with bated breath for volumes 1 and 2. I hope the author can find time and energy enough to get them out within a few years.

Reef Fishes Volume 1 by Scott W. Michael.......2003-06-19

Awesome book! So many wonderful pictures and more information than I hoped for!

Great Beginning--Where's Volume 2?.......2003-05-04

This is a wonderful book. It give s agreat intor to the general aspects of anatomy, physiology and ecology of reef fishes. It then goes on into detail on several families of fish. Among these are: Eels, Frogfishes, Seahorses, Squirrelfishes, Lionfishes, Anthias, and several others.

At least 2 more volumes are planned.

Volume 2 has been due "soon" for quite a while now. I hope "soon" isn't much longer--it will include many of the most interesting fishes: Damselfishes, Butterflyfishes, Angelfishes, Dottybacks, Jawfishes, Grammas, and several more.

Volume 3 (who knows when it will arrive) will include wrasses, blennies, gobies, surgeonfishes, rabbitfishes, pufferfishes and several others.

This series will definitely be the "definitive reference on all fishes a marine aquarist might ever encounter." The author, Scott W. Michael, is a renowned expert in this field. He has more than 25 years experience as an aquarist and diver. He has written several other books and contributes regularly to Aquarium Fish Magazine.

Book Description

Atlantic Coast beaches offer a variety of souvenirs and curiosities to those beachgoers that care to look. Shells have long been treasured finds, and their descriptions are well documented in a variety of books and guides. But what about the other things found on the beach? These are the things that drift in the ocean and are carried in with the winds: sea-beans, spirula, mermaid's purses, and other tropical treasures. This book references them in a convenient form for the beachcomber, while keeping the oceanographer and botanist in mind. Interesting descriptions of each sea-bean species, or other drift treasure, and 175 color photographs make this book a valuable collector's guide. Perry and Dennis provide the results of a 30-year study on sea-bean flotation tests. No other book combines personal experience, use of color photography identifications, and the scientific field of botany into a complete, friendly user's guide for identifying sea-beans and other drift from the sea.

Customer Reviews:

Sea Bean Bible.......2007-07-27

I love this book. It is a fantastic resource, complete with color photos. An absolutely essential book to have if you live by the sea. You will be able to identify the cool beans you find along the shore with this book. I have learned a tremendous amount about drift seeds from reading this book. Highly recommended. Enjoy & Happy Beaning! :)

Excellent Guide Book.......2007-05-12

Excellent guide book with photos and text. Helped me identify the beans that I have collected on the beaches of Key Biscayne.

Each shell is provided with a lengthy introduction.......2004-01-14

Co-produced by Edward L. Perry and John V. Dennis, Sea-Beans From The Tropics is an impressive collector's guide to the tropical drift commonly found on the shores of the Atlantic ocean. Full-color photographs illustrate each entry ranging from bald cypress, to white inkberry. Each shell is provided with a lengthy introduction covering such topics as the nature of ocean currents and how to grow and polish sea beans rounds out this informative, fascinating, detailed, "user friendly" guide.

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