What? Another fish ID book when you thought
Paul Humann's and Ned Deloach's were enough? Yes
indeed, and while I rarely say this, Reef Life: A Guide
to Tropical Marine Life is a must-have for the library of
every traveling diver. And if you only want one ID
book, this is it.
You see, it's the clear and descriptive text that
makes this guide special. For example, there are sections
on anti-predation behavior (that is, staying off
other fishes' menus), mimicry, schooling, cleaner fish
behavior, food habits . . . all kinds of useful factoids
about tropical reef fish. You'll learn that the indigo
hamlet eats blue chromis, that the male redbar anthias
chases other males away "to defend its harem," the
humphead wrasse returns every night to its preferred
sleeping site, the great barracuda can hit 36 m.p.h., and
tuna prey on seahorses. There's nothing better than sitting
around a table with your fellow divers and being
able to spin these stories.
There aren't as many fish listed here in comparison
to the entire Humann series, but in this paperback volume
(6.5" x 7.5"), photos of 400 ray-finned fishes are featured
with brief but solid descriptions, as well as sharks
and rays, invertebrates, turtles, crustaceans,, corals,
marine mammals and ecosystems. Co-authors Brandon
Cole, a marine biologist whose photos have appeared
in National Geographic and Scientific American, and Scott Michael, a writer and researcher who has consulted for
the Discovery Channel and the National Geographic,
Channel, logged thousands of hours underwater to
produce this fine paperback guide. Within its 616 pages,
you will find (besides the 400 fish identified), 1,000 photographs,
maps and descriptions of all the tropical diving
areas -- Maldives, Florida, Caribbean, Indonesia and
everywhere else.
I'm certain you'll find this a great book to peruse
at your leisure or use for serious research. Click on the
book's info listed
on our homepage
( www.undercurrent.org ) to buy it
on Amazon.com
(where it's listed
at about $23), and
we'll get about
five percent of
the sales price,
which we will then
donate to preserve
coral reefs and the
oceans we love
(we gave away
more than $3,000
last year).