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University of California Press

Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity

by Philip A. Hastings (Author), Harold Jack Walker (Author), Grantly R. Galland (Author)
Paperback eBook
Price: $34.95 / £30.00
Publication Date: Jan 2015
Edition: 1st Edition
Title Details:
Rights: World
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780520959330
Trim Size: 7 x 10
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About the Book

There are more than 33,000 species of living fishes, accounting for more than half of the extant vertebrate diversity on Earth. This unique and comprehensive reference showcases the basic anatomy and diversity of all 82 orders of fishes and more than 150 of the most commonly encountered families, focusing on their distinctive features.

Accurate identification of each group, including its distinguishing characteristics, is supported with clear photographs of preserved specimens, primarily from the archives of the Marine Vertebrate Collection at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. This diagnostic information is supplemented by radiographs, additional illustrations of particularly diverse lineages, and key references and ecological information for each group.

An ideal companion to primary ichthyology texts, Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity gives a broad overview of fish morphology arranged in a modern classification system for students, fisheries scientists, marine biologists, vertebrate zoologists, and everyday naturalists. This survey of the most speciose group of vertebrates on Earth will expand the appreciation of and interest in the amazing diversity of fishes.

About the Author

Philip A. Hastings is Professor of Marine Biology and Curator of Marine Vertebrates at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. His studies include the systematics and phylogeny of fishes, marine biogeography, ecology and behavioral evolution of fishes, and marine conservation biology.

H. J. Walker, Jr., is a Senior Museum Scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. His research and interests include the taxonomy, systematics, and zoogeography of marine fishes and the observation of these fishes in their natural environments.

Grantly R. Galland is a recent graduate of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. He studies the ecology of fishes and works to implement successful conservation and policy strategies for protecting the marine environment.

Reviews

"Technical and accurate, this book will be an important reference for ichthyologists for many years to come."
— CHOICE
"This book is an excellent and exceptionally accessible part of the ‘toolbox of taxonomists.’"
— Frontiers of Biogeography
"An accessible, beautifully illustrated, and very reasonably priced guide . . . Nothing quite like Fishes currently exists, and the authors are to be congratulated for producing it."
— Systematic Biology

"The authors have turned hundreds of surprisingly beautiful photographs of preserved fishes into an art form and have used them as the foundation for this very useful volume... this book should be on the desk or laboratory bench of every undergraduate and graduate student of ichthyology."

— The Quarterly Review of Biology
“No other readily available reference covers so much up-to-date information about the anatomy and taxonomy of fishes. Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity should be on the bookshelf of anyone with even a casual interest in this important group. It will be an indispensable teaching and learning tool.”
—Gene Helfman, author of Fish Conservation: A Guide to Understanding and Restoring Global Aquatic Biodiversity and Fishery Resources and The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology

“If you are a student, teacher, naturalist, or just a fish lover, you need Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity. The classification is sensible and the text easy to understand. It’s a must-have desk reference for those working with or learning about fish.”
—Peter Moyle, author of Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology and coauthor of Protecting Life on Earth: An Introduction to the Science of Conservation

“Perhaps the most valuable feature of Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity is the labeled illustrations of representative fishes. This book will be very useful for introducing students to the vast variety of fishes.”
—Bruce B. Collette, coauthor of The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology and Chair of the IUCN SSC Tuna & Billfish Specialist Group

“Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity will be valuable for students in a lab or field environment and will be an important resource for those who deal with teaching or research collections. The succinct presentation of distinguishing characteristics, particularly at the family level, will prepare students and professionals well for identifying fishes, no matter where they are in the world.”
—W. Linn Montgomery, Professor of Biology, Northern Arizona University

“Fishes: A Guide to Their Diversity will be a welcome resource for courses in fish biology and evolution/ichthyology. Its taxonomic coverage is excellent.”
—Jacqueline F. Webb, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island