This new field guide is a complete and convenient reference to every species of cetacean, pinniped and sirenian in the world, along with the Marine and Sea Otters and the Polar Bear. Every species is illustrated with magnificent colour paintings and a stunning collection of photographs, chosen to illustrate the key field marks which can be used to separate each species in the field. The author's unique depth of experience and knowledge, coupled with the artist's unrivalled skill, have come together to produce a neat, practical field guide that will enable any observer to quickly identify any mammals they may encounter at sea.
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Review
"An excellent book. The layout for the species pages is
eye-catching but easy to read. There is a pleasing mix of photographs and
and high quality artwork for each species together with texts that cover
descriptions, behaviour, distribution and similar species. An invaluable
field guide at a very reasonable price." -- BTO News, March/April 2007
"It is likely to become the definitive guide to these fascinating
creatures." -- Saturday Guardian, 25th November 2006
"One of the most attractive, well-produced and comprehensive
guides ever published... 'Whales, Dolphins and Seals' is a tour de force
for authors Hadoram Shirihai and artist Brett Jarrett." -- Sunday Express, 22nd October 2006
eye-catching but easy to read. There is a pleasing mix of photographs and
and high quality artwork for each species together with texts that cover
descriptions, behaviour, distribution and similar species. An invaluable
field guide at a very reasonable price." -- BTO News, March/April 2007
"It is likely to become the definitive guide to these fascinating
creatures." -- Saturday Guardian, 25th November 2006
"One of the most attractive, well-produced and comprehensive
guides ever published... 'Whales, Dolphins and Seals' is a tour de force
for authors Hadoram Shirihai and artist Brett Jarrett." -- Sunday Express, 22nd October 2006
About the Author
Hadoram Shirihai is a globally reknowned ornithologist and mammalogist with many books to his credit including the award-winning Antarctic Wildlife (Alula) and Sylvia Warblers (Helm). Brett Jarrett is an acclaimed wildlife artist.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the finest book about the topic, but in my opinion is also one of finest and best natural book ever published. If I can give 100 stars for rating, I would even give 99.
The whole book is close to perfect, the text is fantastic, the illustration are far the best which Ive seen (and I own most of the whale books which have been released) about sea mammals and they often show females, males, subadults, juveniles, subspecies (for example the killer whale has 2 whole pages of illustrations to show all the different anatarctic/arctic races). It includes many first ever published photographs (some of the best from the authors itself) and even almost every beaked whale species have one or more. I just wish that every family from the animal kingdom would get a good reference like this one.
When Im reading or sometimes just looking at the pages of this book I obviously feel that the authors show a lot of enthusiasm and respect to this creatures. Above the first class quality, this makes the book one of the best Ive ever read. Thanks for it.
The whole book is close to perfect, the text is fantastic, the illustration are far the best which Ive seen (and I own most of the whale books which have been released) about sea mammals and they often show females, males, subadults, juveniles, subspecies (for example the killer whale has 2 whole pages of illustrations to show all the different anatarctic/arctic races). It includes many first ever published photographs (some of the best from the authors itself) and even almost every beaked whale species have one or more. I just wish that every family from the animal kingdom would get a good reference like this one.
When Im reading or sometimes just looking at the pages of this book I obviously feel that the authors show a lot of enthusiasm and respect to this creatures. Above the first class quality, this makes the book one of the best Ive ever read. Thanks for it.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Icha
Format:Paperback
Not that I have all the cetacean field guides available, but as soon as I read this book via my library loan, I knew that I wanted the book. For a starter, it included the newly established Orcaella heinsohni (Australian Snubfin dolphin) as a separate species to Orcaella brevirostris (Irrawaddy dolphin). Then, it also provides me the complete ID guidelines for the dolphin species I'm currently studying, i.e. Spinner dolphins, Stenella longirostris, including the existing four subspecies (Hawaiian, dwarf/Southeast Asian, Eastern, and Central American spinners). It also specifically notes the dwarf minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) as a subspecies/allospecies aside from the Northern minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). I've bought it now from Amazon UK, and the book is highly recommended!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For a long time I have been searching for guides to help identify whales and dolphins in different parts of the world, but until recently there was very little practically-oriented literature available. In the last few years, that has changed and several groundbreaking regional identification guides are now available: for example Whales and Dolphins of the European Atlantic (Ocean Guides) and Whales and Dolphins of the North American Pacific. So the non-specialist or casual observer is now in with a fighting chance of identifying those dolphins seen on a coastal hike or whales encountered on a ferry crossing.
At the same time, several references on global marine mammals have appeared, of which Shirihai and Jarrett's compact guide is the best of the bunch. Why? First of all, this guide is compact. At under 400 pages, it is small enough to fit into a coat pocket, yet there is enough information to enable the user to identify (potentially) any marine mammal. So this volume is a true field guide. The book covers sirenians (manatees and dugongs), seals, coastal otters and other marine mammals as well as the cetaceans. The text is concise and emphasises key identification features, but there is still room for notes on behaviour and ecology. There are plenty of plates, both photographic and illustrated - all of them of very high quality. It is clear that author and artist have ample field experience have been able, through this book, to put this squarely at the disposal of the user. Finally, the book is printed on high quality glossy paper, which makes it a pleasure to leaf through at home.
So next time I am off on a trip with a chance of encountering whales or dolphins, I will be packing this handy guide in a addition to whatever regional guides I can get my hands on. Meanwhile, I am enjoying some armchair whale-watching as I leaf through the pages back home.
Chris Sharpe, 16 September 2008. ISBN: 0713670371
At the same time, several references on global marine mammals have appeared, of which Shirihai and Jarrett's compact guide is the best of the bunch. Why? First of all, this guide is compact. At under 400 pages, it is small enough to fit into a coat pocket, yet there is enough information to enable the user to identify (potentially) any marine mammal. So this volume is a true field guide. The book covers sirenians (manatees and dugongs), seals, coastal otters and other marine mammals as well as the cetaceans. The text is concise and emphasises key identification features, but there is still room for notes on behaviour and ecology. There are plenty of plates, both photographic and illustrated - all of them of very high quality. It is clear that author and artist have ample field experience have been able, through this book, to put this squarely at the disposal of the user. Finally, the book is printed on high quality glossy paper, which makes it a pleasure to leaf through at home.
So next time I am off on a trip with a chance of encountering whales or dolphins, I will be packing this handy guide in a addition to whatever regional guides I can get my hands on. Meanwhile, I am enjoying some armchair whale-watching as I leaf through the pages back home.
Chris Sharpe, 16 September 2008. ISBN: 0713670371
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect field-guide
This is one of the most beautifully and clearly illustrated nature guides I have. I have started with another highly regarded excellent field-guide, but when I found that to be a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dr. E. Nagy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great work
All the sea mammals (but one, European Otter that is commonly seen in the Atlantic coasts of Northern Europe... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Boscain Pier Giorgio
3.0 out of 5 stars
Somewhat confusing
This is a field guide to the marine mammals of the world. It covers all species of whales, dolphins, seals and sea cows (including species only found in freshwater). Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2010 by Ashtar Command
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite right for me, I'm afraid
Intending to go whale-watching for the first time, this was one of two books I looked at. (The other was the DK handbook "Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises" by Mark Carwardine: see... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2010 by Gloops
5.0 out of 5 stars
A most for all sea/coast watchers!
Clearly the best book I've ever owned or seen on this subject. Ideal for experts or amateurs alike, the book is (as far as I can tell) extremely comprehensive and yet arranged in... Read more
Published on 4 July 2010 by johnscott9
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Nice Book.
This is a really nice book containing lots of coloured photos and drawings plus text.A really detailed book,very good for the price!Recommended.
Published on 25 Mar 2010 by Douglas Tucker
5.0 out of 5 stars
A really good fieldguide for everyone
Recently back from a trip to the Antartic Peninsula, where I saw whales, dolphins and seals of different species, I must say that I really had a very good use of this book, which I... Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2009 by Einar Engström
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