Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press
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Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press
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The eighty-nine cetacean species that swim our seas and rivers are as diverse as they are intelligent and elusive, from the hundred-foot-long, two-hundred-ton blue whale to the lesser-known tucuxi, ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, and diminutive, critically endangered vaquita. The huge distances these highly migratory creatures cover and the depths they dive mean we catch only the merest glimpses of their lives as they break the surface of the water. But thanks to the marriage of science and technology, we are now beginning to understand their anatomy, complex social structures, extraordinary communication abilities, and behavioral patterns. In this beautifully illustrated guide, renowned marine mammalogist Annalisa Berta draws on the contributions of a pod of fellow whale biologists to present the most comprehensive, authoritative overview ever published of these remarkable aquatic mammals. Opening with an accessible rundown of cetacean biology—including the most recent science on feeding, mating, and communication—Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises then presents species-specific natural history on a range of topics, from anatomy and diet to distribution and conservation status. Each entry also includes original drawings of the species and its key identifiers, such as fin shape and color, tooth shape, and characteristic markings as they would appear both above and below water—a feature unique to this book. Figures of myth and—as the debate over hunting rages on—figures of conflict since long before the days of Moby-Dick, whales, dolphins, and porpoises are also ecologically important and, in many cases, threatened. Written for general enthusiasts, emergent cetacean fans, and biologists alike, this stunning, urgently needed book will serve as the definitive guide for years to come.
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press - Amazon Sales Rank: #293887 in Books
- Published on: 2015-09-18
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.75" h x 1.00" w x 11.00" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 288 pages
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press Review “‘I take the good old-fashioned ground that the whale is a fish,’ Ishmael says confidently in Melville’s Moby-Dick. Old-fashioned indeed—whales are mammals, not fish. Thankfully, our scientific understanding of whales has come a long way since 1851, and much of that knowledge is collected in Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises, a sperm whale-sized compendium of all things cetacean.” (Chelsea Leu WIRED)“Did you know that whales are related to cows and early whales had legs? Some whales release a ring of bubbles to corral their prey, and recent research suggests that bowhead whales may live for more than 200 years. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises, edited by whale biologist Berta, explains the diet, conservation status, and a host of other details for each of the 89 species of cetacea. This guide is a fantastic resource for biologists and aquatic-mammal watchers alike. There is a sequence of illustrations showing what each species looks like above water as it dives.” (Boston Globe)“Entries are brief, accurate, authoritative, and they highlight fascinating features of these animals. This informative and captivating book will be a fine addition to libraries that serve everyone from laypeople to researchers and scientists who are interested in learning more about marine mammalogy, in particular the titular species.” (Tina Chan, SUNY Oswego Library Journal)“[This book] contains many good illustrations of the majority of extant species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans). It also provides a general overview of the systematics and evolution of cetaceans as a group and very brief summaries of anatomy, feeding, life history, range, and conservation issues for each species. Except for the first few dozen pages, the text is not meant to be read continuously, but browsed. In doing so, a reader will gain appreciation for the range of cetacean biology topics and some insight into recent developments in scientific understanding of that biology. Casual readers . . . should enjoy the photographs and drawings if they are curious about whales, dolphins, and porpoises. . . . Recommended.” (S. R. Fegley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Choice)“Judged at a glance, this book is an elegant achievement to encapsulate all whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Although there is no shortage of guidebooks that focus on cetacean species, Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide gives homage to the diversity of this taxonomic group through its large page size, ample species-specific illustrations, and efficiently organized authoritative text. . . . This book gathers together the most interesting and pertinent research, alongside the information needed to identify every species, in a spacious and regimented format. This user-friendly directory will satiate any cetacean enthusiast's curiosity about species diversity and distribution; and I can envision that this book will inspire many future whale fans.” (Marine Mammal Science)“A well illustrated reference book . . . to the world’s cetaceans.” (Ian Paulsen Birdbooker Report)
About the Author Annalisa Berta is professor of biology at San Diego State University, where she specializes in the evolutionary biology of marine mammals, especially baleen whales. Berta is coauthor of Marine Mammals, Third Edition: Evolutionary Biology and author of Return to the Sea: The Life and Evolutionary Times of Marine Mammals. She lives in San Diego, CA.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A magnificent overview of the cetacean world By Matthew A. Bille In this superb overview of the cetacean world, Professor Berta marshals a huge collection of solid, up to date information, from whale biology and evolution to feeding techniques to range maps and field marks, with 2-4 page descriptions of 89 known species.The most recent discoveries, such as Daraniyagala's beaked whale, Omura's Whale, the Australian snubfin dolphin, and the narrow-ridged finless porpoise are all here. There are also some intriguing bits for those (like me) who are curious about the number of types yet to be confirmed. A line in the long-finned pilot whale entry, for example (this entry is by Jessica Aschettino, one of 37 named contributors) mentions "G.m. un-named subspecies." The killer whale section (by Robert Pitman) lists the animal as a single species with "at least six distinct ecotypes that may in fact represent different species or subspecies." Uncertainties about the exact delineations of minke whales, Bryde's whale, and others are also mentioned. For those interested in the mysterious, deep-diving beaked whales of the genus Mesoplodon, there are 22 species of beaked whale described in a section written by Randall Reeves. All the species sections are excellent writeups by people who know the animals well.The book is beautiful as well as informative. Photographs and other illustrations are plentiful, well-labeled, and helpful. The text is authoritative but highly readable to the nonexpert like myself.The only quibble I have is with the physical book: the binding feels flimsy and the pages don't lie flat: handle it with care. (OK, there are two quibbles - killer whales deserve more than two pages, and there should be illustrations, at least silhouettes, of the differences between ecotypes).Overall, though, this book is a magnificent achievement and a very useful reference.- Matt Bille, author, Shadows of Existence: Discoveries and Speculations in Zoology (Hancock, 2006)www.mattwriter.com
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A general natural history followed by excellent species accounts in the form of a guide. Berta's usual excellent writing. By lyndonbrecht Not sure I'd call this a guide in the sense you can take it with you, your pants would sag from the weight. As a birder I have a couple of similar guides, and their value is in preparing to go looking for species--that is, if you have a good sense of what species will be in the region at the time you're looking, and if you know some details of color, shape and behavior, you're much more likely to know what you actually see, the book's value is partly in preparation. On the water, the book may be practical depending on the size of the boat. Note that little is known about a number of species, particularly the beaked whales.The first few chapters before the species accounts offer a rather good basic natural history of the animals. I did not know that Cuvier's beaked whale can dive to 1.86 miles down and last 137 minutes in the dive. I was interested at the (brief) account of bubble feeding (essentially bubble corrals enclosing fish, created by cooperation among whales who at the end rush in and dine. I had never heard of Bottle nosed dolphins on muddy bottoms swimming around a school of fish, raising a sort of mud ring suspended in water, much like bubble feeding.The species accounts are excellent. Each has an image, basic information about natural history, ID checklist, food and foraging details, conservation status, anatomy, behaviors and many have life span if known. There are visual keys to behaviors that differentiate species, such as variations in diving and breathing. There are maps (small!) of distribution. Appendices include information on classification, a glossary, resources, etc.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The most up-to-date field guide to cetacean species By Vahe Demirjian There has never been a shortage of field guides to marine mammals, and this book is no exception. It keeps up with slight revisions to cetacean taxonomy by including the newly described humpback dolphin Sousa sahulensis but also the "new" beaked whale Mesoplodon hotaula (which was previously thought to be the same species as the Gingko-Toothed Beaked Whale shortly after it was described in 1963). Ironically, this book doesn't follow the recent proposal to split the Amazon River Dolphins into three species or recognize Tursiops australis as distinct from T. tursiops.
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Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press
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Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press
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Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press
Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species GuideFrom University Of Chicago Press
