Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific: Animal Life from Africa to Hawaii Exclusive of the Vertebrates [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Terrence M. Gosliner (Author), David W. Behrens (Author), Gary C. Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996

This new field guide will describe approximately l,000 species of invertebrates and tunicates that are found in the Central and Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The narrative for each species will include a description of the animal and discuss its natural history and distribution. The photographs for this field guide have been contributed by 36 of the world's best underwater photographers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...beautiful field guide, and full-color picture book that may inspire you,..or get you to take up diving. -- Aquarium Fish Magazine

...enrich the experience of the diver, aquarist, and the student of coral reefs...fine field companion for work or pleasure. -- The Veliger

...groundbreaking guide we have all been waiting for...the product of a collaboration of three scientists:... -- F.A.M.A.

...superb reference...something I wish I would have had on diving expeditions in years past...highly useful... -- Wilderness and Environmental Medicine - Official publication of the Wildereness Medical Society Vol. 10, Number 3

...this book truly presents the best color images depicting necessary diagnostic features for accurate identification. -- Opisthobranch Newsletter - Vol. 22, Number 5

A pleasure...Without any hesitation, the low price for more than 300 pages of wonders is well-invested. -- Spixiana

Contains some 1100 full color photos contributed by 50 top underwater photographers...identifications are accurate.. -- Chris Newbert's Newsletter

About the Author

Dr. Terrence M. Gosliner and Dr. Gary C. Williams are curators of invertebrate zoology at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and have published some 180 scientific papers and popular articles in the life sciences. They are both graduates of the University of California at Berkeley.

Terry obtained his Ph.D in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire, and is a world authority on opisthobranch mollusks. He has authored "Nudibranchs of Southern Africa," published by Sea Challengers. Terry is Senior Curator of Malacology at the Academy.

Gary earned his Doctorate in Zoology from the University of Cape Town, and is an internationally recognized authority on octocoral coelenterates. He is the author of "Coral Reef Octocorals," published by the Durban Natural Science Museum. Gary is Chairman of the Academy's Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology.

Both authors are currently focusing their field research in the tropical Pacific.

David W. Behrens is a Research Associate of the California Academy of Sciences, and has been a biologist with Pacific Gas and Electric Company since 1974. He is currently Senior Research Associate for Research and Development at PG&E. Dave holds a Master's degree in Marine Biology from San Francisco State University. He has authored over 60 technical and popular papers on the taxonomy of eastern Pacific nudibranch mollusks, fish population dynamics, and grey whale ecology. Dave is the author of "Pacific Coast Nudibranchs," also published by Sea Challengers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Sea Challengers; illustrated edition edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930118219
• ISBN-13: 978-0930118211
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #456,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Invertebrates

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Missing some crucial information, June 4, 2007

By 

Paul Asman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific: Animal Life from Africa to Hawaii Exclusive of the Vertebrates (Paperback)

I relied on the previous reviews and brought this book with me on a recent trip to French Polynesia. I should have been more careful. One reviewer, for example, noted the inclusion of ten (though I see eight) "undescribed little octopi." How does he know that they're little? The book doesn't give size information. The first of the eight is described as large, then there is no size information for the next two, and then the fourth is "another small species." How small? How small is a small octopus, anyway? It's not something I know, but it is something I expect a guide to tell me. Also, the one octopus I spent most time watching changed color repeatedly, and I would have liked to have seen something about coloration possibilities.

I'm rating this book harshly became I see what more it could have been. It's also a heavy book, and weight is crucial on inter-island flights. Next time, I'm bringing Allen and Steene's Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide. It has fewer entries and devotes the plurality of its pages to fish, which are better covered elsewhere, but it's lighter weight and gives size information.

After a trip to Fiji in 2011, I wish to revise this review to rate the item more highly. I remain disappointed in the lack of size information, and I still wouldn't carry it with me. But I find that as I try to identify the reef animals of which I took pictures, I'm using the book. I still want the book to be better, but I'm giving it three stars rather than two. Three seems to better reflect my ambivalence.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best invertebrate book, March 11, 2001

By 

Johannes Ehn Hellstrand (Stockholm,Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific: Animal Life from Africa to Hawaii Exclusive of the Vertebrates (Paperback)

I only have positive thoughts about this great reference. It is simply the best book ever written on the invertebrates of the Indian Ocean and especially the Indonesian area. It is like an oversized version of Debelius` field guides,but this one truly rocks!It does not only include 1105 interesting invertebrate species,but also some great information about them. Some species are such new to science that they`ve not even been described. For example,there are 10 undescribed little octopi. If any animal are more strikingly colourfull than reef fishes,these are the ones. I love all animals but I especially like the chapters about flatworms,crustaceans,and molluscs,of which many species are new to me. I already have a great knowledge of animals for beeing such young,and this book gives me much more. When I take a trip to Thailand for the next winter,I`ll bring this book and see how many invertebrates I`ll recognize from it. Over all,this is a great book and would recommend it to any serious scientist,aquarium hobbyist,invertebrate lover,or the one that just likes strong colours. The price is high,but believe me,it`s definitly worth it!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Assortment of Pictures., December 25, 1999

By 

Jay W.S. Baxley, DDS - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific: Animal Life from Africa to Hawaii Exclusive of the Vertebrates (Paperback)

This soft-cover book provides some of the most vivid color pictures of marine invertebrates that I have seen to date. However, do not expect involved explanations about each species listed. Scientific names are given for each species, but common names are not always included. Very little information given concerning how each species relates in the aquarium environment.