"Trapped in the body of this coffee-table book one can find, it's format and beauty notwithstanding, a legitimate reference source. The text stresses the mystifying diversity and adaptability of fishes, while reminding us of their vulnerability. The 24,000 species of fish comprise both the numerous and the earliest of the earth's vertebrates, and this book inspires awe through colorful illustrations and anecdotes. The style is nontechnical and should appeal to all ages, even elementary students." --CHOICE
"High-school, public, and academic libraries needing to fill out their collections on animals will want to consider one or more of these attractive and affordable books." --BOOKLIST (March 1999)
"...enthuses about the enormous variety and fascination of fishes, their importance in aquatic ecology, and the threats facing them. For no other reason, this book deserves support. If it can go any way toward opening the mysteries of fishes to a wider public it is performing a valuable service. The combination of beautiful and dramatic pictures with good science is always a winner." --John Lancaster in JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY (1999)
"This revised and updated book includes chapters on the classification of fish, their history through the ages, their habitats, adaptations and behaviour, and, most importantly, their conservation status - a hitherto much neglected subject. The book is illustrated with over 200 superb photographs and 150 excellent paintings, diagrams and distribution maps. Written in an easily understood style by an international team of experts, this beautifully produced book is a wonderful introduction to the underwater world of fishes." --Christopher Lever in ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY (1999)
Praise for the First Edition
"I cannot imagine a book on fishes with more strikingly beautiful photographs than are found in this one. Some are truly magnificent... The fascinating facts about fishes are near endless." --THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS
"
Encyclopedia of Fishes is a thorough examination of the fascinating world of fishes, with high-quality color photos and illustrations and very readable, well-researched text by leading experts." --THE INTERNATIONAL ANGLER
"Beautifully illustrated and far-reaching in scope." --SCIENCE NEWS
"Considering price, and the information presented, this book rates as a best buy and deserves space on every aquarist's bookshelf... You need only look at the list of contributors to get an idea of the scope in the book." --AQUARIUM FISH MAGAZINE
"This is a spectacular book with stunning photographs, excellent illustrations by D. Kirshner, and sections by 45 authors, each an authority on some special aspect or group of fishes... This book is excellently designed and certainly well organized... At this price no one seriously interested in fishes can afford to be without a copy." --COPEIA
"This book gives a magnificent view of fishes for laypersons, students, and professionals. I heartily recommend this book for all who have an interest in fish and who want an enjoyable source of information. The material is rich and the price is low." --Joseph S. Nelson, University of Alberta, in FISHERIES
John R. Paxton is a senior research scientist at the Australian Museum, Sydney. He has conducted fieldwork in many South Pacific countries, and has taken part in numerous deep-sea expeditions. His current work involves attempts to unravel the mysteries of the biology and evolutionary relationships of the deep-sea whalefishes. He has served as foundation secretary and president of the Australian Society for Fish Biology, and has written more than 60 scientific papers and popular articles.
William N. Eschmeyer is Director of Research and Curator of the Department of Ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences, a major natural history museum in San Francisco, California. His research specialty is scorpionfishes and their allies. Since 1982 he has been involved with the preparation of databases, summarizing information about fishes on a worldwide basis.
