Customer Reviews

Probably More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Without a doubt, the funniest taxonomic work on Ichthyology you will ever come across- and extremely and extensively informative to boot. Even the preface is a delight to read, where Love discusses the intelligence of fish (stupider than the stupidest mouse to ever live), if fish sleep, how their names relate to Communism, if they will harm us emotionally, and Love's relative intelligence when compared to other marine biologists. Then he goes through, fish by fish, all the main species off the Pacific Coast, from BC to SoCal. (If you're looking for fish from the Gulf of Alaska, you will be disappointed.) He begins with Myxini and Petromyzone, moves to Chondrichthyes, and then onto Osteichthyes. (Hagfish, Lampreys, Sharks and Rays, and Bony Fish- for fish are actually four different creatures, as separate from each other as Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals are from each other.) Each section looks at the identifying characteristics, distribution, anatomy, commercial fishery, and extra tidbits, still with that trademark humor. And then there's a bit of the parasitic at the tail end of the book. Perhaps my favorite line: "Your average hagfish can take a bucket full of water and almost solidify it with slime in a few minutes. (I don't know about you, but that makes me proud to be American.)"

If you have any interest at all in the fishes of the Pacific Coast, this is THE book. I recommend it to the students in my Marine Biology class as one of the most accurate and fun (!) works they will find. The information is up there with the classics by David Starr Jordan, whose books are now collectables. Dr. Love, who is legendary in the world of Fisheries for his research and publications, has added his distinct sense of humor to the usually dry descriptions of fishes. If you are interested in Marine Biology of Fishes you need this book.

I know Milton in real life from UCSB, and he is as hilarious and knowledgeable as he is in the book. I'm studying marine biology, and this helped me so much.

The title is absolutly correct. This book is loaded with more information than the average person needs, but it is easy reading and obviously written by someone who loves the ocean and has spent years researching the fish of the Pacific. I also ejoyed the humor and quick wit of the author. This book is a must for anyone who is seeking information about the fishes of the Pacific Coast.

This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to learn about common fish local to the California area. Its a scientifically structured field guide chaulked full of quips and funny little anecdotes. So if you want a good laugh while learning a huge volume of information (even the meaning of each fishes scientific name!), then i suggest you get this book. Dont forget to read the other information in this book like the 'preface' and even the copyright page. Youll never know where youll find the next laugh in this book.

I have worked briefly in Milton Love's lab personally and he is even funnier in person. He is one of the few people ive had the chance to meet whom after i walk away laughing i realized that i actually learned more than i did in a regular class. He knows an enormous amount of knowledge about fishes which is why i also feel this book has merit. Plus he references Ted Pietcsh, who if you have read the news discovered the world's smallest fish as released in January 2006.