Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (Paperback)

by Paul Humann (Author) "Reminiscent of their butterfly namesake, these small, colorful fish flit about the reefs in search of food..." (more)
Key Phrases: Gulf of Mexico, North Carolina, Species Included (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Attractive, functional guide to reef fishes for divers, snorkelers and professional biologists -- American Fisheries Society Bulletin, Volume 20, No. 10

If you are a diver, fish hobbyist or reef enthusiast, the second edition of REEF FISH ID belongs on your bookshelf -- Dive Training Magazine, July 1995

The most complete photographic guide to warm water Atlantic and Caribbean species ever published -- Rodale's Scuba Diving, December 1994

You will want to have this book with you if you plan any serious fishwatching or teaching in the geographical area of coverage. It is in a class by itself. -- American Society of Ichthyologists, Aug. 8, 1995 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
825 classic marine life photographs of 600 common and rare reef fish species. The easy-to-use, quick reference format makes it a snap to identify the myriad of fishes in Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas waters. A must for every serious diver. 6 inch x 9 inch, cloth stitched flexibinding that allows the book to lie flat. --This text refers to the Vinyl Bound edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: New World Pubns Inc (August 1996)
• ISBN-10: 1878348140
• ISBN-13: 978-1878348142
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,335,184 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Available, April 21, 2002

By	Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (Vinyl Bound)

This is the authoritative reference for reef fish throughout the Florida, Caribbean and Bahamas area. The most complete book on reef fish that I have seen, it is easy to use and beautifully illustrated. Each fish has it's own full color picture along with a line drawing that points out the defining characteristics of that particular species. With a plastic cover and the pages treated to resist water it can be taken to the beach or onto the boat without much concern about the water damaging the book.

Each entry has complete information on the fish from size, depth, range and habitat to the level of concern that a diver should have for their safety around the fish. Whether you snorkel, scuba dive or engage in other activities around a reef, this is the best book to have to identify the fish. This book can also be purchased as part of a three part set that also includes the Reef Coral Identification and Reef Creature Identification texts, each of which is equally as excellent as the Reef Fish Identification book.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive guide for reef fish of the Caribbean, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (Plastic Comb)

I visit family in St. Croix (US Virgin Islands) yearly, and I have looked at a number of books in order to learn the names of the numerous fish I see when I'm snorkeling or diving. This one makes identification easy, with beautiful pictures and the all-important "Distinctive Features" sections, which give you tips on how to distinguish one fish from the next. Make no mistake: this book is the easiest to use and the most comprehensive one I've seen. I'm online to buy the other two books (Reef Coral and Reef Creatures).

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Comprehensive, February 18, 2002

By	Stephan Bullard "sgbullard" (Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas (Vinyl Bound)

If you are interested in identifying Caribbean reef fish, this is the best guide available. I am a professional marine biologist and have extensive diving experience on reefs in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. I can honestly say that after 300+ underwater hours in these locations, I have never come across a bony fish that was not included in the guide. This fact was humorously brought home to me when I was in graduate school. My graduate advisor (a very experienced marine biologist with 20+ years of tropical diving experience) once thought that he had discovered a new species of fish. He was very excited and told all of us students to watch his fish and make sure "nothing happened" it. Needless to say, he was somewhat embarrassed when a 2 min investigation into the guide revealed that the fish was simply a wrasse blenny.

The guide is well organized, informative, and easy to understand. Although some scientific terms are included, the text is generally designed for non-specialists. That said, however, the information is so well presented and comprehensive that every specialist I know makes extensive use of this guide. Additionally, the illustrations are remarkable. Each species is represented by one or several beautiful color photographs as well as a simplified line drawing with the important identification features indicated. Overall, I can recommend this guide to anyone interested in Caribbean Fishes and/or Marine Biology. The guide would make a particularly nice gift for someone with a marine interest. Also see the companion volume "Reef Fish Behavior: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas;" an equally excellent book, that adds the ecological dimension to reef fish identification.