Customer Reviews

Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is breathtaking. I had no idea there were 80 or more species of Cetaceans! While I may never have the opportunity to see any of these wonderful animals alive except in captivity, this book is a wonderful addition to my nature reference library. It is fascinating to read, and even scientists have not seen all of these cetaceans alive (some have been named by skeletal remains), or if they have reported seeing them alive, have possible doubts about the exact species observed. I will read this book over and over just because it is so fascinating. Beautifully illustrated, including maps of the individual species ranges. It also has an exact format, page to page, with clear, concise identification keys. Population numbers are shown where known, threats, habits, diet and habitat are also in a keyed format for each species represented. A wonderful book for anyone nature lovers, and especially good for children because so much information is provided about dwindling populations due to various types of assaults made on either the animals or their habitats by people. Even children who may not be able to clearly understand all of the text will find the pictures and the text that they can understand to be very enjoyable and educational. It is a book that most anyone will reach for again and again through the years!

This book is universally recognised in the whale conservation world as the best of all field guides to whales, dolphins and porpoises. It has no peer for accuracy of information, and the drawings of species are the most reliable you can find. The organisation I am with, the Whale and Seal Foundation, gives a copy to every student in our marine mammal rescue workshop where we train government agencies and carer groups in whale rescue including species identification.

The amount of information packed into such a compact format is just amazing. There are chapters on whale biology, evolution, species identification (all 81 species listed) and even a mini guide to whale and dolphin watching around the globe! This is the book I carry with me whenever I go on a field trip (other than the DK guidebook which is not nearly as portable). Its small size means that it fits snugly in my cargo pockets. You might also like to know that this book features information found in DK's "Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises" and Nature Company's "Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises" guidebooks.

I work on a whale watch boat in Kona, Hawaii and this book has been extremely helpful in my work. It is an excellent handbook on these mammals, a great in-depth introduction book for beginners and a great concise reference book for veterans as well. Very well made and designed with some photos and excellent illustrations. Very easy to navigate through the info and select what you need to know and refer back to it.
The best first whale book you can get until you are ready to go to a much more detailed study of these mammals.

From the great illustrations and quick-reference title bar that includes taxonomic, habitat and population information, to the range maps and behavioral information, this book was such a steal. I received this book shortly before starting cetacean surveys in the south pacific and it was an incredible source of information. I have used many field guides and, although I never tested its 'water-proofness", it is simultaneously concise yet complete. It not only gives identification keys for individual species, but also keys to identifying individual animals. If you are a teacher, student, biologist or enthusiast, get it, wherever you are in the world.

We bought this for my son's fourth birthday.. although the text was obviously too much for him to read, he loves sitting and listening to the captions on each picture and asks numerous questions about them. A great way to continue to encourage his keen interest in whales and dolphins!

I have owned this book for more than 16 years. Recently, I bought two additional copies; one for a relative and another because my original copy is nearly "worn out". I regard this little handbook as perhaps the premiere guide to the world's whales, dolphins and porpoises. Each species is alloted 2-4 pages, with all the pertinent information most readers want to know. This includes data such as lengths and weights of adults and newborns, blow patterns, diet, behaviors, fluke size and shape, distribution throughout the world, where to look for the species and an ID checklist. It is easy to use and show to others on a rolling boat, and small enough to fit in a (large) back pocket of a windbreaker. I would definitely recommend this book to professionals and volunteers who routinely help people to understand the life-ways of cetaceans, as well as boaters who observe them and all others who simply want to know about these amazing marine mammals.

We had borrowed this book from the library and my 4 yr. old l;oved it so much I bought it from Amazon. Has beautiful vivid color pictures. Tells all information about each animal. My son preferrs adult "fact" books over childrens book about animals so this was perfect!

i havent read a whole book since graduate school but have never stopped learning about things. we have the entire collection and i now devour them cover to cover. i purchased almost all of them on Amazon for $5-$13 each (verses the $20 cover price). my kids and i LOVE to read these books and learn about the rocks, fossils and nature we find camping and fishing. honestly, i havent read this one yet, but cant wait.

Of All of the Whale & Dolphin Field Guides available this is the best, which is why it was chosen by Smithsonian. Color artwork, as in ALL of the field guides on this subject can be a little deceptive as reality doesn't always be convenient enough as to apply to all variations in the Dolphins, which is Definitely not the field guide's fault- these critter's can be inconvenient, particularly the "Common Dolphin", as well as the aging process. This edition is pretty much an update of the original in all respects. Excellent pictures & information on the species & well 'laid out' in respect to groupings of like animals (of which 'we' are also one, but not included in this guide, though maybe we should be!). For use in the field get the so called spiral bound version if available, but All versions are worth their weight. Good paper too for that purpose & the smooth finish is durable (within reason), and the pictorial art work is suburb (given the above comment about variations). No guide is totally definitive on this subject, this comes closest!