Whelks to Whales: Coastal Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [Paperback]

Rick M. Harbo (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

This full-colour field guide to the marine life of coastal British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and northern California is perfect for divers, boaters, beachcombers, and snorkellers of every experience level. The concise handbook is a ready reference to the 420 most common species that can be observed along the west coast. The shorelines of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and northern California are so generously populated with marine animals and plants that divers, beachcombers, whale watchers, naturalists and biologists from all over the world come here to enjoy the natural wonders of the coastline. The gentle climate and warm ocean current of this region support thousands of plants and animals, from the microscopic planktonic algae that bloom and colour the water, to the smallest snails on the seashore, to the blue whale, the largest animal on earth. The Pacific Northwest is home to the world's tallest anemone (plumose anemone) and many of the world's largest species, including the giant Pacific octopus, barnacle (giant barnacle) sea slug (orange peel nudibranch), intertidal clam (geoduck) and sea urchin (red sea urchin). Whelks to Whales is designed for everyone from the expert biologist to the weekend naturalist and is a ready reference to the 420 most common species, the fascinating local sponges, jellyfish, crabs, shrimp, barnacles, clams, snails, seals, fish, whales, sea algae and hundreds of other living things that can be observed and identified without being disturbed. This accessible full-colour field guide is arranged for quick identification with colour-coded sections, photographs of all species - most pictured in their natural habitat - and comprehensive but concise information on size, range, habitat and facts of interest about each species. With a glossary, checklist, reading list and full index included, Whelks to Whales is the only book you will need to identify and learn about the diverse marine life you are likely to encounter while exploring the waters and seashores of the Pacific Northwest.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rick Harbo, B.Sc., is one of the Pacific Northwest's leading marine writers and photographers. Author of the bestselling Tidepool and Reef, The Edible Seashore, Guide to the Western Seashore, Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest, and Whelks to Whales, Harbo is a diver, teacher of marine life courses and a senior marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Nanaimo, BC, where he lives with his wife and children.

Rick Harbo, B.Sc., is one of the Pacific Northwest's leading marine writers and photographers. Author of the bestselling Tidepool and Reef, The Edible Seashore, Guide to the Western Seashore, Shells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest, and Whelks to Whales, Harbo is a diver, teacher of marine life courses and a senior marine biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Nanaimo, BC, where he lives with his wife and children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Harbour (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550171836
• ISBN-13: 978-1550171839
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #842,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Seashells

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Park Ranger-Naturalist's comments, September 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Whelks to Whales: Coastal Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest (Paperback)

This book's easy-to-use key immediately helps visitors to Olympic's coast identify dozens and dozens of marine animals and plants. We bring it on ranger-led tide pool explorations because it complements our journeys so well. Each section provides structural, behavioral, and habitat information about the type of creatures. Then, many individual species are photographed and described, including known life cycles, predator-prey relationships, and other unique aspects. The book is particularly good because it includes several marine mammals, enhancing tide pool exploration with ocean discovery. This is a wonderful aid in introducing visitors to the intertidal zone, the marine sanctuary, and the abundant life thriving within.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent source for scuba divers around the Pacific NW, June 7, 2000

By 

Tim Perrault - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whelks to Whales: Coastal Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest (Paperback)

This book is a must for any scuba diver venturing into the waters of Puget Sound, coastal British Columbia and Vancouver Island. It was a great resource during a recent 4 day diving trip to Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It provided us with hours of conversation about what we had seen and what to look for next.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great but not a "one stop" book, November 5, 2007

By 

S. Hazelip - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whelks to Whales: Coastal Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest (Paperback)

This is a great book, but it isn't as complete as I would have liked. The photographs are good and you can identify quite a bit, but not everything. It is a good starting point book though because there are numerous subsections.