Reef Life: Natural History and Behaviors of Marine Fishes and Invertebrates (Hardcover)

by Denise Nielsen Tackett (Author), Larry Tackett (Author, Photographer) "Most of us are bedazzled by our first look at coral reefs, but altogether too many newcomers to coral reefs end up missing the real..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ornate Ghost Pipefish, Broadclub Cuttlefish, Striped Eel Catfish (more...)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: TFH Publications (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890087556
• ISBN-13: 978-1890087555
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #338,696 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars much more than pretty pictures, April 22, 2002

By	Timothy Ecott "timecott" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Reef Life: Natural History & Behaviors of Marine Fishes & Invertebrates (Paperback)

The Tacketts have achieved something remarkable with this book. Not only is the quality of the photographs consistently high, but the detailed information within the text is logical and accessible to any diver whether they be experts in marine biology or simply curious fish watchers.
This American husband and wife team seem to have lived many divers dream existence. Travelling the Indo Pacific for 13 years, they would camp on a beach with their own compressor and make three dives a day collecting sponge specimens for medical research.
The scientific information is clear and broken down into digestible chunks, enlivened by well annotated pictures - everything from mantis shrimps eating coral shrimps, to frogfish camouflaged against cup corals. Predation, reproduction, camouflage, feeding and mimicry are all wonderfully explained. And, in keeping with the mood of the times there is a final section on reefs in danger - overfishing, cyanide, pollution etc, complete with appropriate photos including a poignant shot of an octopus trying to cover itself with a piece of broken plastic audio-cassette.
A substantial glossary at the end of the book covers everything from allelopathy to zooxanthellae.
The strength and value of this book is that it is not just a collection of good underwater images, I suspect it will become an invaluable primer for any diver who wants to look at reefs in an intelligent way.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just another coffee table book -, April 17, 2002

By	Ronald H. Silver (Atlantic Beach, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

The Tackett's new book is a must read for divers, aquarists, and anyone who enjoys the fish and critters of the undersea world of coral reef environs. My wife and I belong to a guild of scuba divers known as "critter hunters." We love to dive and find some of nature's most crytpic creatures which inhabit the coral reefs and nearby, sometimes mucky, environs. Larry and Denise's new book is not only a fabulous collection of great underwater photographs but also contains a vast amount of the latest, most useful information regarding the habits and habitats of some of nature's most interesting creatures. It is readily apparent that the Tacketts have spent considerable time underwater in some of the most exotic locales of our water planet. They also have the unique ability to share their experiences with the reader. There are a lot of books currently available dealing with various underwater topics but this is easily one of the most informative and has already become a treasured addition to our library.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Guide to the Underwater World, April 20, 2002

By	Kenneth D. Knezick (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

An avid scuba diver and underwater photographer myself, I own and enjoy many "coffee-table-style" underwater books, as well as a fair collection of field guides to coral reefs and marine life. What I appreciate most about the Tackett's new book is the way it has combined beautiful underwater photography with valuable commentary, annotations, and even arrows defining particular points of interest. "Reef Life" represents a wonderful melding of the science and the esthetics of the marine environment. Equally appealing to adults and children, it has provided me with additional knowledge and appreciation. I now look forward to sharing this appealing new book with my young nephews.