A Field Guide to the Tropical Reef Fishes of the Indo-Pacific

Book excerpt: Now available in the US, this is the revised and expanded fifth edition of a book that has been the standard reference work for divers, anglers and scientists for over 30 years. The new edition covers 1,670 fish species found in the seas of tropical Southeast Asia, the Southern Pacific islands and Australia--including the Great Barrier Reef, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. A must-have reference for divers, marine biologists, ecologists, commercial fisheries and sports anglers, this book includes a comprehensive identification guide to the families of reef fishes, with a definitive index. An informative and detailed Introduction includes area coverage; faunal composition; biology, behavior and ecology of reef fishes; classification of fishes, and much more. Originally published as Marine Fishes of South-East Asia, this edition contains numerous revisions in nomenclature affecting both the scientific Latin names and common names of the region's fishes. In all cases these have been made to reflect the current universally-accepted terminology. The common names in this book are the result of a recent initiative undertaken by the Australian Government and Seafood Services Australia. Each species is depicted in detailed, full-color illustrations by noted marine artists Roger Swainston and Jill Ruse, including over 35 new species. In many cases, the illustrations show both male and female examples. With more than 2,000 illustrations and 29 color photographs, this definitive field guide will continue to be an invaluable resource for professionals and hobbyists alike.