Synopses & Reviews
Sharks are some of the most misunderstood animals on the planet. We still have a lot to learn about these fascinating creatures, which are more seriously threatened with extinction and in greater need of conservation and management than any other major group of vertebrates.
A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World is the first field guide to identify, illustrate, and describe the world's 501 shark species. Its compact format makes it handy for many situations, including recognizing living species, fishery catches, or parts sold at markets. The book also contains useful sections on identifying shark teeth and the shark fins most commonly encountered in the fin trade. A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World is an essential resource for fisheries management, international trade regulation, and shark conservation.
- The first pocket guide to all 501 shark species
- Each species is illustrated and described
- Handy, compact format with concise text
- A six-page guide to the identification of shark teeth
- An eight-page guide to the identification of shark fins
Review
"This well-organized, well-written guide is ideal for scholars, professionals, and enthusiasts."--Library Journal
Review
"Almost anyone can identify a fish as a shark because of its general body shape, but many of the 501 shark species look so similar that the species are difficult to separate. Though there are many reference works on sharks, none fit the definition of a pocket guide. Producing such a work is not easy. Ebert, Fowler, and Dando deserve to be congratulated. They have created an ideal guidebook that contains the essential information for species identification and, most important, superbly illustrates each species in color."--Choice
Review
"Elegantly illustrated in much the same fashion as well-known bird and mammal books, A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World is a great addition to the library of both the armchair traveler, like me, who rarely travels, and the intrepid traveler, who is rarely at home."--Gabriel Thoumi, Monga Bay
Synopsis
A comprehensive guide that identifies all of the world's sharks
Sharks are some of the most misunderstood animals on the planet. We still have a lot to learn about these fascinating creatures, which are more seriously threatened with extinction and in greater need of conservation and management than any other major group of vertebrates.
A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World is the first field guide to identify, illustrate, and describe the world's 501 shark species. Its compact format makes it handy for many situations, including recognizing living species, fishery catches, or parts sold at markets. The book also contains useful sections on identifying shark teeth and the shark fins most commonly encountered in the fin trade. A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World is an essential resource for fisheries management, international trade regulation, and shark conservation.
- The first pocket guide to all 501 shark species
- Each species is illustrated and described
- Handy, compact format with concise text
- A six-page guide to the identification of shark teeth
- An eight-page guide to the identification of shark fins
About the Author
David A. Ebert is the program director for the Pacific Shark Research Center and a research faculty member at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. Sarah Fowler cofounded the UK Shark Trust and the European Elasmobranch Association. She has been a member of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group since 1992 and is currently vice-chair of international treaties. Marc Dando is a freelance artist specializing in marine ecology and wildlife.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 4
Introduction 5
How to use this book 10
Topography 11
Tooth guide 14
Fin guide 20
Key to orders and families of living sharks 28
Species accounts 41
Frilled and cow sharks Order Hexanchiformes 42
Bramble sharks Order Echinorhiniformes 46
Dogfish sharks Order Squaliformes 46
Sawsharks Order Pristiophoriformes 84
Angelsharks Order Squatiniformes 85
Bullhead sharks Order Heterodontiformes 96
Mackerel sharks Order Lamniformes 97
Carpetsharks Order Orectolobiformes 112
Ground sharks Order Carcharhiniformes 132
Glossary 224
Oceans and seas 229
Field observations 231
Further reading 235
Scientific societies and conservation organisations 236
Other sources of online information 236
Species checklist 237
Index 249