Indian Ocean / East African Marine Life Photobook ...

Andrew Smith

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Feb 28, 2005, 5:09:14 AM2/28/05

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I know it's a bit demanding, but I've been looking for a glossy
photo-book which includes Indian Ocean marine life - I've tried the big
London bookshops (Foyles, Blackwells, Waterstones-Simpsons) ... but
can't find anything particularly good ...

just wondered if there were any specialist bookshops in London ???

thanks

Jon Chan

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Feb 28, 2005, 6:46:37 AM2/28/05

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"Andrew Smith" <andrew...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:4222EDCA...@btinternet.com...

Have a look at "Marine Life of the Pacific and Indian Oceans" Allen/Steene.
Its not a comprehensive book but it is glossy and covers vertebrates and
invertebrates of the most common species. For something more comprehensive
take a look at "Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide" Allen/Steene. Smaller
pictures but covers a lot more. Both are available on Amazon.

Jon

Dan L

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Feb 28, 2005, 6:02:00 PM2/28/05

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There are quite a few out, but most of the good ones are South African
or Australian.

The ones that will be easy to find in the UK include the Collins Pocket
Guide to Coral Reef Fish and the Debelius Indian Ocean Reef Guide.

The collins is by Vernon and Myers - it's pretty good but it's all
drawings rather than photos. The Debelius is photos, but is known to
have a number of mis-identifications (especially in the turtle section).

I would (if you can carry them) use a combination of the two.

You can get these and more from http://www.aquapress.co.uk in the
Marine Identification/Indian Ocean section - click on the complete list
link when you egt to the section.

There are some others in there that look interesting, but I can't
comment on the usefulness. Those two will allow you to ID most things
and are used as the standard basic ID books on a good number of
research expeditions.

Dan.

Andrew Smith

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Feb 28, 2005, 7:01:48 PM2/28/05

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Thanks Jon & Dan for your replies.

That website looks like it is fairly comprehensive ... found the
following (am looking for something covering Mozambique waters - it is
the closest I could find) and wondered if anybody knew whether it is any
good ??

Reef Fishes & Corals East Coast of Southern Africa
http://www.aquapress.co.uk/bookDetail.asp?id=419&cat=26

Dan L

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Mar 1, 2005, 5:15:13 AM3/1/05

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That looks like a good one - I think I've used it occasionally.

If you're after a single book for the area that you're going to then
I'd recommend the Collins Pocket Guide - I spent a year working as a
biologist and diving manager for a research expedition in SW
Madagascar, and that was the single most useful guide we had. It's not
perfect, and it's not a photo based one, but it's probably the most
complete guide in print at the moment.

**Just found out - the most complete book for the area is back in print
- Smith's Sea Fishes. Hardback and about £60 but very cool that someone
has reprinted it.
<http://www.struik.co.za/book.book.detail.action?id=1819>.

The similar titles at the bottom of the page list another book that
looks good...

Dan.