The scientifically up-dated text now boasts 825 classic marine life photographs of 600 common and rare reef fish species. The easy to use, quick-reference format designed for divers makes it a snap to identify the myriad fishes that inhabit the waters of Florida, the Caribbean, Bahamas and now Brazil! Featuring a new durable, cloth-stitched flexi-binding that folds flat for easy use and water-repellent plastic covers.(512 pages 6" x 9" water resistant plastic covers) Reef Creature Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas "2nd Edition" The book that has been relied on for a decade to identify the weird and wonderful crabs, lobsters, shrimps, jellies, sponges, tunicates and mollusks that inhabit the reefs is now 30 percent larger! Our 2nd edition includes 220 new photos of beautiful shells, outrageously camouflaged crabs, a superb collection of exquisite nudibranchs and the most outrageous octopus ever discovered in the Caribbean! The scientifically up-dated text, illustrated with more than 660 fascinating photos, is the most comprehensive and beautiful visual ID reference published for marine invertebrates of the Florida Caribbean and B

    Suitable for identifying the weird and wonderful crabs, lobsters, shrimps, jellies, sponges, tunicates and mollusks that inhabit the reefs, this edition includes 220 photos of shells, camouflaged crabs, and a collection of nudibranchs and the most outrageous octopus discovered in the Caribbean.

    Based on The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California, the Desert Manual incorporates new illustrations for more than two hundred desert taxa, revised keys to identification, updated distributional information, and 128 color photographs. This guide will allow easier identification of California's fascinating desert plants than would be possible in a manual with broader geographic coverage.As in The Jepson Manual, detailed descriptions and illustrations of plant characteristics are provided, along with information on native versus alien status, habitats, elevation, endangerment, toxicity, weed status, horticultural requirements, and flowering times. Introductory sections on the desert setting and vegetation offer the reader a broad context and new perspectives for appreciating the more than twenty five hundred plant species included in the Manual. For amateur and professional botanists alike, the Desert Manual will prove to be an invaluable companion in California's spectacular Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, and southern Great Basin environments, including the White Mountains.

    John of Bend, Oregon, has crafted a richly photographed guide to the reptiles, snakes and turtles found in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and parts of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and California. Each of the book's 42 accounts features photographs of the animal, as well as range maps and notes on identification, variation, distribution, habitat, behavior and similar species. The guide also includes information about three introduced species. The book has a strongly personal and accessible quality through St. John's field notes of his own encounters with each of the featured species.

    It is also the site of one the world's greatest population concentrations and tourist destinations. Until now, the many millions of people living on and visiting California's coastline have gone without a guide to aid in exploring the abundant seashore life right under their noses. The Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life of California changes everything.In a book that is as visually stunning as it is informative, Duane Sept dedicates full-colour photographs and thorough descriptions to each of the most common plants and animals to be found along the saltwater shores of California. Each entry includes the most useful common names for the species along with the scientific or Latin name; a description of its distinguishing physical features or behaviour; and information on its size, habitat and range. There are also sections on understanding tides and intertidal habitats, lists of the best beachcombing sites in California and tips on how to observe seashore life in an ecologically friendly manner.Scientifically accurate, yet simple and straightforward in approach, The Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life of California is the perfect companion for every interested observer - the family or the school group, the Sunday beach-walker or the career naturalist.

    Written by two leading authorities, no other reference covers all resident species north of Mexico, mammals large and small. With full-color illustrations for every one of the 442 species, "Mammals of North America" shows the user how to identify any mammal encountered, from mouse to moose, bat to baleen whale, Abert's Squirrel to the Yuma Myotis.The core of the book consists of 108 color plates featuring exceptionally detailed mammal illustrations. Each species is depicted on these plates, with subspecies, geographic, and sexual variation portrayed whenever relevant. The artwork is supplemented by maps showing present range and by a short paragraph of text highlighting key identification characteristics and relevant aspects of the animal's behavior and ecology. All the artwork, maps, and text for a species are on two facing pages, eliminating the need to flip through the book to learn about an animal. Mammal signs are often more easily found than the animals themselves, so illustrations of tracks and scat are also included.North America's mammal fauna is one of the best documented in the world, and the authors have scoured the continent's outstanding mammalogy literature to make this book as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Amateur naturalists will appreciate the complete coverage, detailed range maps, and outstanding artwork; professionals will welcome the inclusion of subspecies variation and the illustration of obscure traits crucial in distinguishing some pairs of similar species. This spectacular guide is the definitive one-volume resource on the mammals of a vast andtremendously varied continent.108 color plates with illustrations for all 442 of North America's mammal species north of MexicoSubspecies, geographic, and sexual variation depicted when relevantArtwork is supplemented on facing pages by range maps and by concise text noting key identification traits and relevant aspects of behavior and ecologyTracks and scat illustrated as wellWell-documented, accurate, and completely up-to-date

    The most user-friendly butterfly guide ever published, still handy and compact, now updated with the very latest information- Follows the latest classification, recognizing more than forty additional species- Includes four new color plates of Mexican-border rarities- More than 2,300 images of butterflies in natural poses- Pictorial table of contents- Convenient one-page index- Range maps on text pages

    This impressive collection highlights birds from all regions of the United States including localized areas such as the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest and New England. Whether birding in the foothills of New England, the prairies of the Midwest, or the beaches of Florida, Smithsonian Handbooks are the most comprehensive field guides to North American birds on the market. Looking for the Great Blue Heron or the Piping Plover while visiting the Great Lakes? Desperate to find the rare Long Billed Curlew or the Marbled Godwit during a hike in the Cascade Mountains? There's no need to look any further! Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, these amazing guides are an absolute staple for any birder or amateur ornithologist. Each local species receives its own profile, along with descriptions of habitats and annotated photographs that highlight specific characteristics and other points of interest. Take bird watching to new heights!

    The easy-to-follow format makes field identification of over 60 species simple and fun.

    These societies shared a way of life based mainly on harvesting wild plants, following an annual cycle of moving and gathering the seasonally abundant resources. Because of this, they were familiar with and used the full range of plant communities, from the warm-desert Mojave to the cold-desert Great Basin, becoming practiced botanists. They learned which plants and plant parts were useful for curing certain ailments, which produced colorful dyes, which would keep spirits away, and “which crops ripened when” in a particular locality.Native Plants of Southern Nevada arranges that plant knowledge in a traditional field-guide fashion: trees, large shrubs and vines, small shrubs and subshrubs, yuccas and agaves, cacti, herbaceous plants, grasses and grasslike plants, and bulbs. It also lists the native names given by the Owens Valley Paiute, Southern Paiute, Timbisha Shoshone, and Western Shoshone peoples, includes plant description and habitat specifics, and discusses the native uses of each plant. It gathers and compiles the wealth of information buried and scattered in ethnographic notes and monographs, and combines that with good color photographs of the plants, making them easily identifiable in the field.

    Today they rank among the most threatened species on the planet. Their slow movement on land and lack of defenses combine with habitat destruction to make them vulnerable everywhere in the world.This guidebook describes in detail the appearance and behavior of 190 land, marine and freshwater species of turtle. The concise, informative text is supplemented by a wealth of drawings and photographs which show the individual forms, patterns, coloration and habitat adaptation of each turtle.This handy guidebook will prove invaluable to the student, naturalist and anyone interested in this fascinating creature. Each species of turtle is covered in detail - name, species, habitat, food, range, and a thorough description are provided for each entry. 190 species are covered and illustrated with 400 color photographs and 250 drawings and charts to provide a unique look at turtles and tortoises.An ideal book for anyone interested in marine life, it provides up-to-date information, clear color photographs in a handy format for use in the field or at a desk. Readers who need essential facts quickly will be pleased with the orderly presentation of information, the completeness of the entries and the accuracy of the information. The color photographs help in identifying species as well as providing a visual reference for the information presented.

    Often very beautiful and frequently misunderstood, they are worthy of closer acquaintance and greatly reward attentive study in the field. The definitive ROM Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Ontario is researched, written, and designed specifically for the Ontario reader and visitor. It is the most authoritative, easy to use, and beautifully designed guide available, with a stunning selection of photographs unsurpassed anywhere.This landmark publication features:•Detailed and clearly written descriptions of every species of amphibian and reptile in Ontario – mudpuppies, newts, salamanders, toads, frogs, turtles, skinks, and snakes – including notes on Appearance, Habitat and Behaviour, Reproduction (including mating calls), and Status.•Stunning full-colour photographs from Canada’s top wildlife photographers, carefully selected for quick and easy identification in the field.•Easy-to-read Ontario and North America colour distribution maps.•Handy size and format, with photos, description, and range maps for each species all on one page spread.•Glossary, Checklists, and Index.This unique guide, produced in association with one of Canada’s most widely recognized and popular scientific and cultural institutions, is the guide to the fascinating world of Ontario’s reptiles and amphibians.

    Introductory chapters cover the natural history of hummingbirds, ways to attract and feed them, and major hot spots in the United States and Canada for observing these fascinating birds. The 31 color plates illustrate 28 species, 7 hybrid combinations, 3 forms of albinism, and 4 species of sphinx moths often mistaken for hummingbirds. Species accounts provide in-depth information on plumage, molt, songs and calls, wing sounds, similar species, behavior, habitat, distribution, taxonomy, and conservation concerns. Detailed, up-to-date range maps show breeding, non-breeding, and year-round distribution, migration routes, and records outside expected areas of occurrence. For a few widespread migratory species, separate maps illustrate expected spring arrival dates.

    It features an illustrated key and glossary and a pictorial guide organized by flower colour, as well as detailed descriptions of the plant, habitat and blooming times, and notes on uses and ecology.

    A full-color guide to our whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and more.

    Rely on the expertise and authority of the American Horticultural Society to choose plants that are specifically suited to the needs of your garden. For quick and easy reference, plants are listed under a range of specific sites and soils, from damp, shady sports to exposed situations, and for a range of uses from attracting wildlife to choosing the best climbers for pergolas. With full-color photographs and growing information for more than 1,000 tried-and-tested plants this is the perfect pocket-sized guide for trips to the garden center and nursery.

    This, combined with the peninsula's rugged and inaccessible terrain, has made the area one of the last true biological frontiers of North America. L. Lee Grismer is not only the foremost authority on the amphibians and reptiles of Baja California, but also an outstanding photographer. He has produced the most comprehensive work on the herpetofauna of the peninsula and its islands ever published. With its stunning color images, detailed accounts of many little-known species, and descriptions of the region's diverse environment, this is the definitive guide to the amphibians and reptiles of a fascinating and remote region.The culmination of Grismer's quarter century of fieldwork on the Baja peninsula and his exploration of more than one hundred of its islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés, this book gives information on the identification, distribution, natural history, and taxonomy of each species of amphibian and reptile found there. Preliminary accounts of the life history of many of the salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes are reported here for the first time, and several species that were almost unknown to science are illustrated in full color. The book also contains new data on species distribution and on the effect of the isolated landscape of the peninsula and its islands on the evolutionary process. Much of the information gathered here is presented in biogeographical overviews that consider the extremely varied environments of Baja California in both a contemporary and a historical framework. An original and important contribution to science, this book will generate further research for years to come as it becomes a benchmark reference for both professionals and amateurs.

    The group includes some of the world's most familiar and beautiful birds, such as the Indian peafowl and the stunning tragopans, as well as some of the rarest and most threatened. This book concentrates on detailed identification and distribution, but also highlights conservation issues where relevant. The seventy-two color plates, by leading bird illustrators, show male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages, and form the finest set of illustrations of these birds to date. There is also a color distribution map for each species."Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse" is a landmark volume in the literature of this attractive and vulnerable group of birds. Comprehensive identification guide to over 250 species of pheasants, partridges, and grouse throughout the world Detailed text covering identification, description, geographical variation, voice, status, habitat and behavior, distribution, movements, and measurements 72 color plates depicting male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages Information on conservation issues Glossary, index, reference, and bibliography