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Rating: 
Summary: a good, concise guide to cetaceans of the world
Review: Not a particularly good field guide, as all cetacean genera and species are covered. I grab this book quite frequently when refreshing my mind on the distribution and distinguishing characteristics of a cetacean outside my field of expertise. For those interested in even more meaty fare, pick up Richard Ellis' 'The Book of Whales' and 'Dolphins and Porpoises'. Both books are must have additions to the serious cetologist's book shelf. My field guide of choice for North Pacific field study: Leatherwood et. al. 'Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Eastern North Pacific and Adjacent Arctic Waters: A guide to their Identification'.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent handbook guide to the group
Review: This handbook literally covers the globe in terms of this group. Since there are relatively few living species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises a single handbook can cover them all, and I believe that this one does. There is a map of the world in the book that divides the oceans into 8 zones for convenience in discussing geographic ranges of the animals covered in the text. The book includes overview material on the ecology and natural history of these animals in general. It also has a section dedicated to each individual species. Each species section includes an extremely nice painting of the animal, BW photographs, a narative description of the animal, and information on the animal's range, behavior, natural history, and conservation status. Overall an excellent handbook on the cetacea.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent handbook guide to the group
Review: This handbook literally covers the globe in terms of this group. Since there are relatively few living species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises a single handbook can cover them all, and I believe that this one does. There is a map of the world in the book that divides the oceans into 8 zones for convenience in discussing geographic ranges of the animals covered in the text. The book includes overview material on the ecology and natural history of these animals in general. It also has a section dedicated to each individual species. Each species section includes an extremely nice painting of the animal, BW photographs, a narative description of the animal, and information on the animal's range, behavior, natural history, and conservation status. Overall an excellent handbook on the cetacea.
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