National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World

Rating:
Summary: Much more than expected!
Review: Audubon has certainly delivered their best in this marine life field guide! When I bought this, I expected it to be the usual good Audubon repeat of their previous field guides. I was quite impressed by the number of species inserted, and the special illustrations used along with it. There are a surprising number of families and subspecies listed also.
The whales and dolphins section is the best part of the guide, listing rare and endangered species. I don't suspect anyone has heard of the "Tucuxi" dolphin, have they? Rather than just listing commonly seen or normal species, Audubon has done extensive research on others, and has inserted dozens or more in each family section, making identification completely unmistakable. The seals and sea lions covered are no different in variety and number of listings. However, many of the seals listed are subspecies of 6 previous listings.
The binding is usual quality by Audubon publishers, making an excellent reading book, whether on a boat trip, in a car, or simply in an easy chair at home. Forget other Marine Mammal Guides, and make an extensive search for this!

Rating:
Summary: Guide to Marine Mammals of the World
Review: Guide to Marine Mammals of the World illustrated by Pieter Folkens et al is a National Audubon Society book organized into four major groups of marine mammals; marine fissipeds, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sirenians.

There is fascinating detail as the book goes on to describe the world's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, manatees, marine and sea otters, and polar bears. Not only is there detailed descriptions, but there are maps to show where these animals live throughout the world. There is a general introduction that outlines the evolution and tanonomy of marine mammals, distribution, migration, watching guidelines, identification techniques, organizations and laws that protect marine mammals.

There are 120 species represented in this book. Also, there are facts about social organization, surface behaviors, swimming and diving, details about food items and foraging techniques, and estimates of population in the wild, plus current and historic threats.

If you are taking a trip to the coastlines or live near the oceans then don't be caught without this fine field guide. You will be amazed by the wildlife near the and in the ocean. This is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated work.

Don't leave home without it, as your trip will be richer and more fulfilling as you spot the animals listed.

Rating:
Summary: Very informative, but a few minor quibbles
Review: I picked this book up at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago (inspired by the walrus exhibit). It is a very informative guide and beautifully illustrated.

I would hazard to guess that this book is intended for the "arm-chair naturalist." Very few of us can afford vacations to the distant locales where many of the marine mammals in this book live.

The book is laid out like the typical birding guide: species description, similar species, habitat and natural history.

With this in mind, I was disapointed to find the "species describtion" and the "similar species" sections of the species accounts were often longer than the behavior and natural history sections. I do want to know how a Swainson's Thrush is similar to a Grey-checked Thrush (two similar birds), but I really do not care how to tell apart two endimic Antarctic seals. I would much rather read more about how their lives are lived.

My only other quibble is with the "status and conversation" sections of the species accounts. While it is certainlly true that many marine mammals are threatened and endangerd, it is also true that many marine mammals (such as harbor seals and bottle nose dolphins) are doing just fine. The authors of the book seem reluctant to admit this.

Both of these are minor quibbles. If you are even remotely curious about the variety of marine mammals in the world, this book is certainly for you.

Rating:
Summary: Very informative, but a few minor quibbles
Review: I picked this book up at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago (inspired by the walrus exhibit). It is a very informative guide and beautifully illustrated.

I would hazard to guess that this book is intended for the "arm-chair naturalist." Very few of us can afford vacations to the distant locales where many of the marine mammals in this book live.

The book is laid out like the typical birding guide: species description, similar species, habitat and natural history.

With this in mind, I was disapointed to find the "species describtion" and the "similar species" sections of the species accounts were often longer than the behavior and natural history sections. I do want to know how a Swaison's Thrush is similar to a Grey-checked Thrush (two similar birds), but I really do not care how to tell apart two endimic Antarctic seals. I would much rather read more about how their lives are lived.

My only other quibble is with the "status and conversation" sections of the species accounts. While it is certainlly true that many marine mammals are threatened and endangerd, it is also true that many marine mammals (such as harbor seals and bottle nose dolphins) are doing just fine. The authors of the book seem reluctant to admit this.

Both of these are minor quibbles. If you are even remotely curious about the variety of marine mammals in the world, this book is certainly for you.

Rating:
Summary: A lasting, important library reference
Review: Pieter Folkens illustrates Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World, a comprehensive desk reference which blends color photos and maps with realistic drawings of marine mammals. Paintings illustrate juvenile and subspecies, photos show typical behavior and appearance in the wild, and color range maps reflect the latest information, while chapters cover all the natural history basics. Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World promises to be a lasting, important library reference.

Rating:
Summary: The 'Sibley' of Marine Mammals
Review: The National Audubon Society's Guide to Marine Mammals of the World contains a wealth of information about pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), polar bears and otters that's timely and easy to digest. Descriptions, range, behavior, etc. of the various species are informative, with just enough detail for anyone short of a marine biology major.

Along with a number of excellent quality photographs, Pieter Folkens (from my hometown of Benicia, CA!) illustrations are superb. From Knopf, the same publishers of the Sibley Guide to Birds, the graphics and layout of this guide are similarly clean and very attractive. I think it's one of the best looking books of it's type, and an ideal introductory guide for anyone with an interest in marine mammals.