Whales, dolphins, & porpoises A natural history and species guide

Review by Choice Review

A new natural history book on birds, sharks, or marine mammals should have novelty in either its content or format. So many books, some quite good, have already been published on these three topics; thus, one must consider whether the new effort adds anything worthwhile. This book, edited by Berta (San Diego State Univ.), has some value largely to lay audiences. It contains many good illustrations of the majority of extant species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans). It also provides a general overview of the systematics and evolution of cetaceans as a group and very brief summaries of anatomy, feeding, life history, range, and conservation issues for each species. Except for the first few dozen pages, the text is not meant to be read continuously, but browsed. In doing so, a reader will gain appreciation for the range of cetacean biology topics and some insight into recent developments in scientific understanding of that biology. Casual readers will not be challenged by the depth of the content or style of writing, but they should enjoy the photographs and drawings if they are curious about whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and lower-division undergraduates. --Stephen Robert Fegley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

---

Review by Library Journal Review

Marine mammalogist Berta (biology, San Diego State Univ.; Return to the Sea) gathers academics and research scientists who present material in sections on biology, identification tools and maps, and species directory. The biology section discusses phylogeny and evolution, behavior, and conservation and management, among other features. The identification tools and maps include physical characteristics used to distinguish species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They list body size, head shape, and dorsal fin position. The species directory, the largest section, is organized by family or family group, and includes common name, number of species, notable facts, and illustrations and photographs in both color and black and white. The book also includes a classification of cetaceans, a glossary, and resources for further exploration. Entries are brief, accurate, authoritative, and they highlight fascinating features of these animals. VERDICT This informative and captivating book will be a fine addition to libraries that serve everyone from laypeople to researchers and scientists who are interested in learning more about marine mammalogy, in particular the titular species.-Tina Chan, SUNY Oswego © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

---