Field Guide to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises (Bloomsbury Naturalist)

"Practical and portable, this is the ultimate field guide to the world's cetaceans. This outstanding new field guide to whales, dolphins and porpoises is the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date guide to these popular mammals. With more than 500 accurate and detailed illustrations - complete with detailed annotations pointing out the most significant field marks - this new field guide covers all 93 species and every subspecies in the world. Many of the world's most respected whale biologists have collaborated on the concise text, which is packed with helpful identification tips from cetacean expert, Mark Carwardine. Mark's informative text is accompanied by up-to-date distribution maps for each species. Beautifully designed, to ensure critical information is quickly accessible, this is an indispensable resource that every whale-watcher will want to carry out to sea"--Publisher's description The most authoritative reference guide to every cetacean species and subspecies in the world Handbook of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to these popular mammals. With nearly 1,000 accurate color illustrations-complete with detailed annotations pointing out significant field marks-this outstanding book covers all 90 species and every subspecies of cetaceans around the globe. Leading cetacean biologists have collaborated with pioneering conservationist Mark Carwardine on the concise text, which is packed with helpful identification tips. From the blue whale to the Indo-Pacific finless porpoise, the illuminating species accounts are accompanied by abundant distribution maps and photographs. Designed to ensure easy access to critical information, Handbook of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World is an indispensable resource that every whale watcher and cetacean seeker will find invaluable. Provides details on every species and subspecies of whale, dolphin, and porpoise Features nearly 1,000 meticulous color illustrations and 90 distribution maps Includes helpful facts about behavior, life history, and conservation.-- Source other than the Library of Congress Cover Title Dedication Copyright Contents How to use this book The challenges of identification Cetacean topography Quick ID guides Bow-riding dolphins and porpoises Identifying whales by their flukes Identifying whales by their blows Identifying male beaked whales by their lower jaws Cetaceans of the North Atlantic Ocean Cetaceans of the South Atlantic Ocean Cetaceans of the North Pacific Ocean Cetaceans of the South Pacific Ocean Cetaceans of the Indian Ocean Cetaceans of the Arctic Ocean Cetaceans of the Southern Ocean Right and bowhead whales (family Balaenidae) Pygmy right whale (family Neobalaenidae) Grey whale (family Eschrichtiidae) Rorquals (family Balaenopteridae) Sperm whales (families Physeteridae, Kogiidae) Narwhal and beluga (family Monodontidae) Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) Blackfish (family Delphinidae) Shorter-beaked oceanic dolphins (family Delphinidae) Longer-beaked oceanic dolphins (family Delphinidae) River dolphins (families Platanistidae, Iniidae, Pontoporiidae, Lipotidae) Porpoises (family Phocoenidae) Caring for whales, dolphins and porpoises Glossary Species checklist Sources and resources Artists’ biographies Image credits Acknowledgements Index Practical and portable, this is the ultimate field guide to the world's cetaceans. This outstanding new field guide to whales, dolphins and porpoises is the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date guide to these popular mammals. With more than 500 accurate illustrations – complete with detailed annotations pointing out the most significant field marks – this new field guide covers all 90 species and every subspecies in the world. Many of the world's most respected whale biologists have collaborated on the concise text, which is packed with helpful identification tips from cetacean expert, Mark Carwardine. Mark's informative text is accompanied by up-to-date distribution maps for each species. Beautifully designed, to ensure critical information is quickly accessible, this is an indispensable resource that every whale-watcher will want to carry out to sea.