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Contents
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About this book
&i;Whales and Dolphins of the Southern African Subregion&o; provides absorbing and comprehensive accounts of the 51 cetacean species recorded from (or believed likely to occur in) the oceanic region from the equator to Antarctica, and between the longitudes of 20 W and 80 E. In these fascinating accounts, information for this region is comprehensively summarized, allowing Peter Best to give us the benefit of his extensive knowledge and of the wealth of unpublished data he has accumulated during his 40 years of studying these creatures.
Approximately 100 illustrations have been created in colour for this book by world-renowned marine mammal illustrator Pieter Folkens. Colour photographs of the living animal portray the `jizz' of each species and specific coloration or behavioural features. The distribution maps provided for most species include actual sighting positions as well as a `best impression' swath of colour to suggest what the range might be.
Interesting facts and figures enliven this essentially scientific text, and there is an extensive bibliography of over 1,100 references.
Contents
Table of contents
Foreword
List of contributors
The Mammal Research Institute
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Map of the subregion
The cetacean environment off southern Africa Isabelle J. Ansorge and Johann R. E. Lutjeharms
The South African species gate William Perrin
A classification of living cetacea
Key to the whales, dolphins and porpoises of the subregion
Anatomy of the cetacean skull
Species accounts
Bibliography
Glossary
Photographic acknowledgements
Index
List of subscribers
Customer Reviews
By: Peter B Best
352 pages, Photos, illus
'This book will become a standard reference for decades, and I endorse it with great enthusiasm. Peter Best is the world's foremost authority on whales and dolphins of the region - he is simply the best in the business.' Dr Randall Reeves, Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission's Cetacean Specialist Group 'The author is an internationally recognised expert on cetaceans, and has an enviable publication record which focuses on cetaceans in this region. Professor Best is still very active in the field and so, unlike the output of some other veteran authorities, this volume will be up-to-date and therefore have a longer shelf-life than might otherwise be the case. The group of animals to be covered is nothing short of iconic. The illustrator is superb in this field, and will give the work real authority. The content is detailed and comprehensive; no recent book, covering any geographical area, deals with the subject in this way.' Dr Anthony R. Martin, British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge