Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa

About this book

This up-to-date guide to over 400 species of the fascinating fishes along the coast of southern Africa and features over 600 original paintings showing changes with growth and sexual differences in colour of many of the fishes. The species accounts include useful descriptions and other information enabling easy identification and comparison of similar species. Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa is intended to assist in learning more about the biology and ecology of southern African marine fishes. A perfect companion to exploring the rich diversity of southern African shores.

Contents

Introduction
- Fish Names and Classification
- The Southern African Coast
- Bony Fish Anatomy
- Fish Shape, Size and Colouration
- Fish Biology|
- People and the Sea

Class Chondrichthyes: Cartilaginous Fishes
- Subclass Elasmobranchii - Sharks & Batoids (Skates, Rays, etc)
- Subclass Holocephali - Elephantfish & Chimaeras (Order Chimaeriformes)

Class Osteichthyes: Bony Fishes
- Subclass Sarcopterygii - Flesh-fin Fishes & All Other Vertebrates
- Subclass Actinopterygii - Ray-fin Fishes

Glossary & Abbreviations
References and Recommended Reading
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Phil and Elaine Heemstra are based at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity in Grahamstown, and they have collaborated on numerous scientific publications. They have co-written the text and all paintings in the book are by Elaine. Phil is a leading International authority on marine fishes and was co-editor (with Margaret Smith) of the comprehensive Smiths' Sea Fishes. As Phil and Elain are scientific divers, they have done several fish survey expeditions together and work as an effective team in the field as well as in the laboratory.