Language: English
Using his marine experience of nearly four decades, the author has provided accurate descriptions of selected reef fishes, with precise illustrations by Shantha Jayaweera. These two books fill a gap, as country-specific field guides for Sri Lanka have not been readily available for marine enthusiasts to learn about reef fishes in its waters. This publication will be immensely useful for those interested in learning about reef fishes and may also help officials in the identification of the species of reef fishes protected by law. Volume 1, published in 2013, describes 158 species of reef fishes in 37 families in Sri Lankan coastal waters, with volume 2, published the next year, adding another 102 species in 14 families.
The 260 species described here are very much less than the number of species that one will see while snorkelling or diving around Sri Lanka. In the process of selecting which species to cover, many had to be left out, but the author has attempted to include most of the colourful species that snorkelers and divers would encounter and observe.