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Resources for identifying marine animals |
 A major part of underwater photography is an interest in the animals and ecology of the underwater realm itself. What use is a picture of a fish if you don't know what kind of fish it is? Is it a shrimp or is it a crab or an isopod? Is it a common species or not? Is the behaviour it is showing common?
In order to identify the animals in our photographs, and hopefully learn more about them, we use an extensive collection of marine life indentification books and guides to assist us.
There are quite a few books on the market but not all are created equally. Some books are too scientific for the average person (and that includes us) to use and rely on scientific textual description used to officially describe species. Good ID books for marine life contain a large number of photographs, taxonomically arranged and clearly detailing specific aspects of the species they show.
We own a multitude, some of them good purchases and some of them bad, currently the resources we use, and recommend, are listed below:
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 Crustacea Guide Of The World
This book has over 1100 full color photos.
Crustaceans form a group of marine animals the author is especially acquainted to since many years. Therefore it was his great challenge to present for the first time in literature a field guide perfectly illustrated with species of Crustacea from all the world's seas. And to introduce the behaviour and abilities of those absolutely charming critters comprehensively and in detail in fascinating stories.
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Hollywood Import & Export Inc.; 1 edition (November 1999)
ISBN: 393170274X
To purchase, please click here: Crustacea Guide Of The World
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 Nudibranchs and Sea Snails
This book has over 1100 full color photos.
Perhaps the most well known guide to nudibranchs in an easy to read and follow format. A wealth of pictures of both common and uncommom species and interesting articles on nudibranch behaviour.
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Hollywood Import & Export Inc.; 1 edition (November 1999)
ISBN: 3931702987
To purchase, please click here: Nudibranchs and Sea Snails
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 Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide
This one is very good general book for identifying everything from sponges to turtles. Each type of creature (usually a phylum or an order) is organized into its own chapter, which begins with a couple of pages of general facts that generally cover reproduction, feeding, and interesting characteristics. Then come the pages of very good color photos of each variation. These are labeled with their common name and their Latin name.
Paperback: 378 pages
Publisher: Sea Challengers; Reprint edition (June 1, 1998)
ISBN: 9810056877
To purchase, please click here: Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Field Guide
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 Sharks & Rays: Elasmobranch Guide of the World
This is agood book on sharks, rays and chimaeras (ratfish). A a lot of information is presented on the common selections of the 1,000 or so living species of cartilaginous fishes. Naturally, the reef dwellers among them are better known than their deep-sea relatives. Hence the focus of species selected for this unique identification guide has been on those sharks and rays inhabiting shallow water. This makes it an indispensable guide (240 species on more than 600 color photos) for the diver.
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Hollywood Import & Export, Inc. (June 2001)
ISBN: 3925919333
To purchase, please click here: Sharks & Rays: Elasmobranch Guide of the World
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 Cephalopods: A World Guide
Octopuses, squids, cuttlefishes and their relatives ("cephalopods") have complex behaviours and many are experts at spectacular color and shape changes. They come in all shapes and sizes, from pygmy octopuses to giant scams (> 15 m long), and occur from shallow reefs to the deep sea. This guide includes information and images for species from around the world as well as general stories on their unique lives and bizarre habits. With over 800 photos of cephalopods taken in their natural habitat.
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Hollywood Import & Export, Inc. (June 2001)
ISBN: 3925919325
To purchase, please click here: Cephalopods: A World Guide
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 Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific
This scientifically accurate color field guide covers 1,100 common tropical reef invertebrates and tunicates that occur from Hawaii to Africa. The narrative for each species includes identification, natural history and distribution.This book really covers a multitude that other do not esp. corals, sponges, seastars, urchins, etc.
Paperback: 288 pages
Sea Challengers (July 1, 1996)
ISBN: 0520232550
To purchase, please click here: Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific
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 A Diver's Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife
This book stands out for the beautiful photography it contains and as it is specific to a region it aids in identification by showing local variations of species. Its of a very compact size but the publishing is of excellent quality. More of a general guide than a specific guide and definitely worth it if you are planning to dive Malaysia or Indonesia
Paperback: 468 pages
Nautilus Publishing SDN. BHD (June 2003)
ISBN: 9832731003
To purchase, please click here: Diver's Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife
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Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific
Simply the best book available for identifying reef fish in the Indo pacific region. This is a comprehensive guide and detailed guide to Indo-Pacific reef fishes, featuring 2,500 color photographs of 2,000 species. Produced by the team at Paul Humann and company, they brought in Gerald Allan and Roger Steene, both top in their field to assist with the endeavour and it stands out from all the the other guides because of this.
Softback: 457 pages
New World Publications (October 2003)
ISBN: 1878348361
To purchase, please click here: Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific
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