First Field Guide to Sharks, Whales & Dolphins

These little guides are an invaluable resource for beginners
Fraser, Sean; Peddemors, Vic
22052
9781868721252
In stock
new
€9.95 *
First Field Guide to Sharks, Whales & Dolphins

Authors: Sean Fraser; Vic Peddemors
Struik Publishers
Cape Town, 1998
ISBN: 9781868721252
Paperback, 11x17 cm, 56 pages, throughout colour photos


Description:

These natural history guides have been developed in the hope that young people and anyone with a budding interest in natural history will take up the challenge to learn the secrets of southern Africas fascinating fauna and flora.

These little guides are an invaluable resource for the beginner, providing information at a glance through superb photographs, maps and easy-to-read text.

• handy pocket size
• easy-to-read text
• suitable for the beginner naturalist
• each species is photographed


About the Author:

Author Sean Fraser, a graduate of Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, is a full-time editor and writer.

For three years he was the Managing Editor of the Globetrotter Travel Series, a collection of acclaimed guides, atlases and travel maps focusing on a wide range of international travel destinations, including those of Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Americas.

He was also Associate Editor of Discover Africa magazine and Contributing Editor on Africa – Environment and Wildlife (now Africa Geographic).

He is also the author of no fewer than eight glossy coffee-table volumes on the people, wildlife and natural splendour of South Africa, three natural history guides aimed at creating conservation awareness among young readers, particularly in Africa, as well as National Geographics 336-page African Adventure Atlas, which explores the seemingly endless opportunities for travel and adventure on the continent.

Based in Cape Town, Sean Fraser currently enjoys a freelance career in book and magazine publishing, specialising in travel and political biography.


Whales and dolpins:

Whales and dolphins are mammals, that is to say, warm-blooded animals with backbones that breathe air and suckle their young. Millions of years ago, their ancestors lived on land but, because they now spend all their time in water, their bodies have adapted to living in the sea and are streamlined much like those of fish.

Because they need to breathe air, whales and dolphins must be able to hold their breath for a long time underwater - some of the really big whales can hold their breath for over an hour!

Because it is so dark underwater, whales and dolphins do not rely on their eyesight, but rather use sound to help them find their way, by I sending out sound waves, which bounce off other objects. If a whale or dolphin detects an echo, it knows that there is something in the way. This is known as echolocation. Whales and dolphins are known as cetaceans - about 79 species occur around the world, 38 of which are found in the waters off southern Africa’s coast.


Contents:

Whales and dolphins
Sharks
Identifying sea creatures
Out to sea
Whales & Dolphins
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
Brydes Whale
Balaenoptera edeni
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Southern Right Whale
Eubalaena australis
Southern Bottlenose Whale
Hyperoodon planifrons
Blainvilles Beaked Whale
Mesoplodon densirostris
Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Melon-headed Whale
Peponocephala electra
Pygmy Killer Whale
Feresa attenuata
Orca (Killer Whale)
Orcinus orca
Pilot Whale Globicephala
macrorhynchus
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Humpback Dolphin
Sousa chinensis
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
Spinner Dolphin
Stenella longirostris
Spotted Dolphin
Stenella attenuata
Striped Dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba
Dusky Dolphin
Lagenorhynchus obscurus
Frasers Dolphin
Lagenodelphis hosei
Heavisides Dolphin
Cephalorhynchus heavisidii
Rissos Dolphin
Grampus griseus
Sharks
African Angelshark
Squatina africana
Sixgill Cowshark
Hexanchus griseus
Shortspine Spiny Dogfish
Squalus mitsukurii
Short-tail Lantemshark
Etmopterus brachyurus
Brown Shyshark
Haploblepharus fuscus
Pygmy Shark
Euprotomicrus bispinatus
Seal Shark Dalatias licha
Yellowspotted Catshark
Scyliorhinus capensis
Sixgill Savvshark
Pliotrema warreni
Zebra Shark
Stegostoma fasciatum
Goblin Shark
Mitsukurina owstoni
Whale Shark Rhincodon typus
Spotted Raggedtooth Shark
Carcharias faurus
Thintailed Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Great White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
Shortfin Mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
Snaggletooth Shark
Hemipristis elongatus
Sicklefin Lemon Shark
Negaprion acutidens
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Tiger Shark Galeocerdo cuvier
Bull Shark (Zambezi Shark)
Carcharhinus leucas
Dusky Shark
Carcharhinus obscurus
Copper Shark
Carcharhinus brachyurus
Blue Shark Prionace glauca
Smooth Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrna zygaena
Glossary
Index and Checklist

  

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