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| The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife: Birds and Marine Mammals of the Antarctic Continent and the Southern Ocean | 
| Author: Hadoram Shirihai
Creator: Brett Jarrett
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Category: Book
Buy Used: $107.06
New (1) from $200.39
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 705710
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 10.3 x 7 x 1.1
ISBN: 0691114145
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.09989
EAN: 9780691114149
ASIN: 0691114145
Publication Date: September 16, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Good solid book. Library withdrawal with usual markings, general wear. | Hardcover
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Product Description
The first of its kind, this spectacularly illustrated book is the only complete guide to the wildlife and natural history of the vast and beautiful Antarctic region. Covering the Antarctic continent, the southern ocean, and the subantarctic islands, this guide illustrates all of the region's breeding birds and marine mammals with stunning color photographs. In addition to the color plates, it features distribution maps and up-to-date species accounts expertly detailing abundance, seasonal status, and conservation prospects. The volume also covers numerous nonbreeding species, migrants, and vagrants. Regional chapters describe all of the subantarctic islands, in addition to most regularly visited sites in Antarctica, and are accompanied by maps of each area and photographs of each locale. These chapters present detailed information on geography, climate, geology, general ecology, and flora. They also address conservation efforts--past, present, and planned. The book concludes with practical information about visiting the area, including details on the best-available landing sites and notes on seasonal weather conditions. This is an indispensable companion for a trip far south, as well as an informative volume for anyone interested in the Antarctic region's remarkable, occasionally strange, and frequently beautiful animals. - Features 35 color plates and over 600 color photographs
- Illustrates and maps the distribution of all of the region's breeding birds and marine mammals
- Includes information on many non-breeders, migrants, and vagrants
- Features expert text reflecting recent advances in taxonomy
- Covers all of the subantarctic islands as well as Antarctica's regularly visited sites
- Offers travel tips, including weather considerations and landing sites
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| Customer Reviews:
Brilliant masterpiece of photos and text - invaluable July 3, 2008
Basics: 2008, 2nd edition, hardcover, 544 pages, 35 color plates, 920 color photos, range maps
Exquisite. Impressive. Awesome. This is an incredible book for three reasons. One, the thoroughness of information for so large a geographic region is unmatched in any other book I've seen. Two, the depth of coverage for each species leaves the reader wanting for little else. Three, the photos are outstanding and probably offer the best examples available for many of these remote species. A fourth reason just came to mind: I cannot think of one bird species in the region that is not represented with a good color photo.
This book has excellent photos for remote species that 99% of us will only dream about seeing. This is the only book I know of to offer quality photos of all the birds of the Tristan da Cunha islands -- a remote location that has always captured my fancy and wishes. Other sub-antarctic islands like Antipodes, South Georgia, Falklands, Chatham, Campbell, and Aukland islands have their unique species covered.
The text dedicated to each of the bird and mammal species is well written, complete, and invaluable to anyone visiting this sub-polar region. Topics for each include identification, distribution and biology, conservation, and taxonomy. The range maps do a valiant job at trying to capture detail for such a massive area. Viewed from directly above the southern pole, the map shows all of Antarctica along with the southern tips of South America, Africa, Australia, and all of New Zealand. The information in the identification section is detailed and offers great information on the plumage variations and critical differences between similar species.
The author uses the latest taxomonic revisions, which is important for the ongoing flux with albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters.
The layout of the chapters is a bit different from the typical book. I recommend taking a few moments to first review the contents outline at the very beginning. It helped me to better understand how the species and geographic groups were aligned as I flipped through the pages. There are several distinct sections which include a synopsis of the region, species accounts for birds and mammals, and regional descriptions to cover the many island groups.
The breadth of information in the first 40 and in the last 120 pages of the book is excellent material on the ecology, natural history, and geography of a rarely seen world. It is also a testament to the author's passions, experience, and scientific contributions.
If you ever go south of the S40-degree latitude, you must take this book despite its size and weight. This is also a requirement for your library if you have even the slightest interest in Antarctic wildlife.
Other Related Books:
1) Birds and Mammals of the Antarctic, Subantarctic and Falkland Islands by Todd
2) Birds of the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic by Watson
3) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (7 volumes) by Marchant et.al.
A wonderful guide, now even better May 18, 2008
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
The first edition of this wonderful book of natural history won many prizes and won my heart during a trip to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands a few years ago. It has just been significantly updated and revised and is significantly improved.
It has 920 color photographs and illustrations, including 300 new photographs. There are 128 color distribution maps and up-to-date species accounts including abundance, seasonal status, and conservation prospects. It covers many nonbreeding species, migrants, and vagrants. Sections on albatrosses and petrels have been fully revised.
There are excellent maps of each region, and chapters are devoted to geography, climate, geology, general ecology, and flora. The sections on conservation efforts are excellent and challenging.
This book makes me eager to read other books by Hadoram Shirihai, which include Whales Dolphins and Seals, A Guide to the Birding Hot-spots of Northern Israel (Volume 1: Northern Guide), A Guide to the Birding Hot-spots of Southern Israel (Volume 2: Southern Guide), and Sylvia Warblers.
There is a useful section on visiting Antarctica and the various islands; my trip was on the Explorer II (the successor to the "little red boat" Explorer I which sank a few months ago). It was a great joy to read this new edition and to relive my wonderful experiences visiting that marvelous part of the world.
Robert C. Ross 2008
Spectacular April 7, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I brought this book to the Antarctic peninsula with me, only to find a copy already aboard ship. It was still worth carrying.
Yes, good photos, but much better for the information. Details on identifying all sorts of animals, including the territories they can be found in at various times of the year, changes in appearance during the year and even a rather comical phonetic approximation of the sounds they might make.
I bought a lot of books in my year prep for this trip. This was one of the best. Must owning for anyone going south of 50 degrees.
Very Well Designed and Informative July 1, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Lot of great pictures and very informative articles. This book will definitely be with my camara and computer during my trip to Antarctica.
Fine book beautifully produced! January 1, 2005
18 out of 18 found this review helpful
Anyone who has read my other reviews will know that I don't give stars easily but I can find no reason even to deduct a single star from this book. Whether you have been, are going or just want to dream of going this is the book for you. As its title indicates, its prime purpose is to describe the wildlife, and it gives top billing to the birds - all in a level of detail which should satisfy the most demanding birder, but which the average interested amateur naturalist should also find interesting. The authors have sensibly provided a fine set of plates rather than relying on photos as the main identification aid. There are however many good photos as well - this use of both "media" is, as far as my experience goes, unusual in bird books which tend to opt for one or the other when in fact each has its advantages and disadvantages. The section on marine mammals is of a similar quality. Another section comprehensively describes each of the regions (including Sub-Antarctic islands all the way up to Tristan) with information which makes the book useful as a "travel guide" for planning and accompanying a trip (though it is really too fine a book to get damaged in use!). In addition there are good (if relatively short) sections on geology, climate, history, botany etc etc - in fact on just about any relevant subject you could think of. Indeed if you could only have 1 book on the Antarctic this is a very good candidate - and at a very good price!
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