This book is the best field guide to cetaceans that I've seen yet. It does an excellent job of presenting known identification criteria as well as pitfalls. The pictures, measurements, and dive sequences provide a quick reference. The more in-depth text provides the further details needed to confirm an ID or sometimes to explain why your view of a specific animal keeps you from making a positive ID.

This is the one cetacean field guide I recommend to trip participants.


If you like whales, you'll like this book   December 15, 1999
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

If you want detailed information on whales, dolphins and porpoises layed out in a consistant, logical way with beautifully drawn, color images, this is the book for you.

Some of the detailed information includes maps of where the animals typically range, a profile of their dive sequences for whale watchers and a comparison profile against a 6ft tall man. This is for each and every animal in the book and only part of the information included.

This is a real gift to whale lovers and whale watchers everywhere. I can't really see anyone being dissapointed in a purchase of this book.


My second bible!   November 14, 1998
 5 out of 7 found this review helpful

I am a whale expert, but I wouldn't be were it not for this book. My copy is less than a year old, but it is already terribly battered because I read it so much. I can name almost every cetacean in it, and because of it, I have decided on my desired proffession-- A Cetaceanologist, or person that studies whales, dolphins, and porpoises. I feel this book is a must for whale lovers, and I hope that some day I can own more Eyewitness Handbooks. I love this book!


This book is GREAT!   June 11, 1998
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I am truly amazed at this book! I have learned so many things about my favorite things on the planet: CETACEANS! I recommend this book to anyone who loves cetaceans.


THE field guide on cetaceans to take on your travels   February 14, 1998
This durably jacketed guide to all known cetaceans contains easy to use identification information and illustrations. This is THE take-along field guide to use if you are going whale watching or traveling anywhere you want to know about the whales, dolphins/ porpoises you are seeing, as well as some explanation of behaviors and how they live. We used it in Antarctica; it's field tested. Jose Kirchner