The Sierra Club Handbook of Seals and Sirenians
Covering pinnipeds (walrus, fur seal, sea lion, true seals) and sirenians (manatees, dugong), marine otters, and polar bears, this work is a companion volume to Reeves and Stephen Leatherwood's Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins ( LJ 11/15/83). Incorporating the knowledge of marine mammals acquired through high-technology instruments and equipment in the last decade, information on each species includes a color illustration, a description of the animal and its geographical distribution, an account of its natural history, a history of its exploitation, a discussion of its conservation status, and suggestions for futher reading. The authors are scientists affiliated with universities or research institutions. The nontechnical text is clearly written, and the volume would serve well as a field guide for a natural history cruise. Numerous black-and-white photos, appendixes of common and scientific names of animals and plants, a list of breeding ranges by major ocean areas, a 21-page bibliography, and an index enhance this work's reference value. Useful for libraries not owning the four-volume Handbook of Marine Mammals , edited by S.H. Ridgway and R.J. Harrison (Academic Pr., 1981-89).- Judith B. Barnett, Pell Marine Science Lib., Univ. of Rhode Island, KingstonCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.