Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia
Authored by: Rudie H. KuiterA review by Bob Goemans
TITLE: Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia
AUTHORS: Rudie H. Kuiter
PUBLISHER: University of Hawaii Press
Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia is an outstanding "identification" guide for the scientist, diver, student, and the hobbyist for those species living in the covered area. This work-of-art is comprised of 142 families and 855 species, all illustrated with at least one color photograph. Where possible, juvenile stages, different male-female forms, and/or color variants of the same species are also depicted. The great majority of the species were photographed in their natural environment. In fact, Rudie was one of the presenters at MACNA V. His presentation encompassed photos of fishes from the West Pacific. Not only were these photos the best darn color pictures I've ever seen, but depicted the fishes relationships, variations, changes in growth, color, shapes, adaptation, and mimicry. Many of the fish shown are so new to science, they remain unidentified. Much of his presentation can be seen in this book.
Information on the individual fishes is limited to common and scientific name, location, general description based on external features, habitat, size, and is arranged scientifically from the highest class down to the species, based on the latest revisions. In conclusion, even though many of the fish depicted will never appear in our reef aquariums, you would find Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia a state-of-the-art, profusely illustrated and beautiful produced book. As a pictorial guide of the fishes found in this part of the world, you'll not find any better!