Marine Mammals Of India

The Intelligent Dolphins, The Giant Whales And The Inoffensive Dugong Or Sea-Cow Are Among The Most Fascinating Creatures In The Wild. Every Aspect Of Their Way Of Life Is Astonishing Some Of Them Use Sound To See In The Water, Some Of Them Dive To Incredible Depths In Search Of Food, And Some Of Them Sing Complex Songs. Marine Mammals Are So Intriguing That Worldwide There Is A Multi-Million Dollar Industry In Just Watching These Animals. Yet, In India Few Are Even Aware That There Are Many Of These Creatures In The Seas Around The Country A Full Fourth Of The World S 120 Or So Species, In Fact. This Is Due To The Lack Of Information About Them. Most Existing Records Are Scattered In Various Scientific Journals. No Book Published So Far Covers This Group Of Indian Wildlife Adequately. This Book Is Meant For A Wide Range Of Readers Including Children, Wildlife Enthusiasts And Serious Students. A Significant Part Of The Book Is Devoted To The More Than 30 Species Accounts, Which Make The Book A Useful Reference. Glimpses Of Their Lifestyles Are Given Through Several Essays Dealing, For Example, With The Phenomenon Of Mass Strandings Of Whales Or The Reputed Ferocity Of The Killer Whale. Further, Color Illustrations And Character Matrices Meant For Easy Identification Make Marine Mammals Of India A Useful Field Guide. The Extensive Bibliography Makes The Book A Valuable Research Aid. The Accounts Of Whaling And Other Threats Faced By Marine Mammals Highlight The Conservation Requirements Of These Animals.

More than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, making it an ideal and abundant resource for studying species diversity, faunal communities, and ecosystems. India’s massive coastline (5,044 miles) means it plays a major role in housing these faunal communities. Of the 32 animal phyla, 15 are represented in India’s marine ecosystem, covering more than 15,000 species. Marine and coastal ecosystems of India provide supporting services in the form of wide range of habitats. Major ecosystems such as estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, lagoons, seaweeds and sea grasses serve as nurseries for both inshore and offshore fishes and others, many of which are supposed to be commercially exploited. Marine Faunal Diversity in India describes different marine faunal group ranges from sponges, corals, mollusks, crabs, fishes, reptiles, birds, marine mammals, mangrove fauna and tsunami impact on marine faunal diversity. The chapters, written by reputed experts in their respective fields, illustrate diversity and distribution of marine faunal communities. Key aspects of the ecology and conservation of this important ecosystem are also discussed. Marine Faunal Diversity in India provides marine biologists and related researchers with access to the latest research and field studies from this major region. Provides the latest field research on marine faunal diversity throughout the vast and species-rich Indian region Brings together expertise from top marine biology researchers in the country Covers a diverse array of aquatic environments, including coastal and island areas Discusses conservation ecology of marine faunal groups

With coverage on all the marine mammals of the world, authors Jefferson, Webber, and Pitman have created a user-friendly guide to identify marine mammals alive in nature (at sea or on the beach), dead specimens “in hand , and also to identify marine mammals based on features of the skull. This handy guide provides marine biologists and interested lay people with detailed descriptions of diagnostic features, illustrations of external appearance, beautiful photographs, dichotomous keys, and more. Full color illustrations and vivid photographs of every living marine mammal species are incorporated, as well as comprehendible maps showing a range of information. For readers who desire further consultation, authors have included a list of literature references at the end of each species account. For an enhanced understanding of habitation, this guide also includes recognizable geographic forms described separately with colorful paintings and photographs. All of these essential tools provided make Marine Mammals of the World the most detailed and authoritative guide available! * Contains superb photographs of every species of marine mammal for accurate identification * Authors’ collective experience adds up to 80 years, and have seen nearly all of the species and distinctive geographic forms described in the guide * Provides the most detailed and anatomically accurate illustrations currently available * Special emphasis is placed on the identification of species in “problem groups, such as the beaked whales, long-beaked oceanic dolphin, and southern fur seals * Includes a detailed list of sources for more information at the back of the book.

Originally published as: A field guide to Indian mammals / Vivek Menon. Delhi, India: Dorling Kindersley, 2003.

This thorough revision of the classic Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals brings this authoritative book right up-to-date. Articles describe every species in detail, based on the very latest taxonomy, and a host of biological, ecological and sociological aspects relating to marine mammals. The latest information on the biology, ecology, anatomy, behavior and interactions with man is provided by a cast of expert authors – all presented in such detail and clarity to support both marine mammal specialists and the serious naturalist. Fully referenced throughout and with a fresh selection of the best color photographs available, the long-awaited second edition remains at the forefront as the go-to reference on marine mammals. More than 20% NEW MATERIAL includes articles on Climate Change, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Sociobiology, Habitat Use, Feeding Morphology and more Over 260 articles on the individual species with topics ranging from anatomy and behavior, to conservation, exploitation and the impact of global climate change on marine mammals New color illustrations show every species and document topical articles FROM THE FIRST EDITION “This book is so good...a bargain, full of riches...packed with fascinating up to date information. I recommend it unreservedly it to individuals, students, and researchers, as well as libraries." --Richard M. Laws, MARINE MAMMALS SCIENCE "...establishes a solid and satisfying foundation for current study and future exploration" --Ronald J. Shusterman, SCIENCE