An Introduction to Marine Life
This comprehensive guide aims to introduce the broad diversity of marine life to amateur naturalists, beachcombers, divers and others who have an interest in life in the sea.
All major kinds of living marine organisms are described, from seaweeds to seabirds, seawhips to seahorses, both common and obscure. Illustrated quick guides enable identification of the main groups with stunning colour illustrations of local examples from southern Australia. Dangerous marine life, introduced species and fishing bait species are also included.
Shrimps, Prawns and Lobsters
For most of us, shrimps, prawns and lobsters immediately brings to mind something edible and tasty and many are small inconspicuous inhabitants living on our shores and in shallow water.
This guide includes a description of each animal accompanied by a colour photograph with information about each animals behaviour, diversity and ecology. The endmatter includes both a scientific and common name index, further references and a glossary.
Crabs, Hermit Crabs and Allies
This guide aims to familiarise amateur naturalists, beachcombers, divers and others who have an interest in crabs, hermit crabs and their close relatives: what they do, how they behave, their environment, ecology and diversity.
Species descriptions are accompanied by colour photographs, line drawings and illustrations for easy recognition. Maps, further references, a glossary, and scientific and common name indexes are also included.
Australian Echinoderms
Echinoderms, including feather stars, seastars, brittle stars, sea urchins and sea cucumbers, are some of the most beautiful and interesting animals in the sea. They play an important ecological role and several species of sea urchins and sea cucumbers form the basis of important fisheries. Over 1000 species live in Australian waters, from the shoreline to the depths of the abyssal plain and the tropics to Antarctic waters.
Australian Echinoderms is an authoritative account of Australia’s 110 families of echinoderms. It brings together in a single volume comprehensive information on the identification, biology, evolution, ecology and management of these animals for the first time. Richly illustrated with beautiful photographs and written in an accessible style, Australian Echinoderms suits the needs of marine enthusiasts, academics and fisheries managers both in Australia and other geographical areas where echinoderms are studied.
Tropical Marine Wildlife of Australia
The definitive guide to tropical Australian and central Indo- Pacific marine life, covering over 2,400 species of animals and plants, including many never before photographed or covered in field guides. Groups covered include seaweeds, corals, molluscs, crustaceans, fishes, reptiles and mammals. The characteristics of each species are outlined, including distinguishing features, distribution and rarity. This indispensable guide covers all common species likely to be encountered by divers and shoreline ramblers, and also many rarer species or those with an unusual appearance or lifestyle. Tropical Marine Wildlife of Australia is the most comprehensive book describing tropical marine animals and plants for both Australia and wider Indo-Pacific region, and is of interest to divers, beachcombers, teachers, university students and researchers.
Sponges: A Museum Victoria field guide
We might think of sponges as bathroom objects but the living animals are far more interesting. They come in all shapes and sizes, occur in all oceans of the world and have amazing lives.
This guide introduces naturalists, divers and biologists to sponge species commonly encountered in southern Australia – their identification, biology, defences and associations with other animals. Species descriptions are accompanied by colour photographs, line drawings and illustrations to aid recognition.
A Guide to Southern Temperate Seagrasses
A Guide to Southern Temperate Seagrasses describes the exceptionally diverse seagrasses in the temperate parts of the southern hemisphere. This book introduces readers to the evolution, biology and ecology of the southern temperate seagrasses and presents a visual key to allow species identification using easily recognisable features. Detailed information is presented summarising the distinctive features of each species or ‘complex’, with brief notes about their taxonomy, reproduction and ecology.
With information provided in a highly concise format, this book allows readers to rapidly identify a particular seagrass, as well as other species that it may easily be confused with, confirm that the species occurs in a certain area, and access general information on the biology and ecology of the species. It is a valuable resource for students, researchers, environmental consultants and both government and non-government agencies.
Learn more at CSIRO Publishing
Prehistoric Marine Life in Australia’s Inland Sea
Step back to a time when Australia’s red centre was flooded by a vast shallow ocean, the Eromanga Sea. While dinosaurs stalked the scattered islands that made up the Australian continent, giant marine reptiles ruled the waves.
Plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs swam in an inland sea filled with schools of ammonites, pterosaurs flew overhead and giant carnivorous amphibians lurked in the rivers. Prehistoric marine, the third in the Museum Victoria Nature series, is a guide to the fauna of the Eromanga Sea and its coasts during the Cretaceous period.
This richly illustrated book brings to life yet another aspect of the fascinating world of Australia’s prehistoric past and provides an accessible introduction to some of the amazing fauna, geology and fossils found in this part of the world.
Cephalopods of Australia and Sub-Antarctic Territories
Australian waters contain the highest diversity of cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish and octopus) found anywhere in the world. They are highly significant ecologically, both as top-level predators and as prey for numerous vertebrates, including fishes, seals, cetaceans and seabirds.
Rockpools
Between Tasmanian tide lines
This guide is intended to allow the user to identify the common plants and animals seen between the high and low tide lines, or intertidal zone, around Tasmania.
Seashells
The seashells of Tasmania: a comprehensive guide.
A Handbook to Australian Seashells will help you to identify most of the shells you find, no matter where you are on the Australian coast. It includes over 375 species of the most common seashells found along our seashores. Each one is illustrated with a beautiful colour photograph showing its colours, patterns, shape and sculpture.
A Handbook to Australian Seashells
A Handbook to Australian Seashells will help you to identify most of the shells you find, no matter where you are on the Australian coast. It includes over 375 species of the most common seashells found along our seashores. Each one is illustrated with a beautiful colour photograph showing its colours, patterns, shape and sculpture.
Bryozoa
Australian Bryozoa Volume 1: Biology, Ecology and Natural History
Bryozoans are aquatic animals that form colonies of connected individuals. They take a variety of forms: some are bushy and moss-like, some are flat and encrusting and others resemble lace. Bryozoans are mostly marine, with species found in all oceans from sublittoral to abyssal depths, but freshwater species also exist. Some bryozoans are of concern as marine-fouling organisms and invasive species, while others show promise as sources of anticancer, antiviral and antifouling substances.
Written by experts in the field, Australian Bryozoa Volume 1: Biology, Ecology and Natural History is the first of two volumes describing Australia’s 1200 known species of bryozoans, the richest diversity of bryozoans of any country in the world. It contains chapters on the discovery of bryozoans, their morphology, classification and fossil history, their roles in biosecurity and marine benthic environments, and potential uses in biotechnology and ocean acidification. It provides an authoritative reference for biology students, academics and others interested in marine biology.
Australian Bryozoa Volume 2: Taxonomy of Australian Families
Written by experts in the field, Australian Bryozoa Volume 2: Taxonomy of Australian Families is the second of two volumes describing Australia’s 1200 known species of bryozoans, the richest diversity of bryozoans of any country in the world. It contains detailed taxonomic data and illustrated family-level treatments, which can be used to identify specimens. It provides an authoritative reference for biology students, academics and others interested in marine biology.