The Anatomy of the Sea: Over 600 Creatures of the Deep

by David Ponsonby, George Sussart

From sharks, star-fish, and sea squirts to porpoises, penguins, and plankton, this charming compendium is swimming with exotic sea life. Over 600 specimens are presented in page after page of intricate engravings, woodcuts, and drawings from the Victorian era, the golden age of natural history. Meticulously rendered, these illustrations are paired with observations from early naturalists, describing the classification of each particular species, how its body is constructed, its behavior and preferences, and its habitat. Arranged by type and covering nearly all forms of marine life, The Anatomy of the Sea brings to light in one exquisite detail after another the mysteries of the deep. It's an inspiring book for all those who have gazed at the ocean in wonder.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Reference, Nature, Biology, Art

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2005

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little package of a book has Victorian images of sea creatures and is broken down by scientific species, marked by color for genus/species and alphabetical within. The facts are well-chosen and intriguing, and the images reinforce many of them. A handy primer to remember the difference between anemone & urchin, skate & ray, and to find out that there are carnivorous snails...among other things.

[Ronan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information on sea creatures is pretty basic if you have any sort of biology background, but the artwork is gorgeous and the historical tidbits about Victorian science quite fascinating.

[Yilaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

+ beautiful; pleasingly designed
+ wide coverage of species

- inaccurate and/or outdated in parts?
- can be quite a random smattering of facts. I understand this is sort of meant as a digest, but it made for some broad, sweeping generalizations, which occasionally felt misleading
- Not sure of intended audience. Natural history buffs? Not enough info on the history of the illustrations. Amateur naturalists? Well, not only is there only cursory info, but the historical illustrations in fact then become distracting; the book itself states that there are inaccuracies and outdated nomenclature.

I think I'd have preferred a more scientifically robust book with occasional historical anecdotes, or a book more focused on the history of natural science (it is indeed a robust collection of illustrations, most of which are quite physiologically accurate)

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

This just appeared on my desk at work one day and I read it avidly. Intriguing information, beautifully illustrated. Just the thing if you happen to be wondering about the internal radial symmetry of a Sea Urchin or the scrapey skin of any member of the Shark clan.

[Andi Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book for reference, I wish I had one for botoany! Small as well, fits well in a backpack...