ANATOMY OF THE SEA: Over 600 Creatures of the Deep

by David. Dussart Georges Ponsonby

A superabundant biosphere, the ocean houses a vast array of life-forms - a great many of which lie hidden in the deep. For centuries, naturalists have catalogued these species and created intricately detailed illustrations of each creature. Here, in "The Anatomy Of The Sea", you'll find fascinating profiles and classic illustrations of more than 600 specimens, showcased in all their diverse glory.Showing us aquatic life through the eyes of the early naturalists, authors David Ponsonby and GeorgeS Dussart pair Victorian engravings, woodcuts, and drawings with intriguing text telling of the naturalists' quest for discovery, the species' classification, their complex composition, and habitats.

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- inaccurate and/or outdated in parts?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the historical illustrations in fact then become distracting; the book itself states that there are inaccuracies and outdated nomenclature.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...