"Of all the literature I use while preparing field guides for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Nelson's Fishes of the World is, by far, the one I refer to most often. [This] book is a standard reference . . . I continue to use it extensively in the ichthyology courses I teach, particularly in laboratory sessions." -Kent E. Carpenter Old Dominion University "Fishes of the World is a unique and essential resource for anyone seriously interested in the diversity and evolution of fishes. The family accounts provide quick summaries of current knowledge on all groups of living fishes and many key fossil taxa. It is a required work for every student in my laboratory." -William E. Bemis Kingsbury Director of Shoals Marine Laboratory, Cornell University "Only classics are known by the single name of their author, and certainly [Nelson's book] has for four editions been such a book for all those who seek an accessible, up-to-date, readable reference on fish classification. Once again, Nelson presents a balanced view of the sometimes tumultuous, but ever-exciting, study of the phylogenetic relationships and classification of fishes. In doing so, Nelson makes an excellent case for organismal biology, highlighting the many and varied morphological characters we use to diagnose fish taxa and differentiate among the 515 families of living species." -Lynne R. Parenti Curator of Fishes and Research Scientist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Fishes of the World, Fourth Edition is the updated edition of a true classic in the field. A unique presentation of a modern, cladistically based classification of all the major living and fossil fish groups, this indispensable reference helps scientists and others identify and classify specimens, make familial connections, understand the evolution of fishes, and springboard into further research. The taxonomy of fishes presented includes the anatomical characteristics, distribution, common and scientific names, and phylogenetic relationships for all 515 families of living fishes. Packed with representative species drawings and information on phylogentic relationships, this informative Fourth Edition features: * Both fossil and extant species * More than 500 illustrations * Fully vetted scientific and common names * An extensive bibliography

Freshwater Fishes of the Eastern Himalayas provides a guide to describe the internationally accepted methods used in the accurate identification of fishes, morphometry, i.e., body proportions, meristics, i.e., counts of countable characters, viz., scales, fin rays, pores, vertebrae etc., characters of bones wherever necessary, special characters, viz., serrations of fin spines, axillary lobes, lobes, color patterns, etc. All the available taxa of the region are covered, making this an essential reference that provides the original description of genera and species. Diagnostic characters in the book can be easily examined by an unaided eye or by a binocular dissecting microscope with transmitted light. - Provides diagnostic characters which are unique for a species or a combination of characters to differentiate each species from its congeners - Includes both verbal and technical aspects, along with color illustrations of the particular part of the fish showing the distinguishing character - Presents diagnostic characters, illustrations or images of the fish and of its parts, showing the unique character and distribution to make it easy for species identification

This book is an up to date compendium of all information available up to 1997 in respect of the freshwater fish fauna of this region . The classification adopted is generally after Nelson's Fishes of the World (1994), Howes (1991) with inputs from Eschmeyer's Genera of Fishes (1990). For Cyprinine genera the order of an arrangement proposed by Rainborth (1991) has been adhered to. In respect of nemacheilines the arrangement proposed by Banarescu and Nalbant (1995), Kottelat (1990) have been followed. As indicated in the title the Indian region as conceived here includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mayanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka within their political boundaries. Afghanistan and other border areas excluded. All primary freshwater fishes are definitely listed and many secondary and peripheral species that visit freshwater are also included. A uniform pattern of citation is adopted. Brief salient features of all the taxa up to orders are given. Descriptive details in respect of families and genera are provided more elaborately. Synonymies include the latest valid name, first reference, type-designations and more important pertinent references to that taxa. All citations have been checked, and cross-checked with the aid of Eschmeyer's work. Species are not described but listed alphabetically with their known range of distribution, but genera are described and arranged according to their known phylogenetic and intergeneric affinities. Keys are provided and simple drawings illustrating characters where needed are given. Synonyms, notes on species, genera, nomenclatural clarifications are given as foot-notes against relevant species marked with an asterisk, but in the foot-note the same serial number alone is cited and not the full species name. Figures depicting a representative of most genera can be seen; for many genera the more common species are illustrated as plate figures. A total of 272 genera with 852 species falling under 71 families and 16 orders are dealt with in this book. A glossary of 218 technical terms with adequate illustrations and a bibliography of 649 references are given. 241 figures and 18 plates are in the book. An addenda made up to date carries brief information of one new genus, 11 new species and one new subspecies.

This book summarizes the key adaptations enabling extremophile fishes to survive under harsh environmental conditions. It reviews the most recent research on acidic, Antarctic, cave, desert, hypersaline, hypoxic, temporary, and fast-flowing habitats, as well as naturally and anthropogenically toxic waters, while pointing out generalities that are evident across different study systems. Knowledge of the different adaptations that allow fish to cope with stressful environmental conditions furthers our understanding of basic physiological, ecological, and evolutionary principles. In several cases, evidence is provided for how the adaptation to extreme environments promotes the emergence of new species. Furthermore, a link is made to conservation biology, and how human activities have exacerbated existing extreme environments and created new ones. The book concludes with a discussion of major open questions in our understanding of the ecology and evolution of life in extreme environments.

This book clearly identifies nearly 170 families of fishes through the use of high-quality illustrations and includes an accurate account of selected members of that particular fish family, as well as a distribution map and accompanying commentary on classification, distribution, and diversity.Key Features* High-quality illustrations of representatives from each family* Distribution map provided for each family* Commentary for each family