A layman's guide to identifying and understanding the marine life while scuba diving.

This book looks at Florida's ocean as a habitat, a community of elaborate mini-creatures swimming next to bulky saltwater giants. Drifting alongside these living creatures are inanimate objects--bottles, nurdles, rafts, toys and tar blobs--lost or tossed from cargo ships. They float in the Sargasso Sea or flow with the Gulf Stream, sometimes drifting to Florida's east coast to become part of the sea wrack--the flotsam and jetsam that we find when strolling on the shore.

The first edition of Florida's Living Beaches (2007) was widely praised. Now, the second edition of this supremely comprehensive guide has even more to satisfy the curious beachcomber, including expanded content and additional accounts with more than 1800 full-color photographs, maps, and illustrations. It heralds the living things and metaphorical life along the state's 700 miles of sandy beaches. The expanded second edition now identifies and explains over 1400 curiosities, with lavishly illustrated accounts organized into Beach Features, Beach Animals, Beach Plants, Beach Minerals, and Hand of Man.

Ellie Whitney grew up in New York City, was educated at Harvard and Washington universities, and has lived in Tallahassee since 1970. She has taught at Florida State and Florida A & M universities Bruce Means grew up in Alaska, has a Ph. D. in biology from the Florida State University, and is president of the Coastal Plains Institute and Land Conservancy Anne Rudloe has a Ph. D. in biology from Florida State University. She and her husband Jack Rudloe live in Panacea, Florida, where they run the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory.

“A highly useful and interesting reference for ichthyologists, recreational fish enthusiasts and those working in Florida waters . . . a worthy addition.” —Marine Biology Research The most comprehensive book about Florida’s marine fishes ever produced, Marine Fishes of Florida includes hundreds of photographs and descriptions of species you’ll encounter—plus many that are rare—when diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or fishing. Coverage includes both the Atlantic and Gulf coastline, from habitats near the shore to deeper waters. Fishes found in coastal rivers and other brackish waters are fully represented, as are offshore species that venture into Florida’s waters often enough to be called “occasional visitors.” David B. Snyder and George H. Burgess intertwine personal observations with results from research studies to provide accurate—often surprising—details. The result is a set of beautifully succinct identification descriptions coupled with information about each species’ natural history. From the largest sharks to the smallest cryptic gobies, from homely toadfishes to the spectacularly colored reef fishes, this book is certain to help you better understand the fish you’ve seen or hooked. Features of Marine Fishes of Florida include: Color photographs by leading marine photographers Differentiation of adult and juvenile forms Coverage of 133 fish families and hundreds of species Size and geographical range data Natural history and conservation notes Explanations of geologic history and current habitats “Entertaining and informative . . . I think this book will be a great addition to the library of any biologist, fisher, diver or student, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of Florida fishes.” —Environmental Biology of Fishes

This updated guide provides the latest findings about the biology and ecology of the Gulf of Mexico.