"Two Oceans. A guide to the marine life of southern Africa" is an extensive field guide to marine organisms found around South Africa and Namibia. The book was published with the aid of the WWF.
According to the authors, the emphasis of this field guide is on groups that are diverse, most often encountered, and poorly represented in other field guides. The focus is on the life of open-coast beaches and rocky shores, although aquatic estuarine animals and plants are also covered. Of the birds, only coastal shore line species are included. Of the fish, those commonly seen in tide pools, by divers or frequently caught by anglers. Special attention is given to smaller rock-pool fish, which are largely ignored by other field guides.
The book includes colour photos, range maps and short species presentations - all on facing pages.
When leafing through "Two Oceans" I was struck by two things: the staggering diversity of life, and the fact that it's frequently disgusting. Fish louse and other isopods, wonder-worm, sea swallow, yellow-bellied sea snake... The gods must be crazy!
:D
Five stars...for scaring me.
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