"Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea is a long-overdue revision and expansion of what has become a classic book in marine literature. This lavishly illustrated volume provides exhaustive coverage of more than 1200 species, or more than 90 per cent of the region's reef fishes. Every species is illustrated and an added bonus is provided in the form of photographic coverage of the juvenile, female and male in species that vary in colour according to their developmental stage or sex.

This feature is especially vital for identifying the members of the large wrasse and parrotfish families. Besides the wide array of underwater and diagnostic laboratory photographs, the book contains seven plates painted by the talented natural-history artist Roger Swainston. The result is a reference book that will enable even a beginning layman to identify most of the region's reef fishes. Divers, anglers, underwater naturalists, and professional biologists are equally catered for.

Although reef fishes are the primary focus of the book, a special section on billfishes, tunas, and mackerels is included especially for anglers."--BOOK JACKET.