TITLE: Reef Sharks & Rays of the World

AUTHOR: Scott W. Michael

PUBLISHER: Sea Challengers

ISBN 0-930118-18-9

PAGES: 107

PRICE: $24.95

This softcover book, with 173 color photographs and numerous pen and ink drawings is mainly an identification guide for divers. The book/guide describes 120 species of sharks and 112 species of rays from around the world. Along with helping the diver identify the shark or ray in question, the guide also provides information to their behavior and ecology.

There is a brief introduction on sharks and rays (elasmobranchs), followed by a section on how to use this guide. There are simply too many sections in this guide/book to mention here. But those interested in the A to Z approach will not be disappointed. The 173 color photographs, and numerous black and white photos and sketches makes “Reef Sharks & Rays of the World” a work of art.

If I were a perfectionist, I could find some spelling and punctuation mistakes. But I should not cast stones, especially when I look at some of my own articles. Yet, there is one, ever so small criticism that I would like to surface and that is the physical size of the print. It is extremely small when compared to what is found in other books.

All in all, whether you are a diver or not, if you are interested in sharks or rays, you’ll enjoy this extremely fair priced, well written book.