Whales and Dolphins

Fülszöveg

' I' 'V.'
!
III

I' I
AND DOLPHINS
Public interest in whales, dolphins and porpoises - collectively known as cetaceans - has increased dramatically in recent years. Captive displays of dolphins, the many excellent television documentaries, and the extensive media coverage of such topics as 'scientific' whaling and the entrapped gray whales off Alaska all play their part. This new book fosters even more interest in cetaceans by providing answers to the multiplicity of questions that are continually asked about these fascinating mammals of the sea.
The book is presented in two parts. Part One explores the world of cetaceans in the broadest possible sense, with sections on their origins and evolution and how they have become superbly adapted to live in water - particularly in terms of their swimming and diving capabilities, their senses, their feeding methods, and how they reproduce and 'behave' in a social context. A key feature of this part of the book is a review of the... Tovább

Fülszöveg

' I' 'V.'
!
III

I' I
AND DOLPHINS
Public interest in whales, dolphins and porpoises - collectively known as cetaceans - has increased dramatically in recent years. Captive displays of dolphins, the many excellent television documentaries, and the extensive media coverage of such topics as 'scientific' whaling and the entrapped gray whales off Alaska all play their part. This new book fosters even more interest in cetaceans by providing answers to the multiplicity of questions that are continually asked about these fascinating mammals of the sea.
The book is presented in two parts. Part One explores the world of cetaceans in the broadest possible sense, with sections on their origins and evolution and how they have become superbly adapted to live in water - particularly in terms of their swimming and diving capabilities, their senses, their feeding methods, and how they reproduce and 'behave' in a social context. A key feature of this part of the book is a review of the ways in which cetaceans and man interact, with a special look at the phenomenon of strandings (including practical advice on how to cope with a stranded cetacean) and the growing interest in whale watching in the wild and in captivity, plus a brief survey of the wide range of innovative research being carried out by cetacean scientists throughout the world. The final section looks at the increasing hazards posed to whales and dolphins by fisheries and pollution.
Part Two of the book forms a species-by-species account of all 78 currently recognized cetaceans, looking first at the 11 species of baleen, or 'whalebone', whales and then at the 67 species of toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises. Each species is described under a series of headings that reflect all aspects of its basic biology and way of life, including a summary of man's influence on its past fortunes and future prospects. All species, except the elusive Longman's beaked whale, are shown in colour photographs or illustrations, and meticulously researched maps plot the latest information on known or presumed distribution.
Throughout, the aim has been to make the book accessible to the widest possible audience, from schoolchildren thirsty for basic information to professional scientists seeking the latest data presented in the most compact form. Vissza