The Fishes of Ohio: With Illustrated Keys

About this book

In 1957 Milton B. Trautman . . . authored one of the finest regional fish books. His first edition of The Fishes of Ohio was unique in its approach by documenting historical changes in fish distribution in the face of mans encroachment and alteration of aquatic ecosystems. . . . Now 24 years later a revised edition of this classic work has been made available. The objectives of this edition are to demonstrate and explain distributional changes from 1750 to 1980 and to provide keys to the 166 species of Ohio fishes. These aims are admirably achieved. The natural factors influencing distribution of fishes are discussed in Part I which relates the geology physiography topography hydrology and climatic history of the regions. . . . Part II reviews changes that have occurred from 1750 until 1980 and is an excellent chronicle of modern mans alternation and manipulation of essentially every aquatic ecosystem in Ohio. . . . Part III is a listing of species synonomy and nomenclatorial history of Ohios fishes. . . . Part IV is an informative section of the systematics and nomenclature of fishes that is very useful to beginning students of ichthylogy. The glossary and family and species keys contained in Part V are excellent. Part VI contains the major content of the book the 166 species accounts. . . . The updated range maps a central focus of Trautmans approach are excellent and obviously the result of endless efforts. Ohio is one of the most thoroughly surveyed of all states and to translate these data to visual understanding is an unenviable task for which the reader should be deeply appreciative. . . . Also of exceptional quality are the species illustrations originally rendered by Mrs. E. R. Weeks and Trautman himself for the 1957 edition. They are among the best of their kind in a fish reference work and serve well to facilitate identification of specimens in hand. . . . Anyone concerned with or otherwise interested in the fishes aquatic environments or general natural history of Ohio or eastern North America should consider this book a valued addition to their library. Ohio Journal of Science