{"product_id":"whales-dolphins-and-porpoises-a-natural-history-and-species-guide","title":"Whales  Dolphins  and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe eighty-nine cetacean species that swim our seas and rivers are as diverse as they are intelligent and elusive  from the hundred-foot-long  two-hundred-ton blue whale to the lesser-known tucuxi  ginkgo-toothed beaked whale  and diminutive  critically endangered vaquita. The huge distances these highly migratory creatures cover and the depths they dive mean we catch only the merest glimpses of their lives as they break the surface of the water. But thanks to the marriage of science and technology  we are now beginning to understand their anatomy  complex social structures  extraordinary communication abilities  and behavioral patterns. In this beautifully illustrated guide  renowned marine mammalogist Annalisa Berta draws on the contributions of a pod of fellow whale biologists to present the most comprehensive  authoritative overview ever published of these remarkable aquatic mammals.  Opening with an accessible rundown of cetacean biologyincluding the most recent science on feeding  mating  and communicationWhales  Dolphins  and Porpoises then presents species-specific natural history on a range of topics  from anatomy and diet to distribution and conservation status. Each entry also includes original drawings of the species and its key identifiers  such as fin shape and color  tooth shape  and characteristic markings as they would appear both above and below watera feature unique to this book.  Figures of myth andas the debate over hunting rages onfigures of conflict since long before the days of Moby-Dick  whales  dolphins  and porpoises are also ecologically important and  in many cases  threatened. Written for general enthusiasts  emergent cetacean fans  and biologists alike  this stunning  urgently needed book will serve as the definitive guide for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44985357533237,"sku":"ByrdShop_022618319X","price":38.88,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780226183190.jpg?v=1770855809","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/whales-dolphins-and-porpoises-a-natural-history-and-species-guide","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}