Between the surface of the sea and depths of two hundred meters lies a
remarkable range of fish, generally known as pelagics, or open-ocean
dwellers. These creatures are among the largest, fastest,
highest-leaping, and most migratory fish on the entire planet.
Beautifully adapted to their world, they range from tiny drift fish and
plankton-straining whale sharks to more streamlined predators such as
tuna, marlin, sailfish, and wahoo.
Fishes of the Open Ocean, from leading marine biologist and world
authority on the subject Julian Pepperell, is the first book to
comprehensively describe these fishes and explore the complex and often
fragile world in which they live. In what will be the definitive book on
the subject for years to come--and, with over three hundred color
images, the most lavishly produced as well--Pepperell details the
environment and biology of every major species of fish that inhabits the
open ocean, an expanse that covers 330 million cubic miles and is the
largest aquatic habitat on the Earth. The first section of the book
introduces the various evolutionary forms these fish have taken, as well
as the ways in which specific species interact and coevolve with others
in the food web. A chapter on commercial and sport fisheries explores
the human element in this realm and considers such issues as
sustainability, catch-and-release initiatives, and the risks of
extinction.
The second section of the book provides species accounts of open ocean
dwellers organized by group, with overviews and general descriptions
that are inclusive of range and distribution, unique physiological and
morphological attributes, and the role of each species within its
ecosystem. Global distribution maps, original illustrations from
renowned artist and scientist Guy Harvey, and truly stunning images from
some of the world's leading underwater photographers round out this
copiously illustrated volume.
