ISBN: 9780816057177    Publisher: Facts On File Inc Year of publishing: 2004     Format:  Hardback No of Pages: 224        

Seals and Sea Lions of the World covers a fascinating group of mammals whose habitat is aquatic and whose limbs are fully adapted for swimming rather than for land locomotion. The aquatic environment and the remoteness of their habitats make seals sea lions and walruses difficult to study. Yet encounters with these species have produced a great interest in their past present and future. The various families of the order Pinnipedia - fur seals sea lions walruses and the phocid seals - are described and illustrated in this comprehensive volume. Their evolution classification distribution life cycles zoology and future are also fully discussed. In addition the complex question of these mammals' relationship with humans is examined. As with other marine-dwelling mammals some of the issues are controversial. In examining topics such as conflicts between seals and the fishing industry and the fur trade author Nigel Bonner provides an expert overview based on first-hand knowledge and experience. This book sensibly places seals and their kin in context through a clear understanding of their natural history and their interactions with humans. The text is enhanced with more than 100 full-color photographs detailed diagrams and maps.
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Nigel Bonner has studied and worked with marine mammals for more than 30 years in and around Antarctica. For some 14 years he was Head of the Life Sciences Division of the British Antarctic Survey. He continues to travel researching and lecturing in marine biology.
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