Cephalopods of Australia and Sub-Antarctic Territories

Australian waters contain the highest diversity of cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish and octopus) found anywhere in the world. They are highly significant ecologically, both as top-level predators and as prey for numerous vertebrates, including fishes, seals, cetaceans and seabirds.

Cephalopods of Australia and Sub-Antarctic Territories is a comprehensive guide covering 226 species, which represent over a quarter of the world’s cephalopod fauna. With an emphasis on identification, this book includes keys, species descriptions, full-color illustrations and distribution maps, as well as a summary of the biology and behavior of cephalopods and fisheries information. This is an invaluable tool for researchers and fisheries experts as well as amateur naturalists, fishers and divers.

FEATURES

• Enables all named cephalopod species to be reliably identified

• Using a number of identification tools, enables recognition of commercially exploited species by a variety of end-users - essential for fisheries and conservation management

• Includes an extensive literature review that will provide an invaluable starting-point for anyone working on this group of fascinating invertebrates

• Contains outstanding illustrations, including color illustrations of live animals

• Provides keys and distribution maps

• Identifies the current ‘gaps’ in our knowledge as a basis for future research effort

• Includes up-to-date biology and fisheries information