The fresh waters of the British Isles are diverse, ranging from torrential hill streams to powerful rivers and wide, meandering lowland channels. Canals and drainage channels, ranging in size from ditches to the large Fenland drains of eastern England also hold fish, as do reservoirs, lakes, ponds and other still water bodies. The fish themselves are correspondingly varied. This pocket-sized book provides information about the 54 native, invasive and naturalised species found in the UK today, and includes a photograph of each to allow easy identification

From shark attack survivor to the shark's biggest advocate, Paul de Gelder tells us just why these majestic diverse animals need our help as much as we need them. Something happens to you the first time you dive with sharks... We have a perennial fascination with sharks. Portrayed in the media and popular culture as killing machines, we are awed by their power and strength. But the shark is so much more - a marvel of the sea, they have evolved over 450 million years into over 500 species, from the bioluminescent kitefin to the tiny dwarf lantern shark, the sociable lemon shark to the blue shark, which can birth up to 100 pups in one litter. Bringing balance to the ocean's ecosystem, our planet is at serious risk when these amazing creatures are threatened. Paul de Gelder, who lost two limbs in a shark attack during a mission as an elite Australian navy clearance diver, spent time as part of his recovery learning all about sharks. He became so obsessed that, despite what happened to him, he is now an expert and has dedicated his life to helping save them. Shark is his love-letter to these unfairly vilified animals, and his warning to the world about what will happen if we don't look out for them.

'I envy no body but him, and him only, that catches more fish than I do.' A unique celebration of the English countryside and the most famous book on angling ever published, Walton's Compleat Angler first appeared in 1653. In 1676, at Walton's invitation, his friend Charles Cotton contributed his pioneering exploration of fly-fishing. The book is both a manual of instruction and a vision of society in harmony with nature. It guides the novice fisherman on how to catch and cook a variety of fish, on how to select and prepare the best bait and make artificial flies, and on the habits of freshwater fish. It also promotes angling as a communal activity in which the bonds of friendship are forged through shared experience of the natural world. Anecdotes, poetry, music, and song intersperse the rural descriptions, which promote conservation as well as sport. This new edition highlights the book's continuing relevance to our relationship with the environment, and explores the turbulent history from which it came. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

A captivating historical look at the cultural and artistic significance of shells in early modern Europe Among nature's most artful creations, shells have long inspired the curiosity and passion of artisans, artists, collectors, and thinkers. Conchophilia delves into the intimate relationship between shells and people, offering an unprecedented account of the early modern era, when the influx of exotic shells to Europe fueled their study and representation as never before. From elaborate nautilus cups and shell-encrusted grottoes to delicate miniatures, this richly illustrated book reveals how the love of shells intersected not only with the rise of natural history and global trade but also with philosophical inquiry, issues of race and gender, and the ascent of art-historical connoisseurship. Shells circulated at the nexus of commerce and intellectual pursuit, suggesting new ways of thinking about relationships between Europe and the rest of the world. The authors focus on northern Europe, where the interest and trade in shells had its greatest impact on the visual arts. They consider how shells were perceived as exotic objects, the role of shells in courtly collections, their place in still-life tableaus, and the connections between their forms and those of the human body. They examine how artists gilded, carved, etched, and inked shells to evoke the permeable boundary between art and nature. These interactions with shells shaped the ways that early modern individuals perceived their relation to the natural world, and their endeavors in art and the acquisition of knowledge. Spanning painting and print to architecture and the decorative arts, Conchophilia uncovers the fascinating ways that shells were circulated, depicted, collected, and valued during a time of remarkable global change.

Essential Fly Fishing - an all-colour handbook - presents the fundamentals of this great sport quickly and effectively. Proven teaching techniques and bright, helpful colour illustrations will enable new fly fishers to: find fish in streams, lakes, and salt water; select and assemble proper, balanced tackle; cast a fly line with authority - with rhythm, not strength; recognise and learn to simulate natural fish foods; learn techniques that really work; tie effective knots that have maximum strength; and begin the endlessly interesting process of tying your own flies. This book concisely explains fishing ethics, offers helpful safety precautions, and defines basic angling terms. The chapter on fly-rod fish describes the unique sport that many species - from trout to whitefish - offer fly fishers. Essential Fly Fishing is a crisp, helpful, superbly illustrated primer of the highest rank.

With over 7,000 known species, frogs display a stunning array of forms and behaviors. A single gram of the toxin produced by the skin of the Golden Poison Frog can kill 100,000 people. Male Darwin's Frogs carry their tadpoles in their vocal sacs for sixty days before coughing them out into the world. The Wood Frogs of North America freeze every winter, reanimating in the spring from the glucose and urea that prevent cell collapse. The Book of Frogs commemorates the diversity and magnificence of all of these creatures, and many more. Six hundred of nature's most fascinating frog species are displayed, with each entry including a distribution map, sketches of the frogs, species identification, natural history, and conservation status. Life-size color photos show the frogs at their actual size--including the colossal seven-pound Goliath Frog. Accessibly written by expert Tim Halliday and containing the most up-to-date information, The Book of Frogs will captivate both veteran researchers and amateur herpetologists. As frogs increasingly make headlines for their troubling worldwide decline, the importance of these fascinating creatures to their ecosystems remains underappreciated. The Book of Frogs brings readers face to face with six hundred astonishingly unique and irreplaceable species that display a diverse array of adaptations to habitats that are under threat of destruction throughout the world.

Did you ever hear of a fish that can whistle? Or a fish that can move a boulder? You can read about them in I Like the Fish, second in a series of picture books for 4- to 8-year-olds that explores the whimsical side of nature, with colorful pictures and clever text, portraying fish and their idiosyncrasies.

In 1938 a 400-million-year-old fish - known only from fossil remains and thought to have become extinct around 66 million years ago - was discovered living off the shores of southern Africa.

This fascinating book for younger readers tells the story of the coelacanth - what it is, what makes it special, how it was discovered, where it evolved, how it gives live birth, how and what it eats, and what eats it! With multiple illustrations and photographs and interesting text, this book will be an inspiration to a new generation of ichthyologists, palaeontologists, divers, and anyone with an interest in the natural world.

A detailed natural history of sockeye salmon (and closely related rainbow trout) in Alaska's Bristol Bay region that weaves together their importance as a sport fish, environmental indicator, and life force for the entire ecosystem.

From editors David Joy and Eric Rickstad comes Gather at the River, an anthology of twenty-five remarkable essays on fishing from an ensemble of contemporary authors. Their experiences explore the ways we come to water, for renewal and reverie, or to simply stand waist-deep in a river and watch the trout rise. Gather at The River is more than a collection of big fish stories; it's Ron Rash writing about the Appalachia of his youth and C.J. Box revealing the river where he wants his ashes spread. It's Natalie Baszile on a frogging expedition in the Louisiana Bayou and a teenaged Jill McCorkle facing new realities of adulthood on Holden Beach, North Carolina. This is an anthology about friendship, family, love and loss, and everything in between, because as Henry David Thoreau wrote, "it is not really the fish they are after." The contributors are an eclectic mix of critically acclaimed writers including New York Times Bestselling Authors Ron Rash, Jill McCorkle, Leigh Ann Henion, Eric Rickstad, M.O. Walsh, and #1 Bestseller C.J. Box. Some of the proceeds of every sale will benefit C.A.S.T. for Kids, public charity that joins volunteers who love to fish with children who have special needs and disadvantages for a day of fishing in the outdoors.

Dive into the depths and discover the mysteries of the world of water in this beautiful book for young readers. From myths and legends, folklore and fables, to amazing discoveries, and undiscovered depths - children will love exploring the amazing world of water in this beautifully illustrated book for young readers. Dive between the pages of Underwater World into the ocean depths to discover sunken lands, and sail in and out of legends laden with weird and wonderful monsters. This educational book for 7-9 year olds will teach curious children all about the ocean, magical creatures and mythology, mysteries and the unexplained. Dive straight in with this educational book to discover: - A variety of exciting topics surrounding water, including sunken cities, ghost ships, Ocean gods and goddesses, and mythical creatures such as the kraken, merpeople, selkies, and sirens. - Most of the world's cultures that share mythology around water together in one place; from gods and goddesses to beasts of the deep. - Exciting and informative text and beautiful hand-painted illustrations that bring the subject to life. Water - it can be hard as rock, silky soft, and often barely there. We can't live without it, but can't breathe within it. This shape-shifting element washes in on our shores, pours on our towns, and winds through our fields. We are mostly made out of water, but how much do we really know about it? Children will love learning all about the world of water in this beautifully illustrated and colourful book. At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So why stop there? If you like Underwater World, then why not complete the collection? Take a peek inside the enchanting and mythological world of dragons with Dragon World, and discover their fascinating history.

Salmon are one of the most popular and commonly eaten fish and are among the most important fishery resources in the world. They are born and die in fresh water but can live in both fresh water and seawater where they migrate between rivers and oceans, showing amazing abilities to home to their natal stream precisely. However, their dynamic life cycles and mysterious abilities of natal stream imprinting and homing migration are not well understood. Physiological Aspects of Imprinting and Homing Migration in Salmon: Emerging Researches and Opportunities is a pivotal reference source that introduces the dynamic and complicated life cycle of salmon connected with fish migration and climate changes and presents physiological mechanisms of natal stream imprinting and homing in salmon with special references to hormone, olfaction, memory, and behavior. Additionally, salmon resources concerning salmon commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and global propagation systems are discussed. This book is ideally designed for ichthyologists, environmentalists, pisciculture professionals, fisheries, marine biologists, scientists, researchers, academicians, and students seeking coverage on one of the most integral species of fish in the world.