Margaret A. Smith e Phillip G. Heemstra, Smiths’ Sea Fishes, Ed. Southern Book Publishers, 1995

I

n this comprehensive scientific guide to the fishes found in the oceans around southern Africa, Professor Margaret Smith, widow of Professor J.L.B. Smith, in collaboration with Dr Phillip Heemstra, has organized and motivated a team of 72 distinguished ichthyologists from 15 different countries to provide this unique, authoritative and superbly illustrated work of reference. Smiths’ Sea Fishes provides the means of identifying all the fishes known to occur in these waters.

Diagnostic features, size and distribution are given for every species. Of the 2150 species described, over 1500 are illustrated in full colour, thus making positive recognition extremely easy. Nine years in the making, this book is the result of the biggest international collaborative effort on a biological science project ever undertaken in Africa and reflects the high international scientific reputation of the Institute of Ichthyology in Grahamstown, South Africa.

The angler is not neglected. For many commercial fish species of interest to anglers, there is additional information on biology, habitat, capture and angling records. Introductory chapters discuss fish anatomy and biology, dangers of the sea, scientific nomenclature and the oceanography of the region. While the work was undertaken in the spirit of Professor J.L.B. Smith‘s classic book The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa, published in 1949, the dramatic advance in the science of ichthyology worldwide has resulted in this present volume describing almost twice as many fishes as the 1949 publication.

Smiths’ Sea Fishes is an indispensable work of reference for everyone whose profession or hobby concerns marine fishes, particularly those who are directly concerned with the fishes found in the oceans around southern Africa.

Terza ristampa della Prima Edizione, pubblicata nel 1995, a copertina rigida in tela blu, con titoli dorati al dorso; rilegata a filo; stampata su carta opaca sottile di buona qualità, con buone marginature al testo; corredata da numerose fotografie a colori e disegni in B/N; dotata di sovracoperta lucida illustrata a colori.

Come Nuovo [il volume non mostra danni strutturali, strappi, segni, mancanze o usure gravi che vadano evidenziate; legatura snodata e robusta; copertine rigide pressoché intatte, con leggerissime opacità da sfregamento; coste ancora luminose; ingiallimento delle pagine molto ridotto].