Photo Guide to Fishes of the Maldives - Softcover

Kuiter, Rudie H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1876410183 ISBN 13: 9781876410186

Publisher: Atoll Editions, 1998

Synopsis

Despite the reputation of the Maldives as being a world-class diving destination, this is the first really comprehensive fish guide specifically aimed at these islands. More than 50 new species for the Maldives are published for the first time and, with over 1100 superb underwater photographs that include almost every fish that divers are likely to see, this book is the perfect guide to check on that mystery' fish after each dive. The book is compact, easy to use and a handy size to carry to dive locations. The introduction explains the basics of fish-science, behaviour and evolution and there are detailed drawings on fish features, shapes and colour patterns. To assist divers, an innovative concept is used to allow easy retrieval and identification of species. Small silhouettes of the families are distributed as thumbprints throughout the book and families are color coded for quick access. Whilst text for each species is brief, it describes points of interest and differences between similar species. This book portrays the fishes from this respected author's practical point of view and divers can expect to learn a great deal from this valuable reference.

About this title

About the Author

Rudie H. Kuiter, the author & principal photographer, is Dutch born, and has always had a passion for fishes. He started diving in Sydney, Australia in 1964, where he began drawing and photographing the various species, most of which were unknown at the time. As research associate with the Australian Museum and Museum of Victoria, his scientific papers on biology and descriptions of new taxa were published. His articles on seahorses, seadragons and various other subjects of aquatic life have appeared in magazines around the world. He is the author of several identification books on fishes of Australia, Indonesia and other areas of the Indo-west Pacific. He has dived temperate and tropical waters around Australia, as well as in many other parts of the Indo-Pacific as far as Japan and the Maldives. He moved to Melbourne in 1980 where he has continued to work full time on fishes.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Pipefishes, Sygnathidae. Large family with over 50 genera and about 220 species worldwide, of which 8 genera and 14 species have been recorded from the Maldives. More can be expected. This highly diverse family is unique in its reproductive methods, in which the female takes the eggs to the sperm. She deposits them into a pouch or onto the underside of the body of the male, where they become embedded into the skin and are fertilized during that process. The male becomes pregnant and incubates the eggs for almost one month, giving birth to young that are either pelagic or ready to settle on the bottom. Much of the reproductive activities are related to big tides that phase with the moon cycle. Diet comprises small crawling or swimming invertebrates such as mysids and larval shrimps. Yellow-banded Pipefish, Corythoichtys flavofasciatus. Commonly occurs on coarse rubble with dead coral pieces or in harbors where pieces or piled. Usually found in pairs in depths of a few meters. Snout short compared to other similar species. Body with diffused dark banded pattern, with yellow scribbled lines in between. Widespread Indo- Pacific, but some variations. Length to 15 cm. Cheeked Pipefish, Corythoichtys insularis. Moderately common in the Maldives, found along outer reef walls on rubble on the bottom of caves or ledges, usually occurs in pairs. Mainly known from depths between 15 and 40m. Snout long and head with large dark spots. Body with evenly spaced pale, thin vertical bands. Western Indian Ocean only. Length to 12 cm. Schultz's Pipefish, Corythoichtys schultzi. Occurs in various habitats from protected shallow sand-rubble flats to rubble patches on reefs and in deeper lagoons to about 20 m depth. Often in areas with sparse algae or soft coral growth. Snout long and usually with several small white spots. Body has a longitudinal lined pattern. Widespread Indo- Pacific. Length to 16 cm. Reef-top Pipefish, Corythoichtys haematopterus. A common shallow water species on rubble and sand patches or along reef edges, usually in depths of a few meters. Often found in pairs and males are sometimes obvious by their swollen pouch, about halfway along their body. Males have a series of dark blotches along the pouch. Widespread Indo-Pacific. Length to 17 cm.

Edition details

• Publisher: Atoll Editions
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1876410183
• ISBN 13: 9781876410186
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256