Two Oceans: A Guide to the Marine Life of Southern Africa

This unrivalled field guide covers over 1,400 species of the most common forms of marine life that inhabit our coasts—including the invertebrates, fish, reptiles, mammals birds and plants. The book documents a selection of these, concentrating on the most frequently encountered species living in the intertidal zone and in shallow subtidal waters that can readily be explored by scuba divers. There is a particular focus on open-coast beaches and rocky shores, and aquatic estuarine animals and plants are also covered. Fish that are commonly seen in tidal pools or by divers, or those frequently caught by angers are included, as are smaller rock-pool fish. It will meet the needs of scientists, students, fishermen, scuba divers and beachcombers alike, encapsulating current knowledge and enabling the identification of diverse species, from sponges to whales and from seaweeds to mangroves.

DR LYNNATH BECKLEY is a dynamic fish biologist, respected for her expertise on the biology of fishes.

PROFESSOR GEORGE M. BRANCH is world-renowned for his research on rocky shores.

George Branch is a world renowned marine biologist and successful author of Two Oceans and the original Living Shores.



Charles Griffiths, of the Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town. His focus is primarily marine invasive species and marine biodiversity and taxonomy, as well as general rocky shore ecology.

MARGO BRANCH is a biologist with wide interests and a particular skill in natural history illustration.