Sharks (Collins Field Guide) by Leonard Compagno (2005-02-07)

The definitive identification guide to the sharks of the world The shark is undeniably the 'lord of the seas', having existed unchanged for 350 million years. Not only is it the biggest of fish, it is also the best equipped for hunting down and destroying its prey. It is capable of living in all waters shallow or deep, tropical or temperate, fresh or salt, and unlike most animals, it has no natural predators apart from the Killer Whale. Set to become a classic natural history title, Collins Field Guide to Sharks describes and illustrates the world's 440 species of shark. Shark families are grouped together and for each individual species there is detailed identification information, and original colour illustration, and a distribution map showing where in the world that species can be found. Covering all aspects of these extraordinary creatures, from their behaviour, breeding, feeding and ecology, right through to the impact of humans on sharks throughout the world, this is one of the most important shark books ever written.

Sarah Fowler works in marine ecology, biodiversity, conservation and management, with a particular focus on sharks. Appointed to the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Shark Specialist Group on its establishment in 1991 and now co-chair, Sarah also co-founded the UK Shark Trust and the European Elasmobranch Association and is an American Elasmobranch Society's Conservation Committee member.