Caribbean Sea
Slugs
A field guide to the
opisthobranch mollusks of the tropical northwestern Atlantic
by A. Valdes, J. Hamann, D.W.
Behrens, A. DuPont
2006, Sea Challengers, Gig
Harbor, Washington, laminated paper covers, perfect binding, 288 pages,
size 6 by 9 inches (15 by 23 cm) color photos throughout also SEM
photos.
This is a beautiful
book and it gives us a chance to see these exquisite (mostly
shell-less) members of the Mollusca. Apart from the excellent
photography which serves as a quick identification guide to the
approximately 310 species found in this book there is excellent
description of these animals. There is also a very well written
introduction that will help you to better understand this often
exotically colored and shaped molluscs. All of the specimens
in this book are shown in their natural habitat and help us to
understand just how well they are able to blend
into their habitat. Many of these beautiful creatures are tiny, well
under an inch in size and the largest of them may reach a size of about
8 inches. The photographs "freeze them in motion" and
actually give us a much better chance to examine them than
would be possible if we were in the water with them. The extreme close
ups and SEM photographs show us some details of these creatures that
are impossible to see with out eyes. Any one planning a dive trip to
the Caribbean would be well advised to take this book along with them
and use it as a field guide. The rest of us will be able to simply use
this book to increase our knowledge about these animals and to marvel
once more at the truly wonderful creatures that nature has
created.
