Coral Reefs Nature's Wonders
by Walter & Jean Deas
2005, Western Australian Museum, paperback, Perfect (glued) binding, about 6½ by 9¼ inches (16 by 24cm), 289 pages illustrated with more than 460 full color photographs and diagrams
This is a very beautiful book and it is one that everyone interested in the corals that make up a vital part of the earth's environment will want to own. This book serves as an introduction to coral reef biology and ecology as well as an identification guide to the many species of coral found in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. An area more than 2000 kilometers in length which is made up of more than 2900 individual coral reefs. While this book only deals with a small number of the more than 2500 estimated species of soft and hard corals found worldwide it gives wonderful treatment to those species which it covers. The photographs are all of living corals and they are extremely well done. Long range views of the reefs and close up photos of the corals give us a chance to see these creatures in their native environment. There is an excellent introductory section and descriptions given with the photographs are brief but adequate.
