| Marine Field Guides |
Current titles
The first three titles of the planned series of identification handbooks to the marine fauna of southeastern Australia were published in late 2007. The Barnacles guide was published in 2009, Sponges in 2013 and Shrimps and Shrimps, prawns and lobsters in 2015. The sixth title, Nudibranchs and related molluscs by Robert Burn, was published in 2016. Proposed future titles include guides to Pygnogonida (sea spiders), Hydroids, Bivalves, Chitons, Echinoderms, Marine worms.Museums Victoria also publishes a series of free field guide apps for smartphones and tablets. Another good source of natural history books (not just on marine subjects) is the bookshop of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria.
| An introduction to marine life by Robin Wilson, Mark Norman and Anna Syme Melbourne: Museum Victoria, 2007. 166 pp. ISBN 9780975837054 (pbk) Available from Melbourne Museum Shop and other book shops This guide introduces the broad diversity of marine life to amateur naturalists, beachcombers, divers and others who have an interest in life in the sea. All major kinds of living marine organisms are featured from seaweeds to seabirds, seawhips to seahorses, both common and obscure. Illustrated quick guides enable easy identification of the major groups and each is illustrated with local examples from southern Australia. Dangerous marine life, introduced species and fishing bait species are all described and illustraated. Further references, a glossary and indexes to scientific and common names are included. (from the back cover) |
| Crabs, hermit crabs and allies by Gary C.B. Poore Melbourne: Museum Victoria, 2007. 60 pp. ISBN 9780975837047 (pbk) Available from Melbourne Museum Shop and other book shops This guide introduces the broad diversity of marine life to amateur naturalists, beachcombers, divers and others who have an interest in life in crabs, hermit crabs and their close relatives: what they do, how they behave, their environment, ecology and diversity. Species descriptions are accompanied by colour photgraphs, line drawings and illustrations for easy recognition. Maps, further references a glossary, scientific and common name indexes are also included. (from the back cover) |
| Barnacles by Gary C.B. Poore and Anna Syme Melbourne: Museum Victoria, 2009. 69 pp. ISBN 9780980381351 (pbk) Available from Melbourne Museum Shop and other book shops This guide on marine barnacles aims to familiarise amateur naturalists, beachcombers, divers and others who have an interest in barnacles: what they do, how they behave, their environment, ecology and diversity. Species descriptions are accompanied by colour photgraphs, line drawings and illustrations for easy recognition. Maps, further references a glossary, scientific and common name indexes are also included. (from the back cover) |
| Sponges by Lisa Goudie, Mark Norman and Julian Finn Melbourne: Museum Victoria, 2013. 134 pp. ISBN 9780980381399 (pbk) Available from Melbourne Museum Shop and other book shops This guide introduces naturalists, divers and biologists to sponge species commonly encountered in southern Australian, their identification, biology, defences and associations with other animals. Sponges occur in all oceans of the world have have lived there for at least 600 million years. They help clean our seas, are experts at chemical warfare and can even rebuild themselves after being torn apart. They come in all shapes and sizes and some can live as long as 2000 years. Descriptions of common sponge families and genera are accompanied by colour photgraphs, line drawings and illustrations for easy recognition. Further references a glossary, scientific and common name indexes are also included. |
| Shrimps, Prawns and Lobsters by Gary C.B. Poore Melbourne: Museum Victoria, 2015. 128 pp. ISBN 9780980381344 (pbk) Available from Melbourne Museum Shop and other book shops For most of us, shrimps, prawns and lobsters immediately brings to mind something edible and tasty. Many are small inconspicuous inhabitants living on our shores and in shallow water. This guide includes a description of each animal accompanied by a colour photograph with information about each animal's behaviour, diversity and ecology. The endmatter includes both a scientific and common name index, further references and a glossary. |
| Nudibranchs and related molluscs by Robert Burn Melbourne: Museum Victoria, 2016. 257 pp. ISBN 9780980381382 (pbk) Available from Melbourne Museum Shop and other book shops Nudibranchs, the ‘butterflies of the sea’, belong to a group that also includes bubble shells, sea hares, side-gilled slugs, sap-sucking slugs and sea butterflies (pteropods). This group includes some of the most beautiful, colourful and delicate of all marine creatures. More than 400 species of nudibranchs occur in south-eastern Australia. This guide introduces marine naturalists, divers, biologists and others to the nudibranchs and related molluscs commonly encountered in the Bass Strait region—their identification, biology, and associations with other plants and animals that provide them with food, concealment and borrowed defences. An introductory pictorial key is included, along with nearly 250 species descriptions accompanied by colour photographs and illustrations to aid recognition. Further references and a glossary are also included |
For comments on these web pages please contact Robin Wilson, rwilson@museum.vic.gov.au