Whales & Dolphins Of The World

Whales, dolphins, and porpoises have fascinated humankind for centuries. Amazinglydiverse, they have evolved specializations that allow them, despite being air-breathing mammals, toexploit habitats ranging from surface waters to ocean depths. Whales and Dolphins of the World is acelebration of the variety (more than 80 species), behavior, and natural history of these remarkableanimals. Stunningly illustrated by 180 color photographs, it describes what we know of their lives,including feeding, reproduction, communication, and social structures, and surveys the factors thataffect them, from hunting to pollution. The book explores the strong relationship between ourspecies and theirs, with a look at dolphin therapy and the pros and cons of whale-watching. Itdetails the forces that threaten whales, dolphins, and porpoises, including hunting, whaling,fisheries, pollution, and habitat destruction, and also describes the conservation actions that musttake place in the twenty-first century to save them. A color map of the world highlights the watersin which whales and dolphins are found.Worldwide interest in these unique creatures is growing, asevidenced by the increasing number of people who go whale- and dolphin-watching each year. Thisbook, with its informative, lively text and spectacular images, provides an illuminating look at thelives of whales and dolphins in a changing world.