■ The South Pacific has long been in need of a comprehensive guide to reef and shore fishes. This monumental volume covers the inshore fish fauna of New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, the southern Gilbert Islands (Kiribati), Tuvalu, Fiji, the Wallis Islands, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, the Tokelau Islands, the Phoenix Islands, the Cook Islands, the Austral Islands, Rapa, the Society Islands, the Tuamoto Archi-pelago, the Mar-quesas Islands, and the Pitcairn Islands, it contains accounts of nearly 1,500 species of fishes, illustrated with more than 2,000 color photographs, taken mostly underwater. (A few drab species are illustrated by only black and white photographs or drawings.)
More than 600 references are given for those seeking more information on individual species. The introduction contains a two-page color spread of the main external…
