Compiled for divers and those fishing in the region, this comprehensive reference describes the many thousands of fish species of the shore area (to a depth of 200 meters) of the islands of Oceania (below the equator to 27 degrees South, and excluding Easter Island, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu). Superb color photos depict most species in their habitats; some are of preserved specimens. A description of the genus precedes description of each species, including a note of the original publication and author responsible for identification. The author is the senior ichthyologist at Bishop Museum in Honolulu and a world authority with an extensive publication record, including a similar guide to the fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Subsidies have made it possible to sell this great reference for a third of what a standard list price might have been. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)