cover image The Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises

The Encyclopedia of Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises

Erich Hoyt. Firefly, $49.95 (300p) ISBN 978-1-77085-941-8

Whale researcher Hoyt (Creatures of the Deep) provides readers with a vivid and informative introduction to the big splashy world of cetaceans. The encyclopedia highlights intriguing cetacean details, such as anatomical and behavioral differences between species. Readers learn that baleen whales have two blowholes and toothed whales have one. Baleen whales emit low-pitched sounds, while the toothed whales emit ultrasonic calls as well as echolocation clicks, biological sonar used for navigation and foraging. The author examines the controversy regarding the slaughter of some whale species to near extinction and the growth of the international conservation movement over the past 50 years. Hoyt persuasively argues that there is an urgent need to globally protect whales and their environment. The encyclopedia also has lots of information about dolphins and porpoises, including fun photos of dolphins with their classic, human-like smiles. The final chapter includes illustrations and fact boxes for all 90 cetaceans. There is enough scientific detail to make this an excellent reference book, and the beautiful color photos will also give it plenty of appeal for casual readers. (Oct.)