New old book — Miller and Lea's Guide to the Coastal Marine Fishes of California (updated)

Ken Jones

Ken Jones

Administrator
Staff member
#1
#1
I contacted Milton Love at the Love Lab at UCSB the other day and one of the interesting things I found out was that he was involved in rewriting what was for many years my "go to" book on fish identification — Guide To The Coastal Marine Fishes of California by Daniel J. Miller and Robert N. Lea. As I have said before that book has been replaced to some degree by a number of later books that have color photos or drawings. Nevertheless that book was a classic. Over the past eight years Milton Love and Julianne Passrelli have been updating the book and it may be something you care to have if you're into fish — as I am. I have ordered it and not yet received it but it sounds great.

The book contains up-to-date information on all of the original species as well as over 200 new species (753 species in all). The description of each species includes the common and scientific name, geographical and depth range, size, fin elements, lateral line, gill rakers and vertebrae. It contains, I believe, all of the original line drawings but many new illustrations as well. It also has a water resistant cover that is useful for fishing trips (and it was the book I used to take with me on fishing trips). .

Here's two address to read about and order the book. The first is probably less expensive for shipping, the second helps support the Cabrillo Aquarium in San Pedro (a good place and a sponsor of the book).

https://www.amazon.com/Miller-Coast...t=&hvlocphy=9031862&hvtargid=pla-909783743735

https://shop.friendsofcabrilloaquar...de-to-the-coastal-marine-fishes-of-california
 
S

SC McCarty

Well-Known Member
#2
#2
Ken Jones said:
. . . The book contains up-to-date information on all of the original species as well as over 200 new species . . . It contains, I believe, all of the original line drawings but many new illustrations as well.
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I'm glad to hear they are updating Miller and Lea. I still refer to the e-book from time to time. There have been a lot of changes the taxonomy of California fish since 1972. I am not thrilled that they will be keeping all of the line drawings. They were both a strength and a weakness in the original edition (better than anything that came before it, but some weren't good ). Most of the drawings were based on photos in previous books in the Fish Bulletin series, some of which were pretty poor. New illustrations will be appreciated.

Steve
 
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