PNW Creature Identification

[DonziMan]

Hello there,

It seems that every time I dive I come across at least one creature that I've never seen before. It drives me crazy trying to figure out what it is. Does anyone have suggestions on the definitive creature ID book for the kinds of things we run across here in the cold Pacific waters?

 

[archman]

No such tome exists, except for those POS Audobon-styled guides. You'll need to get separate books for fishes and selected invertebrates.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Whelks to Whales is the preferred reference for PNW inverterbrates ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[jumbo]

I second the nomination for Whelks to Whales, very good pics.

 

[StevenB]

Hello there,

It seems that every time I dive I come across at least one creature that I've never seen before. It drives me crazy trying to figure out what it is. Does anyone have suggestions on the definitive creature ID book for the kinds of things we run across here in the cold Pacific waters?

Whelks to Whales is a good overall source. For fish specific see 'Coastal Fish (California to Alaska) by Humann' or 'Coastal Fishes of the Pacific Northwest by Andy Lamb and Phil Edgell'. For more specific critters like nudibranchs and other invertebrates, the 'Sea Challengers' books are pretty good. Browse your LDS, they probably have all these on the shelf. Also, Janna Nichols teaches a great fish and invertebrate ID class if you can catch one. See her website. http://www.pnwscuba.com/index.htm

SteveB

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Add Pacific Coast Nudibranchs to your library as well ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[DeepDog]

Hope these help

http://www.divephotos.com/underwaterfishes.htm

http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/marine/fish.htm

http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/msap/PS/masterlist/index.html

DeepDog