When you dive into the sea, do you ever wonder what's down there, beneath you, poised to take an inquisitive bite? Author of Jaws Peter Benchley and film director Steven Spielberg certainly did, for below the waves lies a world we neither see nor understand; an alien world where we are but the briefest of visitors. The Shark that Walks on Land uncovers tales of ancient and modern mariners, with stories of sea serpents, mermaids and mermen, sea dragons, and the true identity of the legendary kraken. But this book contains more than just a medley of maritime myths and mysteries for marine biologists; it celebrates wonderful discoveries by blending the unknown and the familiar in an entertaining miscellany of facts, figures and anecdotes about the myriad creatures that inhabit the oceans. Along the way we meet the giants, the most dangerous, the oddballs and the record breakers – and the shark that really does walk on land!
From the tiny pygmy shark to the massive whale shark, The Magnificent Book of Sharks depicts some of the ocean's most incredible creatures in stunning and accurate, original illustrations. Intriguing facts accompany every illustration.
The first much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning anthology Daikaiju! Giant Monster Tales. Stories of impossible dimension, startling invention and big-budget spectacle by an international line-up of authors!
Explore the latest science about sharks. Did you know that some sharks have friends? Or that there are sharks small enough to swim in a soup can? There are sharks who can walk on land and others who make their own light. There are ancient sharks who lived in the oceans millions of years ago, and new species who have just been discovered. Most importantly, did you know that most sharks are fighting for their survival? Sharks Forever takes a deep dive into the lives of sharks––their habitat, biology, habits and personalities. It also looks at the biggest threats to their existence, from marine pollution and overfishing to bycatch and shark-fin soup. It goes beyond the bites and shares stories about people who swim with sharks and call them friends.
Tracing the origins of the Hawaiians and other Polynesians back to the shores of the South China Sea, archaeologist Patrick Vinton Kirch follows their voyages of discovery across the Pacific in this fascinating history of Hawaiian culture from about one thousand years ago. Combining more than four decades of his own research with Native Hawaiian oral traditions and the evidence of archaeology, Kirch puts a human face on the gradual rise to power of the Hawaiian god-kings, who by the late eighteenth century were locked in a series of wars for ultimate control of the entire archipelago. This lively, accessible chronicle works back from Captain James Cook’s encounter with the pristine kingdom in 1778, when the British explorers encountered an island civilization governed by rulers who could not be gazed upon by common people. Interweaving anecdotes from his own widespread travel and extensive archaeological investigations into the broader historical narrative, Kirch shows how the early Polynesian settlers of Hawai'i adapted to this new island landscape and created highly productive agricultural systems.
Anthropologists like to tell other people’s stories but local experts tell them even better. This book introduces the vibrant living culture and fascinating history of Tanna, an island in Vanuatu, Melanesia, through the stories of a dozen interconnected Tanna Islanders. Tracing the past 250 years of island experiences that cross the globe, each of these distinctly extraordinary lives tells larger human narratives of cultural continuity and change. In following Tanna’s times, we find that all of us, even those living on seemingly out-of-the-way Pacific Islands, are firmly linked into the world’s networks. Each chapter opens with a telling life story then contextualizes that biography with pertinent ethnographic explanation and archival research. Since 1774, Tanna Islanders have participated in events that have captured global anthropological and popular attention. These include receiving British explorer James Cook; a nineteenth-century voyage to London; troubled relations with early Christian missionaries; overseas emigration for plantation labor; the innovation of the John Frum Movement, a so-called Melanesian “cargo cult”; service in American military labor corps during the Pacific War; agitation in the 1970s for an independent Vanuatu; urban migration to seek work in Port Vila (Vanuatu’s capital); the international kava business; juggling arranged versus love marriages; and modern dealings with social media and swelling numbers of tourists. Yet, partly as a consequence of their experience abroad, Islanders fiercely protect their cultural identity and continue to maintain resilient bonds with their Tanna homes. Drawing on forty years of fieldwork in Vanuatu, author Lamont Lindstrom offers rich insights into the culture of Tanna. His close relationship with the island’s people is reflected in his choice to feature their voices; he celebrates and recounts their stories here in accessible, engaging prose. An ethnographic case study written for students of anthropology, the author has included a concise list of key sources and essential further readings suggestions at the end of each chapter. Tanna Times complements classroom and scholarly interests in kinship and marriage, economics, politics, religion, history, linguistics, gender and personhood, and social transformation in Melanesia and beyond.
Wild animals do the most extraordinary things. Some are exceptionally bright, use tools and solve complex problems. Others are devious: they cheat, steal and run protection rackets. There are animals with enormous appetites and those that self-medicate. Then we come across the extreme travellers: the highest flyers, the deepest divers and the fastest runners. But which animal is the most venomous, and which the most dangerous? Which has the loudest voice, the longest tongue, the biggest eyes or the most powerful bite? How do animals tell the time? How did the zebra get those stripes? And what is the most mysterious animal on Earth? The Frog with Self-cleaning Feet is a miscellany of fascinating animal anecdotes, facts and figures. The weird, the wonderful and the downright unbelievable of the animal world - you couldn't make it up!
Daytime and Night-time is a beautifully illustrated guide with a fun and innovative flip book format that allows the reader to explore and compare the world's most iconic habitats during the day and night.
Something even more dangerous than the observed sixteen-foot pregnant great white shark has risen from the depths and is feeding in the waters off the coast of Connecticut.
