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.

Spectacular Sharks gives children clear insight into the behavior, habitats, and bodies of these prehistoric fish. Beautiful, full-color photographs feature shark bodies and different species. Fascinating text helps dispel many shark myths and describes how they hunt, why sharks are important to oceans, and why many are in danger.

An illustration-heavy exploration of the types and characteristics of sharks.

"This ... book will take you deep into the forest, far out to sea, and high into the air to discover the amazing birds that live there. From the majestic condor to the tiny bee hummingbird, this book captures a variety of birds .... See the dazzling quetzel, the lightning-fast peregrine falcon, the gigantic ostrich, and the incredible emperor penguin"--Back cover.

At once feared and revered, sharks have captivated people since our earliest human encounters. Children and adults alike stand awed before aquarium shark tanks, fascinated by the giant teeth and unnerving eyes. And no swim in the ocean is undertaken without a slight shiver of anxiety about the very real—and very cinematic—dangers of shark bites. But our interactions with sharks are not entirely one-sided: the threats we pose to sharks through fisheries, organized hunts, and gill nets on coastlines are more deadly and far-reaching than any bite. In Sharks and People acclaimed wildlife photographer Thomas Peschak presents stunning photographs that capture the relationship between people and sharks around the globe. A contributing photographer to National Geographic, Peschak is best known for his unusual photographs of sharks—his iconic image of a great white shark following a researcher in a small yellow kayak is one of the most recognizable shark photographs in the world. The other images gathered here are no less riveting, bringing us as close as possible to sharks in the wild. Alongside the photographs, Sharks and People tells the compelling story of the natural history of sharks. Sharks have roamed the oceans for more than four hundred million years, and in this time they have never stopped adapting to the ever-changing world—their unique cartilage skeletons and array of super-senses mark them as one of the most evolved groups of animals. Scientists have recently discovered that sharks play an important role in balancing the ocean, including maintaining the health of coral reefs. Yet, tens of millions of sharks are killed every year just to fill the demand for shark fin soup alone. Today more than sixty species of sharks, including hammerhead, mako, and oceanic white-tip sharks, are listed as vulnerable or in danger of extinction. The need to understand the significant part sharks play in the oceanic ecosystem has never been so urgent, and Peschak’s photographs bear witness to the thrilling strength and unique attraction of sharks. They are certain to enthrall and inspire.

Provides insightful treatments of the present scientific knowledge of the biology of whale sharks, placing it in context of other species of comparative interest wherever possible and appropriate Critically examines conservation issues that impinge upon whale shark survival, evaluating population structure and trends and shows how these threats are indicative of broader issues facing the oceans today Presents case studies of specific threats to whale shark survival, particularly the different approaches to ecotourism used in different parts of the world Written in an accessible style ensured by editors with extensive experience in public science communication Concludes with a horizon scan that poses thoughtful and compelling questions that remain about this exceptional animal and charts a course for the next generation of scientists to continue unravelling the biology of the whale shark

"Fully revised and updated"--Back cover.