Description
Supplementing the information compiled in Stephen A. Forbes and Robert E. Richardson's 1908 treatise on Illinois fishes, Philip W. Smith's The Fishes of Illinois includes variation analyses, distribution and ecological data summaries, and a glossary of scientific terms. Smith also notes which species have been wiped out, which have been reduced or threatened as a result of water quality issues and habitat changes, and which of the non-native species introduced in Illinois have thrived.
The Fishes of Illinois devotes a full chapter to each of the state's twenty-eight families of fishes, identifying each family's common and scientific name and detailing its evolutionary relationships and economic importance. Within the family classifications, genera are defined by common physical traits and geographical distribution. Next, each species of fish–-also identified by common and scientific names–-is discussed in terms of its physiology, variations and subspecies, ecological standing, and abundance. Each species listing is supplemented by a map that indicates the distribution of the species before 1908 by one symbol and modern-day distribution by another.
Enhanced by 185 illustrations (34 of them in color) and keys for identification, The Fishes of Illinois is an invaluable companion for students, teachers, ichthyologists, and those who enjoy fishing and nature.
Book Information
ISBN 9780252070846
Author Philip W. Smith
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint University of Illinois Press
Publisher University of Illinois Press