Gulf of Mexico Marine Life

[jcrews5508]

Can anyone recommend a good Gulf of Mexico Marine life book for a beginner?

[archman]

For diving, the Humann Reef (Creature, Coral Fishes) Identification books are the best. The Gulf of Mexico falls within the Caribbean ecosystem zone for critters (except for the northern coast in the winter).

The Beachcomber's Guide to Gulf Coast Marine Life is extremely good for teaching basic info. It has almost nothing on fishes and little on birds or vegetation, however. It is primarily a habitat-based piece focusing on invertebrates. The most recent version has a good section on sea turtles.

The best summary book for Gulf of Mexico (everything) is Shore Ecology of the Gulf of Mexico by Britton & Morton. Used books can still be had on amazon. It has been out of print for over a decade.

[jcrews5508]

Thanks archman