Backbencher

Author Robert Endean wrote Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and it was published in 1982. Although this is a little older than I was originally expecting, it is a very good read for avid scientists, scuba divers, environmental enthusiasts, and the common layman simply interested in the beauties found in off the coast of Australia! What I loved most about his book was the attention to detail in every aspect and the beautiful photographs the various animals that inhabit the Reef! Mr. Endean does a very good job of arranging the photographs of similar species, for example, the mollusks—snails are all grouped on the left page and on the right include the descriptions and major notable characteristics as well as scientific taxa (name) and the similarities it shares with the other animals illustrated on the left page. The thing I did not like mostly the age of the book. Some of the species depicted in the text has since become extinct, which is great if one is doing research on the past and present animals, however, for the scuba diver interested in finding animal from his or her latest dive, may not have the same opinion. I think it would be great if the Hist 381 class could offer at least one lecture dedicated toward the science, in other words, animals and natural resources that are indigenous to Australia and New Zealand, again, as previously stated in previous posts!! I believe it would be interesting for all majors, not only the sciences because of its uniqueness and eye-catching appeal! Would that be possible?? I would not mind helping put together some visual aids for such a lecture!! ☺