If you do not own one, get one. As far as covering the general US, this is the best book you can buy. For less than 20 bucks you can have one by your side at the stream. You will be surprised at what you can do with this book.
Peterson field guide to North American fish
Started by
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, Jul 23 2008 09:03 PM
18 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_uniseine_*
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Posted 23 July 2008 - 09:46 PM
You can buy the paperback in good condition from independant sellers through Amazon.com.
$5 plus $4 shipping.
Who knows when the new version will actually come out? 2009?
I do know you won't be able to buy the new version for $9 total.
$5 plus $4 shipping.
Who knows when the new version will actually come out? 2009?
I do know you won't be able to buy the new version for $9 total.
#3
Guest_blakemarkwell_*
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Posted 24 July 2008 - 11:42 AM
I couldn't agree more. With this book I am sometimes able to help people identify fish that I have not even seen in flesh before. Its a great book, and it makes identification easy for even the beginner like myself, tells you what to pay attention to, ect... But yeah, if you don't have one, get one!
Blake
Blake
#4
Guest_Duckman77_*
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Posted 24 July 2008 - 12:09 PM
Is this the title: "A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes : North America North of Mexico (Peterson Field Guides)"?
#5
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Posted 24 July 2008 - 12:16 PM
Is this the title: "A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes : North America North of Mexico (Peterson Field Guides)"?
That's the one
#6
Guest_Duckman77_*
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Posted 24 July 2008 - 12:20 PM
Ok. Good. I just ordered it from amazon. The "mexico" in the title threw me off a bit.
#7
Guest_Elassoman_*
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Posted 25 July 2008 - 10:53 PM
The new version should be available sometime next year. Better maps, much better illustrations. Can't wait.
#8
Guest_Duckman77_*
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Posted 02 August 2008 - 12:01 PM
Finally got my guide in the mail today. Looks nice. It should come in handy.
My problem with this guide and most other guides that I've seen is the use of illustrations instead of actual pictures of the fish. While some illustrations appear accurate, some do not look anything like the fish actually does. For example in the peterson's guide the grass and redfin pickerel don't look anything like the real fish do. Likewise the red and spotfin shiner illustrations are poor representations of the actual fish.
I would like to see a guide use photos of the actual fish. Perhaps Teleost can partner up with peterson's guides and turn out a guide that shows actual photos as a guide to identification. I find Uland's pics much more useful than illustrations.
My problem with this guide and most other guides that I've seen is the use of illustrations instead of actual pictures of the fish. While some illustrations appear accurate, some do not look anything like the fish actually does. For example in the peterson's guide the grass and redfin pickerel don't look anything like the real fish do. Likewise the red and spotfin shiner illustrations are poor representations of the actual fish.
I would like to see a guide use photos of the actual fish. Perhaps Teleost can partner up with peterson's guides and turn out a guide that shows actual photos as a guide to identification. I find Uland's pics much more useful than illustrations.
#9
Guest_NativeLover_*
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Posted 02 August 2008 - 05:26 PM
I kind of feel the same way about it Duckman. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact it has all the fish of North America in it. But I would rather see pictures as well. I also wish ALL the illustrations were color. Some of them are just black and white which makes it sometimes hard to ID. I understand that it would probably be more costly and time consuming to get pictures of all the fish so I take it for what it is. It's the first field guide I ever bought and was tickled to death when my parents got it for me for Christmas. I remember looking through it all that day planning on what fish I would one day acquire. 
Actually now, I'm on my 3rd copy of it. I lost the first two at some point in the past but wouldn't go collecting/sampling until I had bought a new copy.
I will say that "Freshwater Fishes of the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware" is my favorite book for fish in those states. All the fish are shown in photographs rather than illustration. The book cost me $3.00 on half.com and I actually paid $5 for express shipping considering I payed so little for the book. I drool all over the pretty pictures.
*Edit* I forgot to mention that I am in the process of printing out color pictures from this website and others of various native fish. That way I have a mobile way of using pictures to identify the fish I see. Then, if I could talk to all the picture takers, I could put it in the format of Microsoft Word and make it available to NANFA members and forum users, with names referenced of course.
Thinking about that has made me wonder about just bringing my old crappy laptop with pictures on it to ID some fish. We will see. I love integrating technology with native fish!
Adam
Actually now, I'm on my 3rd copy of it. I lost the first two at some point in the past but wouldn't go collecting/sampling until I had bought a new copy.I will say that "Freshwater Fishes of the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware" is my favorite book for fish in those states. All the fish are shown in photographs rather than illustration. The book cost me $3.00 on half.com and I actually paid $5 for express shipping considering I payed so little for the book. I drool all over the pretty pictures.
*Edit* I forgot to mention that I am in the process of printing out color pictures from this website and others of various native fish. That way I have a mobile way of using pictures to identify the fish I see. Then, if I could talk to all the picture takers, I could put it in the format of Microsoft Word and make it available to NANFA members and forum users, with names referenced of course.
Thinking about that has made me wonder about just bringing my old crappy laptop with pictures on it to ID some fish. We will see. I love integrating technology with native fish!
Adam
Edited by NativeLover, 02 August 2008 - 05:34 PM.
#10
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Posted 02 August 2008 - 07:10 PM
The advantage of illustrations compared to photos in field guides is that an illustrator can emphasize characteristics important to differentiating one species from a close relative. That was the genius of Roger Tory Peterson with his original bird guides, and the same principles have been carried over to fish illustration by modern illustrators like Joe Tomelleri and Dave Neely. Photos can be good, of course, but are you going to show only alpha males in full breeding condition? Or typical males, typical females, maybe juveniles. One or two good illustrations can capture basic similarities between these groups impossible in a single photo. The recent Fishes of Alabama book by Boschung & Mayden is illustrated mostly by Joe T. (and also Dave), and it's a major reason the volume is so eye-popping; it also makes it less likely that you'll confuse a lined chub with a burrhead shiner, for instance....
#11
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Posted 02 August 2008 - 10:46 PM
The "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fishes: North America" has photographs, but I don't like it as well as the Peterson field guide. I think the photos posted here are usually better. It's a good book to have in addition to the Peterson field guide - but if you can only get one get the Peterson. It really does help you identify fish better.
#12
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Posted 15 December 2008 - 09:38 PM
The "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Fishes: North America" has photographs, but I don't like it as well as the Peterson field guide. I think the photos posted here are usually better. It's a good book to have in addition to the Peterson field guide - but if you can only get one get the Peterson. It really does help you identify fish better.
Anyone else considering the potential for a NANFA field guide? Chris?
#13
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 16 December 2008 - 12:18 AM
I'm not a huge fan of the Audubon guides. FWIW, I think Peterson's has it covered - no need to reinvent the wheel. Now as to Fishes of Georgia...
#14
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Posted 16 December 2008 - 12:49 PM
I'm not a huge fan of the Audubon guides.
I find the Audubon guides essentially useless when really trying to ID something.
They have pretty pictures, but that is about all they are good for, and this is coming from someone who owns about 15 Audubon guides. Unfortunately, I learned that Petersons were better in every situation too late (butterflies, fishes, insects, trees, wildflowers, etc....), I especially love the bird and fish one though, probably considering those are my two biggest interests.
Trees coming third in my interest, however, I still say a few curse words every time I see an unfamiliar oak, I need to find a book that can nicely complement my sporadic and displeased manor every time I approach an oak.
Blake
Edited by blakemarkwell, 16 December 2008 - 12:50 PM.
#15
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 16 December 2008 - 11:46 PM
I'm not a huge fan of the Audubon guides. FWIW, I think Peterson's has it covered - no need to reinvent the wheel. Now as to Fishes of Georgia...
You almost sucked me in, I had my rant all typed out, but I am not going to bite on that one...
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#16
Guest_brian1973_*
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Posted 17 December 2008 - 12:35 AM
I am looking into this book for texas http://www.bio.txsta...onner/txfishes/ but I was wondering which would be better for a general reference, the peterson or audubon, I guess the overwhelming vote goes to peterson's.
#17
Guest_dsmith73_*
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Posted 17 December 2008 - 08:36 AM
Just as an update to the Fishes of GA, the Freemans and a few others are in the process of creating an on-line fishes of GA. The database is nearly complete, though they will continue to add points as the data comes in. The site has not gone live yet, but when I get the word that it has, I will be sure to post the link. They do plan on doing a hard copy as well, but wanted to get something out there available since there has obviously been such a need for it for a long time. This info was presented at this year's SFC meeting and is the end-product of one of their graduate student's work if I remember correctly.
#18
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 18 December 2008 - 01:52 AM
SFC is alive and kicking? I heard they were making a comeback.
#19
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 18 December 2008 - 01:58 AM
Trees coming third in my interest, however, I still say a few curse words every time I see an unfamiliar oak, I need to find a book that can nicely complement my sporadic and displeased manor every time I approach an oak.
I feel your pain, bro! Oaks give me fits. Nativeplanter recommended a book to me - Lessee: Native Trees of the Southeast, by Kirkman, et al. Try that one. I own a copy.
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