Description

The seas of our planet cover more than seventy percent of the Earth, yet we know less about the ocean depths than the surface of the moon. Join marine biologist and fish-fanatic Tom ‘the Blowfish’ Hird as he lifts the lid on a treasure chest of fascinating facts, to reveal just what we do know about what lurks beneath the waves. You’ll discover:

– How the unassuming jellyfish can cause an ocean-wide apocalypse
– Why walruses turn bright pink after a sunbathe
– How a shoal of herring breaks wind to escape the jaws of predators
– Why an archer fish spits missiles at its prey

From the invisible world of meiofauna living in the sands of our beaches to a cephalopod called the ‘Vampire Squid from Hell’, Blowfish takes us on an incredible journey as he follows the currents from shoreline to the bone-crushing pressure of the deep sea. Featuring a full-colour plate section and vintage line drawings throughout, Blowfish’s Oceanopedia is a beautifully designed, one-stop guide to all we know about our oceans and the weird and wonderful creatures that inhabit them.

Publisher Review

A lively, sumptuous cornucopia of all things oceanic. Who knew a squid could fly, or that hagfish drown their prey in slime? — Jonathan Balcombe * Author of What a Fish Knows * Thoroughly entertaining and enlightening. Packed with first-hand experiences and fascinating facts, this is the most accessible encyclopaedia you’ll ever read! — Miranda Krestovnikoff * wildlife presenter and RSPB President * A marine marvel… Tom Hird applies his boundless enthusiasm to give us a smorgasbord of bite-sized oceanic and fishy facts. — Brian Clegg * Author of A Brief History of Infinity *