The larvae of Indo-Pacific coral reef fishes

the seas most manifest. Presumably it is because of this environmental variability that the abundance of these organisms fluctuates so very considerably. StiIl further, the zone they inhabit is itself highly vulnerable to human activities, directly to exploitation, both commercial and amateur, and indicectely through pollution and other interference with the habitat. All these features ace illustrated in this small technical report from the Washington Sea Grant Program of the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences of the University of Washington, It is a compendium of information on the morphology and anatomy of eight species of clams taken on the west coast of the United States, with historical, technological and other information with regard to commercial and amateur exploitation of these resources. Each fishery is dealt with in standard fashion with an account of its history, of its present status and some indication of its future. No attempt is made at stock assessment or population analysis; as claimed in the Introduction, the report provides pertinent information on the industry. A special feature is the set of statistical tables, some of which have data from the beginning of this century. These tables present extremely interesting evidence with respect to fluctuations and trends in these fisheries. S.L. KESTEVEN 12 O’Brien’sRood Hurstville2220 New South Wales Aawtmlia

CORAL REEF FISHES The Larvae of Indo-Pacific Coral Reef Fishes, by J.M. Leis and D.S. Rennis. University N.S.W. Press, Sydney, and University Hawaii Press, Hawaii, 1983, 269 pp.. 75 figs., $A 23.95, ISBN 0868401293. The Larvae of Indo-Pacific Comi Reef Fishes, written hy J.M. Leis and D.S. Renni:, is well done and long overdue. Prior to publication of this book, non-specialists who desired to identify larvae of Indo-Pacific reef fishes had three recourses. First, one could go to a specialist for help. Although the published literature is sparse, it has long been obvious that a few workers in the field, such as Leis, could readily identify most larvae to the family level. Second, one could sift through a fragmented and frustratingly non-comprehensive lilerature, in the hopes of “guestimating” the identity of a specimen. Much of this literature, unfortunately, is in Japanese, so that one was often reduced to simply looking at the pictures. Finally, there ace a few identification guides t,o fish larvae already available, for places like the North Sea. Using these to identify the larvae of Indo-Pacific fishes is a bit “iffy”, but one could hope that family characteristics were conservative. Leis and

Rennis’s book makes life a lot more simple. The book reviews and illustrates the larvae of 49 families of reef-associated fishes, summarizing for each both the known reproductive biology (based mainly on published literature) and larval development. In a few cases, generic characteristics are given, but usually identification is possible only LO the family level. Most information about larval development is based on the authors’ own work off Hawaii and the Great Barrier Reef, supplemented when possible with information frorl the literature. The book has three features which are particularly useful: many excellent line drawings (of particular value to beginners): a short key to families; and an invaluable section in each family*heading comparing larvae in that family with similar-looking larvae in other families. The last feature is perhaps the most useful one in the book, since it specifies exactly which features one should look for in order to distinguish between similarlooking, but unrelated, larvae. The book does have a few faults, only two of which are particularly worrisome. Some of the the line drawings (such as the first one in the book) are printed too lightly, so that detail has been lost id, for example, fin structure. Perhaps more importantly, the scope of the book may be less than ideal. Although it is always possible to criticize the limits chosen for a review book like this, it is no::?theless true that the decision to exclude larvae of pelagic fishes, like the carangids (many of which, in fact, are common on reefs), results in uncertainty about identification. Larvae of reef fishes are often collected in the same hauls as those of other fish faunas. One can never be certain, therefore, that a specimen in hand can be keyed-out using information in the book, even if other larvae collected in the same place and at the same time are clearly those of reef-associated families. Despite these minor problems, the book is immensely useful and, being also reasonably prices, is likely to become the standard reference for workers attempting to identify larvae of tropical reef fishes. It is unlikely, however, to be very useful to fisheries biologists. Well done as the book is, it cannot but reflect the state of the art of the larval identification. This, unfortunately, is at the family level, Most families of tropical fishes are so speciose that analysis at the family levels masks most of the truly interesting biotic interactions. W:it:Acmtthe ability to identify larvae to the species level, problems such as stock and recruitment and delineation of spawning periodicity are difficult, if nt impossible, to handle. The Larvae of Indo-Pacific Corral Reef Fishes will doubtless stimulate and facilitate the more difficulf. work of identifying larvae to the genus and spl-ties :L”:.::::. jJ?_ti! ti;s ‘\ vj-_.I i3 ilore however, books such as Lels and Rennis’s are likely to be of u;e mainly td academic biologists and as a field guide for non-speciaiists. R.E. THRESHER Fisheries Research P. 0. Box 2i Cronulla, N.S. Ii’. 2230

CSIRO Dicision of

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