Here's the actual topic, Karl's Encyclopedia of New and Rediscovered Animals.
And here's my review of that.
(Please pardon some formatting problems, I'll be back to fix those.)
Building on two of Shuker's earlier works, The Lost Ark and
The New Zoo,
the Encyclopedia deserves its title. This is a mammoth collection of scientific
achievements from 1900 to the present.
the Encyclopedia deserves its title. This is a mammoth collection of scientific
achievements from 1900 to the present.
It's information-packed,
sumptuously illustrated, and just plain fun.
Shuker does not, of course, try to include all discoveries,
since the
beetles alone would merit a library. He goes for creatures which are
relatively large or scientifically important, and those are
beetles alone would merit a library. He goes for creatures which are
relatively large or scientifically important, and those are
more than
sufficient to fill this large-format 368-page book. S
huker is a highly knowledgeable writer (as you'd expect from a Ph.D.
who's been poking into the odd corners of zoology for four decades).
huker is a highly knowledgeable writer (as you'd expect from a Ph.D.
who's been poking into the odd corners of zoology for four decades).
He discusses both species and
important subspecies (including those
where there is some dispute about taxonomy: it's not clear whether
Rothschild's giraffe is a subspecies, species, or just a local variation.)
The zoologically inclined reader will enjoy every page of this romp
through monk seals, giant stick insects, megamouth sharks, monitor
lizards, and other discoveries simply too numerous to mention.
where there is some dispute about taxonomy: it's not clear whether
Rothschild's giraffe is a subspecies, species, or just a local variation.)
The zoologically inclined reader will enjoy every page of this romp
through monk seals, giant stick insects, megamouth sharks, monitor
lizards, and other discoveries simply too numerous to mention.
One thing Shuker does not do is set all the material into a context
by
showing any species discovery curves or discussing just how many
ew vs. known species are being found. He does, though, amply
demonstrate his main theme: that discovery didn't end with the "golden
age" of the 1800s - indeed, it's continued at a steady and often
surprising pace right up to the present day.
showing any species discovery curves or discussing just how many
ew vs. known species are being found. He does, though, amply
demonstrate his main theme: that discovery didn't end with the "golden
age" of the 1800s - indeed, it's continued at a steady and often
surprising pace right up to the present day.
Being a Shuker work, this book has plenty of mysteries along
with
the definite discoveries. Some are well-known: some, like a slow loris
with a thick bushy tail, not yet recognized although it's been held in captivity
and photographed, surprised even a well-read aficionado like myself.
the definite discoveries. Some are well-known: some, like a slow loris
with a thick bushy tail, not yet recognized although it's been held in captivity
and photographed, surprised even a well-read aficionado like myself.
Likewise, some of the stories of discovery, like the coelacanth's, have
been told many times (though Shuker always tells them well), but how
many know the tragic tale behind the discovery of Flecker's sea wasp
jellyfish, or how Rudie Kuiter saw a flounder swimming along and discovered
been told many times (though Shuker always tells them well), but how
many know the tragic tale behind the discovery of Flecker's sea wasp
jellyfish, or how Rudie Kuiter saw a flounder swimming along and discovered
it was the most amazing
mimic in nature: an octopus pretending to be a
flounder? Shuker also includes stories of animals which didn't quite
live up to their hype as new species, like Mexico's onza (not a new
species of big cat, just an odd puma.) He closes with a few words
flounder? Shuker also includes stories of animals which didn't quite
live up to their hype as new species, like Mexico's onza (not a new
species of big cat, just an odd puma.) He closes with a few words
on possible future
discoveries, a note on taxonomy, and a bibliography
running 33 pages.There are hundreds of images here to go with the text,
ranging from photos to Bill Rebsamen's wonderful color illustrations.
running 33 pages.There are hundreds of images here to go with the text,
ranging from photos to Bill Rebsamen's wonderful color illustrations.
This is one of the classic books, not just of cryptozoology
but of modern zoology and conservation biology. Readers will love it
enough to revisit it many times.
but of modern zoology and conservation biology. Readers will love it
enough to revisit it many times.
It's a great achievement.
December 16, 2012
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