Over 25 years in the making, this is the most comprehensive photographic reference on Northwest marine life ever produced. With over 1,700 superb colour photos of over 1,400 saltwater plants and animals, it is an essential addition to any natural history library. It is designed to allow the reader to recognise virtually any coastal organism that might be commonly encountered from southern Alaska to central California from sea lettuces and feather boa kelp through to the leopard ribbon worm, Pacific red octopus, spiny-thigh sea spider and gutless awning-clam. Each species is identified by one or more photographs with an accompanying description of range, habitat, appearance and behaviour. Some of the species included in this volume has never before been features in print.