Sea Wonders: The Octopus, the Cuttlefish, and the Squid - Hardcover

by Marco Colombo (Author), Francesco Tomasinelli (Author), Giulia De Amicis (Illustrator)

Explore the world of extraordinary marine creatures in this beautifully illustrated guide to thirty species of octopuses, cuttlefish, and squids.

In Sea Wonders, discover the remarkable characteristics of cephalopods, enigmatic sea creatures with arms directly attached to their heads, who are masters of survival and transformation. Thirty species are collected in this fascinating guidebook, detailing their most surprising habits and abilities:

• Enterprising, resourceful, and intelligent, they know how to solve problems and can use objects as tools.
• They are notorious for escaping from aquaria.
• They can recognize people and can even feel dislike for some!
• Some species, such as the orchid cuttlefish, are among the most colorful organisms in the oceans.
• Others, like the blue-ringed octopus, are famous for their lethal bite.
• Some of the world's largest invertebrates are cephalopods--including giant squids the size of a bus--about which very little research exists to this day.

The first half of the book contains fifty gorgeously detailed and realistic illustrations and delves into the species' main characteristics and the secrets of their underwater world. The second half features specimen cards with scientific information and fun facts for easy reference.

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES: Cephalopods are fascinating creatures increasingly understood as intelligent, sophisticated, and resourceful animals. Their unexpected cognitive capacities encourage us to reflect on how we relate to the natural world, making it clear that it is not only mammals and birds who deserve our empathy.

THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED SCIENTIFIC FACTS: Various species of octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish are explored in these pages, with in-depth information on habitats and habits as well as fun facts.

FOREWORD BY OSCAR-WINNING FILMMAKER: Craig Foster, producer of the 2020 Academy Award-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher is a naturalist, ocean explorer, and author of Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher's Extraordinary World.

Perfect for:

• Anyone with an interest in marine creatures and the undersea world
• Birthday, housewarming, or seasonal gift for nature lovers
• Oceanography and marine biology students, teachers, and professionals
• Fans of animal and nature books like Amphibious Soul, Oceanology: The Secrets of the Sea Revealed, and The Soul of an Octopus

Author Biography

Marco Colombo (co-author) is an environmental guide, scuba diving master, TV scientific consultant, and wildlife and underwater photographer. His photographs and articles have appeared in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Nat'Images, and elsewhere. Colombo has won multiple categories in the Natural History Museum, London's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. He is the author of more than ten books about biodiversity and conservation issues, a frequent speaker, and a university instructor.

Francesco Tomasinelli (co-author) is a freelance biologist, science communicator, and photographer. As a photojournalist, he has joined several scientific expeditions in the Tropics and has documented various conservation programs in Italy and abroad. Tomasinelli has written more than three hundred magazine articles and fifteen books on natural sciences, served as an animal expert for Italian television, worked as an instructor for various learning institutions, including Università di Genova, Pavia, dell'Insubria, and Politecnico di Milano, and created a number of scientific exhibitions.

Giulia De Amicis (illustrator) is a designer and illustrator who presents complex information through infographics, data visualization, cartography, and illustration. She focuses on projects related to environmental issues, marine conservation, animal welfare, human rights, and human geography for clients including newspapers, research institutes, NGOs, and the educational sector. De Amicis has illustrated several picture books for National Geographic Kids and other publishers. She works and lives in Brighton, UK.

Craig Foster (foreword) is the producer of the 2020 Academy Award-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher and author of Underwater Wild: My Octopus Teacher's Extraordinary World (2021).