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AN ATLAS OF MICHIGAN FISHES WITH KEYS AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THEIR IDENTIFICATION. Reeve M. Bailey, William C. Latta, and Gerald R. Smith. 2004. Miscellaneous Publications, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, No. 192, Ann Arbor, Michigan. ISBN 0076-8405. 215 p. $35.00 (paperback) .-Bailey et al. have written a practical and much needed atlas and key covering the important ichthyofauna of Michigan. This state is center stage to the largest freshwater lake system in the world. Of the 172 species of Great Lakes fishes, 153 are found in Michigan. This atlas, which tackles each one of these Michigan species, will be a great resource to anyone studying the fauna of this region. Its only flaw is its textual economy.
Of the 215 pages, 154 are devoted to one-page species (and two subspecies) descriptions. There is little description on these pages. Each species page provides the common and scientific name, a large map of Michigan with spots representing localities for vouchered specimens, and stippling for approximated localities based on records without vouchers. A black and white illustration of the fish is also given for each species, and many species also have separate detailed illustrations for less conspicuous diagnostic features (e.g., fin spines showing serrations for the catfish) or juvenile stages. The beautifully drawn illustrations by Karen Klitz provide enough detail for many scale and fin-ray characters to be compared. A scale bar and Peterson-esque markers for diagnostic features also accompany the illustrations, as do short phrases explaining these features. No natural history or life history is discussed. The lack of any such information makes the Atlas perhaps a less enjoyable text, but certainly the concision does not detract from it functioning as an excellent guide to identification.
A nice touch is several pages of large illustrations outlining the general body shape and characteristics of different fish families, followed by a few lines of text to aid identification. A novice should have no problem identifying a particular fish to family using this key. The Atlas also contains keys to genera for 28 families and keys to species for 29 genera. These...