Illustrated Handbook of Seashells in the Xisha and Nansha Islands | 西南沙海洋贝类图鉴

Description:

Text Chinese with Latin names. The Xisha and Nansha Islands boast unique ecosystems and rich species diversity, nurturing shellfish species distinct from those found on the mainland and offshore islands. China has over half a century of scientific research on shellfish, and numerous books have been published on the subject. However, illustrated handbooks focusing on marine shellfish from tropical waters, particularly the Southwest Sha Sea, remain relatively rare. Building on years of specimen collection and data accumulation, this handbook has been compiled. It features 377 species of marine shellfish found in the waters of the Xisha and Nansha Islands, providing concise descriptions of their morphological characteristics, geographical distribution, and ecological habits, along with original colour images of each species for readers' reference. It is hoped that this will serve as a catalyst for further research on marine shellfish in this region, providing foundational data. This book adopts the currently recognised and popular classification system, adjusting the taxonomic status of some genera and species while retaining some widely accepted Chinese names. For some species lacking Chinese information, the names commonly used on the Internet are used in the atlas. The vast majority of the shellfish specimens used in this atlas were collected by the editor and colleagues in the Xisha Islands and the Nansha Islands, with a small number of specimens collected by shellfish enthusiasts.