Dr. Jim Spotila made headlines at a sea turtle conference in Costa Rica, in February 2004, when he stated that without dramatic conservation measures the Pacific leatherback turtle population could disappear within ten years. Now Spotila, co-principal investigator of Costa Rican Sea Turtles and researcher at Drexel University, has come out with a timely and authoritative book on the world’s sea turtles and their plight. Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation is a far-reaching summary of the history and current state of sea turtle biology.
Illustrated with stunning photographs, this book covers each species of sea turtle in detail, as well as their evolutionary history, natural history, and conservation. It draws on Spotila’s decades of experience with sea turtles, and deep concern about their uncertain future, to draw a picture that is as poignant as it is compelling. Sea Turtles would make an important and attractive addition to the library of anyone interested in marine life, natural history, or conservation in general.
Sea Turtles: a complete guide to their biology, behavior, and conservation. James R. Spotila. The John Hopkins University Press, 2004.