BOOK REVIEW: Pacific Coast Nudibranchs

April-May 1999

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

Pacific Coast Nudibranchs
1991 by David W Behrens
ISBN 0-930118-17-0
color photography, 107 pages, approx $20 /Sea Challengers

If you wonder how anyone can consider sea slugs the most beautiful creatures of all, be sure to track this book down. A second edition, it has beautiful color photos of every species of nudibranch on our coast.

Though not as simple to use as the best field guides, each picture is accompanied by a scientific name (a few don't even have these), a common name when there is one (rarely), and tidbits on identification, size and range. More ecological information would be welcome but it simply doesn't exist yet. Since these are non-commercial species, very little is known about them.

Introductory sections cover basic slug biology and there is a very helpful pictorial glossary. But the bulk of the book (and the reason you'll want it) is the unadulterated nudibranch porn. I'm talkie' glossy, full color close-ups of these beautiful molluscs.

Reviewed by Bryan Nichols