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Scuba diving in warm, clear, tropical waters is something many of us daydream about.
Occasionally, our fantasies come true and we revel in a world of breathtaking
walls, underwater canyons, and brilliantly-coloured corals, sponges, fishes,
and other creatures. Each dive becomes an adventure during which chance
encounters with exotic life forms provide us with excitement and fill us with
wonder and awe. They become the topics of post-dive conversations, and
inevitably the books come out and the hunt is on for that newly sighted
species. What colour was it? How big was it? What shape was the tail? Was
there a spot on the dorsal fin? Why can’t I find it in this book?
We’ve been down that road many times. You flip the pages
one by one and, maybe, you find what you’re looking for --- near the end of
the book. Maybe you don’t. It’s always educational and usually fun, but
there are times when using books can be very frustrating. Those are the times
to let a computer do the work for you.
"A
highly impressive new entry in the field of fish-watching aids. Comprehensive,
informative, meticulous in its detail, and fun to use." -- Dr. John
E. Randall, Ichthyologist (Bishop Museum, Honolulu)
Overview
Fishes of the Caribbean is the most comprehensive scientific reference of its kind -- the product of nearly 10
years of scientific research, photographic expeditions, and collaboration with academic experts. Whether
you're a beginning fishwatcher looking for a learning tool or an ichthyologist looking for an accurate
reference, this electronic field guide is for you.
At the core of Fishes of the Caribbean is a database of 665 unique species known to inhabit the Caribbean,
the Gulf of Mexico, and adjacent waters. Each species is described in meticulous detail and is accompanied
by a giant library of visual material:
- 2500 colour photographs illustrating important features, markings, colours, etc.
- 1000 video clips illustrating both typical and unusual behaviours
- Annotated sketches for every species, showing the features important for positive identification
ReefNet proudly notes that several species descriptions include exclusive first-ever photographs and
video. A number of previously undescribed species are also documented.
Software Features
Like a traditional field guide, Fishes of the Caribbean allows you to access data either casually or with
purpose. However Reefnet has taken advantage of technology to make those tasks a lot more flexible in our
software:
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The Species Browser
is an interactive tree sorted by either common name or by family. Click a species to view a thumbnail image and basic
information. Click again to load the complete species profile with multiple images, video, sketches, and detailed text.
Use the browser when you know what you are looking for, or if you just want to, well, browse the database.
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The Search Engine
is a powerful tool that can help you identify a fish based on a few key characteristics.
You supply whatever information you can remember (shape, colours, markings, size, habitat, behaviour,
etc.) and our software intelligently narrows down the possibilities. The best matches are presented in the
species browser for review. You'll never have to skim through every page of your paper field guide again to
pin down new fish you've seen.
Interactive Features
In addition to the core content, the 3rd Edition boasts a number of other interactive
learning and entertainment tools. Some of these include:
Supplements
Advanced fishwatchers and researchers will appreciate the scientific supplements
included with the 3rd Edition CD/DVD:
- Identification keys for problematic families
- Case studies developed by ReefNet's staff during field research
- A detailed explanation of the rules of ichthyological nomenclature
- A complete bibliography
Features
- 665 distinct species from 101 families, fully described.
- 2500 photographs. Each plate is 640x480 in 24-bit colour. Many species include
photos of unusual phases or distinguishing characteristics.
- 1000 carefully selected video clips covering 391 species. Each illustrates important aspects
of fish behaviour. That's 150 times as much as our competition! Videos can be resized to full-screen.
- Detailed, annotated drawings accompany every description. Two (spotted drum and masked hamlet) are pictured as thumbnails below.
- Audio pronunciations for every scientific name (families and species).
- Extensive search capability utilizing key features such as:
- Shape
- Colour (head, body, and/or tail)
- Behaviour
- Habitat
- Scientific classification
- Markings
- Size
- Family
- ...
- A powerful Multimedia Show Designer. Organize and play your own shows using the vast database of photos
and videos in our library. Add transitions between slides/clips, reorganize shows easily, and save them for later playback
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Sightings log to keep track of the fish that you have seen (plus the ability to add a new fish to the log
if it's not on our list).
- Context-sensitive help using hypertext, plus a glossary of scientific terms and fish anatomy.
- Detailed descriptions of every species.
A wonderful educational/reference tool!
DVD Video Features
Versions of Fishes of the Caribbean on DVD can also be played in your set-top DVD player and offer 100
minutes of high-quality digital underwater video. Custom on-screen menus allow you to control a number of
playback options:
- Pick a specific family or species from alphabetical scrolling lists
- Choose between two soundtracks (music or commentary)
- Choose from several informative subtitles (common name, scientific name, family, video credit...)
- Access a short bonus feature
- Watch a video demo of the software system (you can upgrade if you like it!)
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