Poseidon's Steed: The Story of Seahorses, from Myth to Reality

Description

Trails the seahorse through secluded waters across the globe in a kaleidoscopic history that mirrors humanity's centuries-old fascination with the creature, sweeping from the reefs of Indonesia, through the back streets of Hong Kong and back in time to ancient Greece and Rome. Marine biologist Helen Scales eloquently argues that seahorses are indeed fish, though scientists have long puzzled over their exotic anatomy and strange sex lives - male seahorses being the only males in the entire animal world to experience childbirth.

Helen Scales, PhD,is a marine biologist based in Cambridge, England. Her doctorate involved searching for giant, endangered fish in Borneo; she's also tagged sharks in California and once spent a year cataloging all the marine life she could find surrounding a hundred islands in the Andaman Sea. Helen is now a freelance researcher and broadcaster; she appears regularly on BBC Radio 4, Sky News, and the BBC World Service, and has presented documentaries on topics such as whether people will ever live underwater, the science of making and surfing waves, and the intricacies of sharks' minds. She is also scientific advisor to the charity Sea Changers, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a tutor at the University of Cambridge.

"Effectively examines the seahorse's chameleon qualities, as well as the phenomenon of males giving birth-the only such instance in the animal kingdom. The author is also adept at delineating the seahorse's alleged healing powers, and she offers a fascinating study in the history of aquariums and the pursuit of 'queer fish' [...] the author makes a solid case for a rare and wondrous creature." - Kirkus "A true natural history book, covering all aspects of the seahorse's involvement in the world [...] Scales is a marine biologist, and her fascination with the subject (she learned to scuba dive in order to observe this remarkable creature) shines through in her easy-to-read style and the way she uses the seahorse as a hook to discuss broader subjects [...] This is sure to appeal to both teens and readers interested in the natural world." -Library Journal "This seems to be just about the perfect book: small, delicate, elegant, charming, unusual, fascinating and uniquely memorable, a classic of its kind. In fact, now I come to think of it, Poseidon's Steed is itself a sort of seahorse of the book world." -Simon Winchester "This gem of a book has all the charm, passion, and compassion that one could look for in a great, relaxing read. Helen Scales is such a delightful writer and traveling guide that you won|t even realize how much you|re learning. Open the cover, go for a ride, have fun with this book. It|s perfect for the beach." --Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean, Eye of the Albatross, and Voyage of the Turtle "In this eye-opening book, Helen Scales reveals the heretofore well- kept secrets of what is probably the most fascinating and enigmatic of all the fish in the sea, the tiny, horse-headed, vertical swimming, tube-mouthed, prehensile-tailed, male brood-pouched Hippocampus; evolutionary mystery (how could such a creature evolve?), star of mythology, and now, poster-child for marine conservation." -Richard Ellis, author of Tuna: A Love Story