Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut

Ever see or catch a fish that you couldn't identify because it didn't look like any of the tiny photos or line drawings in your field guide? For New Englanders, those times are over. Written by DEEP staff Robert P. Jacobs and Eileen B. O'Donnell, A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut is the first publication to present multiple, high resolution, full-color photos of most New England and all Connecticut freshwater fish species, including all anadromous species and occasional visitors from salt water.

The typical field guide format illustrates only one photo per animal which cannot express the variation in form and color that is common among fish species. This guide presents an assortment of large, color photos for most fish species to aid in identification and illustrate the variety to be found in freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers. Most photos are portraits taken of fishes caught in Connecticut that show what a fish looks like "in the hand." In addition, aquarium shots are presented for some species because colors and patterns look different underwater. Also included are photos of juvenile fish, which can look very different from adults of the same species.

This field guide also simplifies the process of fish identification for beginners. Included is an easy-to-see graphic, "Guide to Families of Connecticut Freshwater Fishes." Readers can easily find the correct "fish family" on the graphic, which will direct them to a section of the book with photographs where they can narrow down the field and make identification easy and fun. For those more scientifically inclined, the book also contains a standard taxonomic key to fish families and species. Besides the photos, detailed information is presented for each species on identification, distribution, size, abundance, habits, how to observe and catch them, and what's unique about them. It also includes special sections on how to catch and observe fish in nature, including tips on angling and snorkeling and how to keep freshwater fish in aquariums.