AuthorHayward, P.J. & Ryland, J.S. (eds)
Year1990
TitleThe Marine Fauna of the British Isles and north-west Europe
ISBN0 19 857515 7
TypeBook/Report
How CompleteMost of the British and north-west European marine species known at the time
Source2 volumes, 996pp, Clarendon Press
IllustrationsNumerous plates of line drawings in the text
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

The bible for identifying marine fauna, including very small species. A collection of chapters on all the diverse groups of marine animals found in the British Isles and north-west Europe. This is not a field guide, but is intended for use in the lab on living or dead specimens.

Unfortunately now very expensive (c. £200 per volume: Jan 2012)

There is a shorter single-volume version (the "Handbook") for those primarily interested in what they might find on or near the UK shores. Although mostly cut down from the present work, the Handbook also contains a few species not in the present work.

Examine Stereo Microscope ( Compound Microscope is also useful)

Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
For identification, marine faunaCurrentANIMALIAanimals
For identificationCurrentCTENOPHORAcomb jelliesAnimalia
For identificationCurrentTUNICATAascidians, sea-squirts, tunicatesAnimalia
For identificationCurrent[Pisces]fishesAnimalia
For identificationCurrentECHINODERMATAstarfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbersAnimalia
For identificationCurrentHEMICHORDATAhemichordatesAnimalia
For identificationCurrentARACHNIDAmites, spiders, false scorpions, harvestmen etc.Animalia
For identificationCurrentPYCNOGONIDAsea spidersAnimalia
For identificationCurrentCRUSTACEAcrustaceansAnimalia
For identificationCurrentINSECTAtrue insectsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentMYRIAPODAmyriapodsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentPRIAPULIDApriapulansAnimalia
For identificationCurrentTARDIGRADAwaterbearsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentANNELIDAsegmented worms and leechesAnimalia
For identificationCurrentBRYOZOAbryozoans, ectoprocts and moss animalsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentECHIURAburrow worms and echiuran wormsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentENTOPROCTAentoproctsAnimalia
For identification, including the tiniest bivavles that are omitted from most other guidesCurrentMOLLUSCAslugs, snails, bivalves, octopus, sea slugsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentNEMERTEAproboscis worms, ribbon wormsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentPOGONOPHORAbeard wormsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentSIPUNCULAsipunculan wormsAnimalia
For identificationCurrentPLATYHELMINTHESflatworms, tapeworms, flukesAnimalia
For identificationCurrentCNIDARIAhydroids, jelly fish, sea anemones, jellyfishAnimalia
For identificationSupersededPORIFERAspongesAnimalia
For identificationCurrentPROTOZOAprotists, single-celled organisms
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