Polar pioneer, penguinologist and popular lecturer Frank Todd covers all the marine mammals and birds of the Southern Ocean in this gorgeously illustrated compact field guide. Each species gets several color photographs, dramatically presented, alongside key features and distribution notes. Frank Todd's experience -- and collection of photographs -- is legendary (though even he admits sorting out all those prions, diving-petrels and other tubenoses is nearly impossible). This terrific book will give you a fighting chance.  (ANT213, $29.95)

Best of 2004