This is the only truly pocket-sized guide to the world's sharks and rays.The shark is undeniably the 'lord of the seas', having existed unchanged for 350 million years. Not only is it the biggest of fish, it is also the best equipped for hunting down and destroying its prey. It is capable of living in all waters shallow or deep, tropical or temperate, fresh or salt, and unlike most animals, it has no natural predators apart from the Killer Whale.Gem Sharks describes and illustrates 230 species of shark. Shark families are grouped together and for each individual species there is detailed identification information and an original colour illustration, together with distribution information.Covering all aspects of these extraordinary creatures, from their behaviour, breeding, feeding and ecology, right through to the impact of humans on sharks throughout the world, this is one of the most important shark books ever written.