What Shell Is That? (ISBN 0701815507)

The following text is from dust jacket of the book::
This magnificently illustrated and authoritatively written book brings a new dimension to the vast world of shells. From the first glimpse the reader becomes fully aware of shells as living animals, molluscs with fascinating histories and habits. With 750 species presented, this book will have wide appeal for the general public and for the dedicated shell collector. Close-up studies of the shells and animals take the reader into an exquisite, living world comprehensively brought to life for the first time. What Shell is That? contains vital and unique information on the ecology, natural history, and conservation of shells. What Shell is That? reflects the dedication and enthusiasm of the author for his subject, and will no doubt swell the ranks of shell devotees. It will have a wide range of usage, whether for pleasure or for study. Neville Coleman was born in Hunters Hill. Sydney in 1938. a fifth generation Australian. His interests in marine animals took a serious turn in 1963 when he began diving to further his knowledge. Since then he has become Australia's foremost underwater naturalist and has completed a 40,000 mile expedition around the Australian coast recording the marine life. Although interested in all marine organisms, molluscs have taken up the greater part of his studies. He belongs to a number of organisations concerned with the study of molluscs, their natural history and their ecology including the Malacological Society of Australia and the Australian Littoral Society. Many of his observations, articles and photographs have been published in overseas books and marine orientated magazines. The majority of species shown in this book have been personally found by the author and the larger part of his collection has been donated to various State museums. He has located a number of new shell records for Australia and discovered many species new to science, two of which bear his name. He has acted as honorary photographer on several subtidal scientific expeditions and is a marine associate of the Australian Museum.