California Marine Life: A Field Guide

The title may be a bit misleading in that this book isn't simply an identification catalog like some other field guides. The book is organized into chapters describing different marine habitats, and does a good job of providing the big picture. The author describes many species, covering their appearance, behavior, role in their environment, and classification. Most species that are discussed are accompanied by photographs, but not all. While this book can serve as a reference, I enjoyed reading it cover to cover.