Sharks of the World is the essential book for everyone interested in sharks, from the expert requiring a major reference work, to the layperson fascinated by their beauty, biology and diversity. Packed with unique colour illustrations, line drawings and photographs, well-presented and easy to use, this book is currently the only single guide to cover over 500 of the world’s shark species. It incorporates the most recent taxonomic revisions of many shark families, featuring not only many species that were only described in recent years, but several more that are still awaiting their scientific names. Its production is timely. Overfishing and the shark fin trade have pushed sharks into the most threatened categories of marine animals. Their depletion has serious implications for the stability of marine ecosystems. Some species are now listed in international environmental agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and they are becoming a management priority for many Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. Implementation of conservation and fisheries management measures, and international trade regulation is impossible without a good identification guide. Sharks of the World is the end product of well over a decade of collaboration between David Ebert, Sarah Fowler and Leonard Compagno (globally-recognised experts in shark taxonomy, identification, biology and shark conservation policy and status) and the renowned natural history illustrator, Marc Dando – pooling a total of over 100 years of professional engagement in this field.