Annalisa Berta is professor emerita of biology at San Diego State University. A specialist in the anatomy and evolutionary biology of marine mammals, especially baleen whales, she formally described a skeleton of the early pinniped Enaliarctos. She is the author of Return to the Sea: The Life and Evolutionary Times of Marine Mammals and the editor of the award-winning Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises: A Natural History and Species Guide.
"""The name Annalisa Berta is synonymous with expertise in, and deep knowledge of, sea mammals and their role in our oceans. . . . In this book [Berta] projects facts, informed science and connects cetaceans and other sea mammals to the entire oceanic ecosystem in which they exist, yet she wears her heart on her sleeve too.""---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds ""I came away from reading this book with a better understanding of marine events and a deeper feeling that it would be good to know even more.""---Mark Avery, Mark Avery blog ""An enjoyable and informative read.""---Steve Weinman, Divernet ""There is plenty to enjoy in this delightful book. Plenty to learn too. As the cold dark nights draw in, I can see myself delving into this book time and time again. This is a perfect gift for anyone that loves the ocean and its inhabitants.""---Caroline Robertson-Brown, Scubaverse ""This is a great book to own to augment your more typical field guides as it goes way beyond.""---Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature Newsletter ""Another inspiring contribution from Annalisa Berta. . . . This book is an example of how often complicated and elusive topics can be distilled into approachable and engaging tales.""---Oliver Hampe, Marine Mammal Science ""Offers a fresh perspective on [sea] mammals and how they came to be the way they are.""---Marina Wells, H-Environment"