In this groundbreaking and meticulously field-tested guide, the rich variety of Sierra life--trees, wildflowers, ferns, fungi, lichens, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and insects--comes alive. "There are lots of Sierra field guides, some specialized, some general, but this is the best both for beauty and usefulness. " --Kim Stanley RobinsonEasy-to-use features include: Intuitive organization, color tabs, and simple keysSimilar-looking species side by sideOver 2,800 full-color illustrationsRange maps of species that are otherwise difficult to distinguishIndex of common and scientific namesLightweight and compact--ideal for backpackingImpressively detailed and comprehensive, the guide includes: More than 1,700 speciesDescriptions of behavior, adaptations, and interactions between speciesSpecies and topics not found in most guides, including aquatic life, spiders and webs, plankton, plant galls, bark beetle galleries, animal tracks and evidence, seasonal star charts, weather patterns, and cloud formations