This field guide can be used both by students and the general public. Many of the illustrations reflect what a person would see in the real world (e.g. a jackrabbit in the distance instead of close up or silhouettes of birds in flight). The manuscript is divided into the following a. an introduction the Northern Gulf of California with a brief discussion of the local environments, their geology and climate, b) a systematic overview and survey of the diversity of animal and plant groups that are discussed in the book, and c) the guide to the common animal and plant species with the focus on habitats.