Viva Natura

Field Guides & Natural History of Mexico

Viva Natura is a long-term natural history project documenting Mexico’s landscapes and biodiversity through field observation, photography and writing. Created by Petr Myska in 2001, the project has evolved into books, documentaries and
exploration-based storytelling.

Publications

Field Guides by PETR MYSKA

Upcoming book

Forthcoming 2026

  • A bilingual field guide to more than 200 marine species of Mexico’s Tropical Pacific. Featuring over 400 full-color photographs taken by the author in the wild, this practical identification guide brings the region’s reef fish, corals, sharks, rays, crustaceans, nudibranchs and other marine animals into clear focus for divers, students and ocean explorers.

  • If you would like to be notified when the book becomes available, register your email below. I’ll send a short message as soon as it is released. No newsletters. No marketing emails. Just a publication notice. — Petr

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Available now

  • A bilingual field guide to 230 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals of Western Mexico. With 440 original full-color photographs and practical field guidance, this volume offers an accessible introduction to the region’s remarkable wildlife.

  • Available now in select local bookstores and as an ebook on Amazon Kindle and Google Books.

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Ecosystems

Mexican Pacific

Coastal reefs, rocky shores, and beaches of Western Mexico.

marine

Visit

Pacific Forests

Seasonal tropical forests of Mexico’s Pacific lowlands.

terrestrial

Visit

marine

Pacific Islands

Remote volcanic islands of the Revillagigedo in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Visit

Field Journals

Projects & Media

Over the past two decades, fieldwork has extended beyond books into documentary filmmaking, broadcast contributions and international publications. These collaborations reflect the broader scope of Viva Natura as a long-term natural history initiative grounded in direct observation and exploration.

Film

Touch of the Blue Crocodile (2012)

Production, camera, graphics and translation. Broadcast nationally by Česká televize (Czech National TV).
International film festivals participation.

Television

Port (2008-2009)

Field naturalist and on-location presenter in five documentary productions, Česká televize (Czech National TV).

Radio

BBC Radio Prague (2005–2008)

Original essays written and recorded for The Correspondent radio broadcast.

Publications

National Geographic Field Notes (2018 - 2023)

Selected essays originally published by National Geographic Field Notes and later curated into independent Field Journals.

Oceanographic Magazine (2022- pres.)

Additional articles in Oceanographic Magazine.

Recognition

Science Magazine (4 July 2003)

Best of the Web, recognizing the early Viva Natura project.