Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Book Review: The Wildlife of Southern Africa

Today I have a book review for you of one of my favourite books:

The Wildlife of Southern Africa: A Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region



This illustrated field guide to the animals and plants of southern Africa is updated with all the latest taxonomy and common names. It features over 2000 carefully selected plants and animals, large and small, that are likely to be encountered during a visit to any part of the region. More than 1200 species are illustrated and many more are identifiable from the text through reference to similar species. Each group is colour coded for easy reference; for quick identification, diagnostic features are in bold text within the concise descriptions. It would be hard to find a more useful field guide that covers all the major groups of plants and animals in the southern African region.

Each chapter has been written by a leading expert in the field, most of whom have published major works in their own right. Each group is colour-coded for easy reference:

• Lower invertebrates
• Spiders and other arachnids
• Insects
• Freshwater fishes
• Frogs
• Reptiles
• Birds
• Mammals
• Grasses, sedges, ferns and fungi
• Wild flowers
• Trees


This is the ideal companion for all who venture outdoors - visitors to game parks, hikers, holiday-makers, birders, game viewers and gardeners.

About the author:

Vincent Carruthers is a well-known environmentalist and author. In 1998 he was awarded the prestigious Stevenson-Hamilton Medal by the Zoological Society of southern Africa for his contribution as an amateur zoologist.

He co-authored South African Frogs - A complete Guide and was compiling editor of the highly successful The Wildlife of Southern Africa.

He is a Director of the North West Parks and Tourism Board, Delta Environmental Centre and the Sustainable Tourism Research Institute. He is a past Executive Director of the Wildlife and Environment Society and Chairman of BirdLife South Africa.

20 comments:

  1. book seems very nice. might get it as present to my cousin for her birthday in 2 weeks. she is very hyped about everything that has to do with africa :)

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  2. when I was a child, I used to read a lot of books about animals, that's why I really want to visit Africa :) Animals there are fascinating me.

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  3. Please tell me those are stickers!? Ahhhh animal stickers!!!! <3
    haha nice post! - sevenfoldsin.blogspot.com

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  4. I used to LOVE those books as a kid. I asked my mom to buy me natgeo mags and books too. So i guess i i wasnt too hard to convince hahaha

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  5. I would have loved to have this when I was younger

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  6. a must have for tourists and animal lovers!

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  7. oh :( i would've loved this book as a child..maybe i will try to get it for my little brother

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  8. I want to check this book out. seems like everyone likes it

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  9. Hey awesome book review. You must really love animals.

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  10. My uncle would love this book he is a nature freak. thanks for the review

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  11. I am going to see if my library has this! I love these kind of guides...Man. I wish I could get out to Africa.

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  12. This looks amazing. I remember as a kid looking through my books on African animals, it was so mysterious and wonderful. If I ever need a more up to date book like this, I'll know where to look.

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  13. Nice review!! Interesting blog!!

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