Southern Africa is home to an extraordinary wealth of mammal species: they range from the smaller, more elusive animals, such as shrews, genets, suricates and bats, to the well-known and charismatic creatures—elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe and rhino. The region is also home to many marine species—seals, dolphins and whales—that inhabit both coastal and deeper waters.
Since it was first published in 1988, Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa has become the most popular guide to the mammals of the region. This extensively revised new edition will help readers identify not only the iconic larger animals, but also to clarify what would otherwise be a bewildering array of often-similar species. Colour keys make it easy to locate family groupings, while the introduction helps to put individual species into context. The text incorporates the characteristic features of each mammal, be they land- or marine-based, including typical behaviour, preferred habitat, food choices and reproduction. Comprising 350 species accounts, 470 photographs and over 275 distribution maps, as well as selected animal—human size comparisons, spoor drawings and skull photographs, this updated guide advances our understanding of the subcontinent's mammals.