- Paperback: 376 pages
- Publisher: Struik Publishers; 3Rev Ed edition (1 Jun 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1868720403
- ISBN-13: 978-1868720408
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 14.2 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
599,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11 in Books > Science & Nature > Nature > Wild Animals > By Region > Australasia
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Product Description
Product Description
This edition supplements the 397 South African reptiles originally represented in this field guide by 64 new species. Some of these are new discoveries in the region, others are reclassifications. Author Bill Branch has also adapted the original text, modifying distributions and biology to reflect the most up-to-date research on the subject. The book covers 133 species of snake, as well as many and varied lizard and gecko species, tortoises, turtles, terrapins and the crocodile. New species entries introduce 13 gecko species, eight skinks and three snakes, amongst others. Each species entry includes size range, a physical description of the creature and a discussion on biology and breeding, habitat and range. Where subspecies occur, these are described. Each account is accompanied by a distribution map, which has been updated where necessary. Explanatory notes and a comprehensive glossary make the subject accessible to even the beginner herpretologist.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa by Bill Branch, third edition, 1998, published by Struik of Cape Town measures 21 x 15 x 2.5 cm and weighs 750 grams. These are important considerations for travelers and make this book quite a bulky field guide that better fits the knapsack than the pocket. But it is worth it, being leagues better than its common rival by Graham Alexander & Johan Marais (17 x 24 x 2.7 cm and 1100 grams).
Professor Bill Branch is Curator of Herpetology at Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa. His book contains 400 pages including 23 on useful introduction, 247 of excellent and detailed descriptive text covering 480 species, 112 good colour plates and 16 appendices. It has an index to scientific names but only a check-list of English names. It needs a comprehensive index with Afrikaans vernacular names. But this is small criticism of an excellent book that is for people who really want to know what reptile they are looking at.
Between the first edition of 1988 and the second ten years later, 83 species were added. Now (Nov 2010) we need a third please Bill.
Professor Bill Branch is Curator of Herpetology at Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa. His book contains 400 pages including 23 on useful introduction, 247 of excellent and detailed descriptive text covering 480 species, 112 good colour plates and 16 appendices. It has an index to scientific names but only a check-list of English names. It needs a comprehensive index with Afrikaans vernacular names. But this is small criticism of an excellent book that is for people who really want to know what reptile they are looking at.
Between the first edition of 1988 and the second ten years later, 83 species were added. Now (Nov 2010) we need a third please Bill.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Reptiles for the people
25 Mar 2000
Format:Paperback
Generally field guides serve one purpose; to identify animals in the field. However it is a rare occurrence when one finds a field guide that is as useful to identify species as it is to educate. Bill Branch has written such a book about the reptiles of southern Africa. The author has provided informative sections on identifying and collecting reptiles, and on the vegetative habitats of southern Africa which determine the distributions of many species. In addition the book briefly covers the evolution and breeding biology of reptiles. The photographic plates are separate to the text and allow one to quickly scan the pages to identify the species of interest. The text section of each species covers distribution, breeding biology, taxonomy and interesting facts of relevance. Whether you are visiting southern Africa or a resident, this book will spur your interest in herpetology and allow you to identify reptiles with confidence.
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