Other books

By Courtney Hundermark

Title: A Guide to the Reptiles of Prince Albert & the Swartberg Pass

Publishing date: November 2024

Pages: 114

Synopsis: The Karoo is home to an array of unique and diverse biota, both flora and fauna. This basic field guide aims to promote interest and appreciation for some of the region's lesser-known and often maligned inhabitants - the reptiles. Fully illustrated, this publication introduces the reader to over 70 reptile species known to occur from Prince Albert to the Swartberg. Diagnostic photographs accompany physical descriptions and field notes for each species, as well as including a brief overview of snake venoms and envenomation by snakebite.

By Ruan Stander

Title: The REPTILES of the Limpopo Province and Kruger National Park

Publish date: September 2023

Pages: 367

Synopsis: Worm or lizard? Legless skink or snake – actually, what’s a skink? Reptiles come in a dazzling array of shapes, sizes and colours. The Kruger National Park is home to 125 of South Africa’s 434 species. All except six of these living gems also occur in the Limpopo Province, from which a staggering total of 204 species are known. The region boasts the highest reptile diversity in South Africa – half of the country’s herpetofauna occurs here and more than 40 species are endemic. Several are newly described and have never been pictured in a popular field guide, while many have undergone significant taxonomic revision. This volume is packed with first-hand information and brings the region’s 210 species and their habitats to life with more than 600 photographs. This book is an indispensable resource for any serious African herpetologist, ecologist, nature guide, game ranger and hunter. Nevertheless, it is purposefully crafted to offer a gateway into the fascinating world of reptiles for enthusiasts, budding naturalists and the youth. It includes a foreword by Johan Marais, a detailed overview of the region's biogeography and provides common names in the Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda and Afrikaans languages.

By Jeff W. Morris & Ruan Stander

Title: Blouberg Nature Reserve - A Visitor's Guide

Publish date: February 2024

Pages: 98

Synopsis: This Ebook provides a basic overview of the rich endemism, biodiversity, geology and tourist attractions & amenities of the Blouberg Nature Reserve in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It also features checklists of various organisms recorded from within the reserve such as butterflies, mammals, trees, reptiles, birds and more.

By Richard C. Boycott & Ortwin Bourquin

Title: The Southern African Tortoise Book - A Guide to Southern African Tortoise, Terrapins and Turtles

Publish date: 1988

Pages: 148

Extracts from a review by Bill Branch African Wildlife Magazine (circa. 2000)

Extracts from the late Bill Branch’s book review of the revised and expanded edition (Boycott & Bourquin 2000). The review appeared in African Wildlife Volume 55, No.4).

“First published in 1988, and soon out of print, this detailed review of the biology, distribution and care of southern African tortoises, sea turtles and terrapins is once again available. This time, however, it is not just restricted to South Africa but covers all species in the subcontinent. Moreover, it has been fully revised, much expanded, and richly illustrated with numerous colour photographs (95 pictures of the 28 species found in the region).

I can find no fault with this guide. It is not only comprehensive but also very readable, and a must for anyone with an interest in these ancient and fascinating reptiles. Such a beautiful and useful book on our tortoises may stimulate the desire to keep them as pets. Thankfully, tortoises remain relatively well-protected in southern Africa, and conservation authorities in the Cape provinces and KwaZulu-Natal now readily issue permits to the public to keep confiscated tortoises.”

Synopsis: The introduction deals with the scientific and common names, distribution, evolution, cold-blooded or warm-blooded, the skeleton, locomotion, the senses, feeding and drinking, male or female, reproduction, growth and age, predation, mortality, defensive behaviour and protective legislation. The care in captivity section comprises housing, feeding and diet, care of eggs and hatchlings and health and medication. The main section of the book follows with a checklist of species and an easy to use key to identifying species before the individual species accounts. The species accounts deal with side-necked terrapins, soft-shelled terrapins, marine turtles and terrestrial tortoises. Various appendices follow the species accounts that record tribal names, localities mentioned in the text, edible and toxic plants, a breeding data table, glossary of terms and, at the time, probably the most comprehensive bibliography listing most of the publications, in excess of 200, on southern African chelonia ever compiled.

Extract from review by Jo Onderstall Veld & Flora Magazine March 2002

“This guide is probably the most user-friendly reference work I have ever read. It fulfils the promise made by the authors in the first edition, to provide more information on the biology of tortoises, terrapins and turtles and also news of greater and more effective conservation efforts on behalf of these animals.”

By Rupert Wilkey

Title: Venomous Snakes of Malawi - An identification guide for the 20 species of snake considered venomous to humans

Publish date: 2019 (OUT OF PRINT)

Pages: 175 pages, 20 colour photos, 51 b/w illustrations, 20 colour distribution maps

Synopsis: Malawi has its fair share of snakes; they often come into contact with people. Although 69% of the snakes found in Malawi are harmless, the majority of the venomous species usually cause a fatal bite due to lack of prompt medical attention. Often the snake is not identified and the doctor is left with the unenviable task of making a guess. This book hopes to aid in the correct identification of the snake and therefore the administration of the correct treatment, thus increasing the chance of survival for the victim.

By Rupert Wilkey

Title: Snakes of Malawi - A Field Guide to the snake species of Malawi

Publish date: 2019 (OUT OF PRINT)

Pages: 329 pages, 151 colour photos, 134 b/w line drawings, 66 colour distribution maps

Synopsis: Snakes of Malawi has taken over 40 years of field research to complete and is the most up-to-date snake guide on the country's snakes in more than half a century. This 330-page book contains 66 distribution maps, 151 colour photographs and 134 head scale drawings that together accurately describe all of the 65 recorded species found in Malawi. Malawi has quite a selection of species for such a small land area, but out of the 65 only 12 have the potential to kill a human. That means that over 80% of all recorded species are non-fatal to humans. In fact 43% are completely harmless and carry no venom at all. This guide will provide easy and fast identification of all species, together with bite symptoms and treatment.

By Andy Martin & Rupert Wilkey

Title: The Snakes of Malawi - The Complete Reference Book

Publishing date: TBC

Pages: 600+

Synopsis: Rupert first wrote his Field Guide to the Snakes of Malawi almost 25 years ago. Despite several revisions during that time, it was felt that a more in-depth reference book was needed. 

In this concise reference book,  Rupert has teamed up with Andy Martin to describe all of Malawi's species, including several ‘debated’ and unconfirmed species. They've also included previously unpublished data and information that has not been seen before, making it the most comprehensive book currently available on Malawi snakes; one that is destined to become the 'bible' on the subject.