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The prehistoric record of southern Africa extends back some 2 million years. The oldest cultural artefacts are stone tools such as hand axes, cleavers, and choppers. In more recent centuries, archaeologists have found an extensive repertoire of artefacts including not only stone tools, but tools of bone, wood and shell as well as beads, jewellery, grinding stones, clothing, fishing equipment, burials and southern Africa's enigmatic rock art. -
Southern Africa is without equal in terms of geology, a treasure trove of valuable minerals with a geological history dating back some 3 600 million years. In addition, the evolution of plants and animals, especially mammals and dinosaurs, is well preserved in the region, which also has among the best records of the origin of modern man. -
This detailed and comprehensive guide to the 151 snakes indigenous to southern Africa covers all essential aspects of snake biology and behaviour. Now in its second edition, A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa has been updated, revised, and expanded to include at least 11 newly discovered and 30 re-classified species and sub-species. New information based on international scientific research has been included in the species accounts relating to behaviour, identification, reproduction, and snake venom. -
An essential guide to identifying all dangerous snakes and common harmless snakes in southern Africa, as well as quick and important practical advice on first aid measures in the case of snakebite. Simple icons, distribution maps, succinct text and numerous full-colour photographs assist with easy identification of snakes commonly encountered in the region. Symptoms and treatment of snakebites are described, providing the reader with vital first-aid information. -
Drawing on the latest scientific research, the authors introduce the book with a discussion of reptile identification, diversity, biology, distribution patterns, and where to find and observe them, as well as unravelling the facts and fallacies of snakebites. Written in a lively and accessible way, the subsequent chapters offer insight into: Identification to group level, with an inclusive list of related species A detailed description of appearance, together with colourful images Biology and behaviour of each group -
Chameleons are fascinating creatures: they almost always evoke in people a strong response, be it delight, wonder, or fear. Chameleons of Southern Africa explores this interesting group of lizards and discusses their strange and unusual, sometimes unnerving, characteristics. It presents an overview of all types of chameleons (of which there are up to 160 species in total, worldwide), their history, geographic distribution (restricted mainly to Madagascar and Africa), reproduction, behaviour and their relationships to each other. -
Fully revised and updated, Filmer’s spiders: an identification guide to Southern Africa features all 63 families of spider that occur in this region. A fresh layout, full-colour photographs throughout – many of them new – and diagrams of diagnostic features make this a quick and easy guide for use in the field. The spiders are grouped into web-living, ground-living, and plant-living species to aid identification. -
Tracking is a much-loved, yet difficult, subject that attracts at least some of the attention of almost every bush-goer who ventures into the wild places of southern Africa. The ability to accurately read difficult, partial, or little-seen signs left in the soil or sand is rare and largely the domain of professionals. -
This book is a totally fresh approach to observing birds in Southern Africa. It affords you the opportunity to gather previously inaccessible and indecipherable information in the form of tracks and signs left behind by our avifauna. The book explores the unique details of the spoor, or tracks, of many species of birds. This is done in multiple ways including by observing their droppings, examining their feeding behaviour as well as their general nesting structures. It is remarkable how tracks and signs in nature help you to enrich your knowledge of bird species. -
Following the success of the earlier Scatalog – Quick ID guide to southern African animal droppings, here’s another quick and quirky identification guide, this time to tracks of the region’s most commonly found mammals, but also includes tracks of reptiles, rodents, birds and insects. A simple key on the inside front cover directs users to any of 11 categories, such as ‘cloven hooves’, ‘paws’ or 'tramline-like trails. Nearly 100 animals or closely related groups of animals are depicted: for each, there’s a silhouette of front and back feet and a colour photograph of the track the average measurements for each track a short description of the track information about the circumstances and likely habitat Concise and to-the-point, this pocket-sized reference -
Originally published in 1994, A Field Guide to Tracks and Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife quickly became the standard reference to the subject in the region, reprinting many times. This new edition provides the most detailed coverage of tracks, droppings, bird pellets, nests and shelters and feeding signs, not only for mammals, but also for birds, reptiles, insects, and other invertebrates. Greatly expanded, this extensive update now features full colour throughout. -
This book intensively covers a never-before-explored aspect of Southern African nature and is an essential new addition to the library of every nature lover. It was researched and written over the last four and a half years to open a door to a little-known micro-world that exists all around us. Invertebrates – which include commonly seen creatures such as butterflies, spiders, beetles, worms, and scorpions – are everywhere. The signs of their day-to-day activities are all around us if we know where to look. The life cycles and behaviours of many animals are discussed, with a special focus on interactions between mammals and invertebrates – a fascinating subject. -
This comprehensively updated and expanded edition of the region’s best-selling field guide to trees offers much, much more than the highly successful first edition. Fully updated text (including additional species entries) and distribution maps, numerous new photographs and a new 87-page section of full-tree photographs makes this well-loved guide even more indispensable in the field. -
This book’s title says it all! Now in an updated second edition, it provides a clear understanding of how trees are constructed and what to look for when identifying a tree. The book is divided into two parts: • Part 1 describes and clearly illustrates the different parts of a tree and their role in tree identification. • Part 2 features a key to 43 tree groups, based on easy-to-observe stem and leaf features. -
A photographic guide to the most used and best-known South African plant medicines, including their botany, main traditional uses and active ingredients. detailed species descriptions of more than 150 medicinal plants and their close relatives, or other species used in a similar way. Each entry includes the following information: a description of the plant, the plant parts used, medicinal uses, preparation and dosage, active ingredients, and pharmacological effects. -
