Signs of the wild. A field guide to the spoor and signs of the mammals of southern Africa, by Clive Walker

Signs of the wild. A field guide to the spoor and signs of the mammals of southern Africa, by Clive Walker. Penguin Random House South Africa. Imprint: Struik Nature. 16th impression, Cape Town, South Africa 2016. ISBN 9781868258963 / ISBN 978-1-86825-896-3

Signs of the Wild, a highly successful field guide to the identification of southern African mammals based on spoor, droppings and other signs, has been fully updated and revised by Clive Walker to include the most recent findings on the subject.

Clive Walker  

Signs of the wild. A field guide to the spoor and signs of the mammals of southern Africa, by Clive Walker presents full-colour distribution maps for each of the eighty-eight animal species, new droppings and spoor for a number of species, and now features skulls for each of the carnivores. Each animal is represented in its habitat by means of a full-colour photograph. This book is not only essential for those with an interest in tracking but will prove valuable to anyone interested in animal behaviour. The spoor illustrations are either taken from field notes and sketches, and from colour and black and white photographs. Unless otherwise indicated, all the spoor illustrations are of the forefeet. I am extremely grateful to the late Dr Reay Smithers for permission to refer to certain spoor - indicated throughout the book by the abbreviation, R. Smithers. There are bound to be numerous variations due to hard or soft sand, mud and windblown tracks, so one should not regard the spoor as exact. Measurements were recorded wherever I encountered tracks and this, one must realize, will also vary. Faeces will also vary, depending on the season, age and diet of the animal. I have compiled distribution maps from my own knowledge and various other references. I appreciate that differences of opinion will arise; the maps are intended as a basic guide and, as such, are not conclusive. I have found throughout my search for references that many 'experts' differ considerably and that continuous revision is necessary; basic knowledge of mammals is an ongoing process. I acknowledge, with appreciation, the assistance of Charles Norman for his most useful references in various species' illustrations. The taxonomic classification largely follows Swanepoel, Smithers and Rautenbach (1980), with some corrections by the late R. Smithers. A table of comparative spoor illustrations have been included at the back of the book (see page 204). This should enable users of the book to identify spoor at a glance, by comparing the relative'size and shape of the spoor of species that might otherwise have been confused. As a result of ongoing studies, I have been able to make changes to certain spoor illustrations. Where applicable, Lozi and Yei names have been included; I would like to express my thanks to Mr A. W. Bredell for his help in this regard. Finally, a number of changes have been made to common names used in previous editions, the purpose being to achieve consistency with those names recommended by the late Dr Reay Smithers in his mammoth work The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion (University of Pretoria, 1983). Clive Walker

This is an excerpt from the guide: Signs of the wild, by Clive Walker.

Title: Signs of the Wild
Subtitle: A field guide to the spoor and signs of the mammals of southern Africa
Author: Clive Walker
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Struik Nature
16th impression, Cape Town, South Africa 2016
ISBN 9781868258963 / ISBN 978-1-86825-896-3
Softcover, 14 x 21 cm, 216 pages, throughout photos