Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa, by Peter Apps

Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa, by Peter Apps. ISBN 9781770079137 / ISBN 978-1-77007-913-7

Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa, by Peter Apps. ISBN 9781770079137 / ISBN 978-1-77007-913-7

Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa, a highly regarded field guide will appeal to general readers and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as to specialists in the field of mammals. Author is Peter Apps.

Peter Apps  

The quarter of a century since publication of the first edition of Reay Smithers' Land Mammals of Southern Africa has seen a steady expansion of knowledge about southern African mammals, and in the 12 years since its third edition there has been a radical change in our understanding of the evolutionary relationships among mammals. This fourth edition of the 'Small Smithers' incorporates both updated information on field biology and the new names of species and higher taxa that reflect recent changes in systematics and taxonomy. The information in the Smithers' field guides has always been drawn directly from the zoological research literature and other authoritative sources, but because most of the book's readers will be lay people, and a good number of them will not be native English speakers, I have avoided technical terms when there is a close enough equivalent in ordinary language. Some specialists might feel that the precision of language to which they are accustomed has been sacrificed, but specialists in any field too often forget that their technical terms are bafflingly unfamiliar to lay readers, and even to specialists in other disciplines. Readers who encounter terms that are unfamiliar, in this book or in others, can refer to the glossary. Clare Abbott's illustrations and Hazel Smithers' spoor drawings from the first edition have proved themselves to be timeless and have been used here again, together with the colour illustrations and line drawings by Penny Meakin and Noel Ashton that first appeared in the third edition, and six new colour illustrations by Penny Meakin. The enduring success of the 'Small Smithers', and especially its value to wildlife professionals, is a lasting tribute to Reay Smithers and to the researchers whose results it draws on, especially those local specialists who contributed to the enlarged third edition. A field guide has to be portable, and therefore it can provide only summaries of the available information. To make best use of limited space, the more common, accessible and better-studied species have full accounts with colour illustrations, distribution maps, spoor drawings and detailed text; species that are less likely to be encountered have brief summaries and are indicated by means of a grey bar in the margin; and some rare species are mentioned only by name. I have aimed to include as much scientifically accurate and detailed information as can be fitted into a field guide, and reliable sources of additional detailed information are given in the Further Reading list. Wildlife tourism in its widest sense is projected to become Africa's biggest earner of foreign exchange, and while there is growing awareness of the value of the wildlife and other resources of natural areas, the challenge of reconciling immediate demands for resources with conservation on behalf of future generations has still not found an answer that satisfies the conflicting demands of Africa's particular economic, social and political circumstances. Increases in human population and the demand for land continue to threaten the limited areas on which sustainable use of renewable natural resources is being practised, while political upheaval and armed conflict undermine both efforts to protect natural resources and economic development in any form. Effective conservation depends on detailed information about animals and their environments, how these are affected by human activities, the impacts of wildlife on rural livelihoods, and how wildlife and other renewable natural resources can be utilised most effectively. In addition to field studies of ecology and behaviour, the conservation research agenda now includes the development of new tools for mitigating human-wildlife conflict and for managing small isolated populations of imperilled species.

This is an excerpt from the guide: Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa: A Field Guide, by Peter Apps.

Book title: Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa
Authors: Peter Apps
Type: Field Guide
Imprint: Nature
Publisher: Random House Struik
Fully revised & updated edition. Cape Town, South Africa 2012
ISBN 9781770079137 / ISBN 978-1-77007-913-7
Softcover, 14x21 cm, 392 pages, throughout colour illustrations

Apps, Peter im Namibiana-Buchangebot

Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa

Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa

Smithers’ Mammals is an authoritative and popular guide to the mammals of Southern Africa: Fully revised & updated edition.

My first book of southern African mammals

My first book of southern African mammals

My First Book of Southern African Mammals introduces a cross-section of 58 animals.

My first book of Southern African wildlife

My first book of Southern African wildlife

My first book of Southern African wildlife introduces children to 58 mammals, 58 birds and 56 reptiles.

Wild Ways: Field companion to the behaviour of southern African mammals

Wild Ways: Field companion to the behaviour of southern African mammals

Wild ways, field companion to the behaviour of mammals, explains how animals in Southern Africa behave and why they do so.

Creatures of habit. Understanding African animal behaviour

Creatures of habit. Understanding African animal behaviour

Creatures of Habit explaines the habit of Africa animals and helps to understand their behaviour.

Fauna und Flora im südlichen Afrika

Fauna und Flora im südlichen Afrika

Fauna und Flora im südlichen Afrika: Ein sehr beliebtes Handbuch für die Tier- und Pflanzenwelt der Region.

Weitere Buchempfehlungen

Wildlife of South Africa: A Photographic Guide

Wildlife of South Africa: A Photographic Guide

Wildlife of South Africa is handy, all-in-one photographic field guide to mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and trees.

Signs of the wild. A field guide to the spoor and signs of the mammals of southern Africa

Signs of the wild. A field guide to the spoor and signs of the mammals of southern Africa

Clive Walker's tracking guide Signs of the wild focusses on spoor and signs of the mammals of southern Africa.

Mammals of Southern Africa Pocket Guide

Mammals of Southern Africa Pocket Guide

Authoritative and colourfully illustrated, Mammals of Southern Africa Pocket Guide offers concise information.