Smither’s Mammals of Southern Africa: A Field Guide

I have the Kindle Version-- it works well on the IPad Kindle Reader.NoteI live in New Zealand at the bottom of the World. Postage is expensive so I tend to go for books that are on Kindle.Check of paperback and hardbacks if postage isn!t a big issue to you.BOOK REVIEWThis is a very good field guide.--amazon's see inside gives you some idea how the book is set out -- the examples shown are of bats-- not my first choice.I think this book and another are well worth thinking about , especially if you like kindle books.The other book is "The Stuart's Guide toMammals of Southern Africa, including Angola, Zambia and Malawi "( referred as the Stuart's ) 2015 editionSmithers edition by P Apps. About 350 pages. Stuart's text about 450 pagesText much the same as Stuart's-- the Stuart's text is more structuredBoth have very helpful text.Maps of animal distribution much the sameSpoor ( footprints ) much the sameIllustrationsSmither's excellent coloured drawings- only one per animal, but shows the various zebra types.Stuart's -- very crisp colour photos.If there is a difference between male and female that is shown , sometimes see female with youngSome detailed photos of important features, usually close upFacial blaze would be a common example-- does the white strip go up to eye level or above. Is it continuous etc-- I am trying to learn about the many antelopeBoth have panels with quick major facts.both have quick access to information by a link at start of bookI prefer the Stuart's book.For me I get more photos that often illustrate male and female when you can tell them apart.Some antelope have one diagrams of horn development by age which I find helpfulThe detailed photos help one remember a detail on how to tell similar looking animals. I think the Stuart's apparently to animal height is much easier to follow and is within the text on the animal in question. ( in Smither's it is separated. )I have both and use both.Other booksI have given a list of some important books you should know about here"Touring South Africa's National Parks "M Brett.It took me a while to find them and I was very pleased with them.The editor of the Revised Smither's book is Peter AppHe has done an excellent book on Animal Behaviour.It is animal specificSee my review

The drawings are very nice and I love the information about the topography and ecosystem types across Africa in the beginning;however, this book’s text is bigger than a field guide should be and text heavy too. I will not be bringing this out with me but will rather read it at night in my tent while I’m in Africa. It’s just not concise enough to walk around with all day and it isn’t as easy to find the mammals in the book as I would like. Still nice though.

Author is an old family friend and his work is the staple of anyone serious about African fauna.Hey Peter, Thanks again. I grew up with your work in the house.

Comprehensive

brilliant book great read just what I wanted this book is very informative and full of facts about all the different mammals and is very well presented with colour photographs

Love it!

Couldn’t be without this especially for my FGASA qualifications!

I bought this for a Uni trip and it was great for identifying all the Antelopes which all look so similar! It's quite thick and heavy so not a good pocket guide but overall it's a great guide.

ci è stata utilissima in viaggio!la migliore tra tutte le guide che ho trovato in giro.La consiglio a chi ha intenzione di fare un viaggio e non vuole vedere solo elefanti e leoni!

Complete professional guide. Extremely clear and useful also for amateurs. I would suggest the purchase to anybody going to Southafrica for a nature trip.

OTTIMO compagno indispensabile per viaggiare in lungo ed in largo per i parchi africani!!! Completo di dettagli, disegni illustrativi e tabelle comparative!!! Da acquistare assolutamente prima di partire!!!