There is no doubt that extensive wildlife production in southern africa has developed rapidly in recent years. The atlantic ocean laps the western seaboard, and the southern and eastern shores are bounded by the indian ocean. The state of urban food insecurity in southern africa pdf. A guide to the reptiles of southern africa johan marais. Johan is accredited by the international society of zoological sciences iszs and is a field guides association of southern africa fgasa. The puff adder bitis arietans is considered to be africas deadliest snake because it is responsible for the most human fatalities. Apr 03, 2016 pocket guide snakes and other reptiles of southern africa offers helpful descriptions, distribution maps and colourful images of 276 of south africas snake and reptile species. Numerous wildlife safari and tour companies operate guided tours to southern africa. While the snakebite season is not yet in full swing, a number of serious snakebites have occurred in the past few weeks in southern africa. Our most venomous snakes include the aggressive black mamba, the puff adder, mozambique spitting cobra, cape cobra, boomslang, vine snake and gaboon viper. Help document the beautiful diversity of snakes from all over south africa.
Branch and others published the venomous snakes of southern africa part 2. The guide also indicates which species are endangered in the wild, and which snakes are venomous. If youre not within 3 m of a snake it cannot bite you and youre in the safe zone. It would be impossible to feature all south africas snakes in this guide as there are said to be 171 snake species found here. A collection of venomous snakes from south africa brought to you by mad martin and razedahell from the venom list team. There are currently around 180 species and subspecies of snakes.
Get to know all of southern africas 171 snake species with this updated version of esnakes southern africa, an app for your apple and android devices. Bill branch struik publishers 3rd edition, cape town 1998 isbn 9780883590423 softcover, 15x21 cm, 399 pages, 600 full colour photos. The emphasis is on first aid for snakebite, along with symptoms. Introduction to southern africas reptile fauna sarca. Southern africa has an impressive selection of venomous snakes and a large number of species which while either nonvenomous or only mildly venomous are easily confused with the more seriously venomous species. The common harmless snakes of south africa tyrone ping.
Restricted to subsaharan africa, the boomslang dispholidus typus is known as one of the most venomous snakes on the continent. Southern africa has many top game nature reserves, and is home to many of the mammals of southern africa. Box 176, sedgefield 6573, south africa corresponding author abstract. Jan 01, 1992 this detailed and comprehensive guide to the 151 snakes indigenous to southern africa covers all essential aspects of snake biology and behavior. Features distribution maps, 68 photos and a description of each snake and its behavior patterns. Two of those the gaboon adder and black spitting cobra are very rare and not worth worrying about. This title summarises the current knowledge on the intensive production of wild animals in southern africa. We have privately presented to, discussed and iterated this report in private audiences with the south african government, some of south africas top political.
These african snakes are both poisonous and deadly. Snakes and snake bite in southern africa by johan marais. Of the 7 kinds of land snake described, roughly half are believed to be indigenous, the remainder emigrants from the north. Intensive production of wild animals often happens in small enclosed areas or areas of limited size and requires more intensive management than the extensive production. A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa by marais. The black mamba is the fastest running snake in africa, and perhaps in the world. G j muller, bsc, mb chb, hons bsc pharm, mmed anaes, phd tox dr muller is parttime consultant in the division of pharmacology, department of medicine. Popular adventure travel activities in southern africa include.
A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa by johan marais. Black mamba dendroaspis polylepis perhaps the most feared snake in africa is the black mamba. And this helpful, easy and uptodate guide is just what you need to. Introduction and viperidae find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The puff adder is probably the most widespread snake in africa, avoiding the severe parts of the sahara desert, tropical rain forests and high altitudes. The puff adder bitis arietans is a highly venomous species of viper found throughout africa with the exception of the sahara desert region and the african rainforests. Snakes species found in south africa rentokil south africa does not cover snakes as part of our service package. Pages in category reptiles of southern africa the following 6 pages are in this category, out of 6 total. The snakes have a reputation as the most dangerous and feared snake in africa at large. The region of southern africa is defined as that group of countries stretching from the northern most point of tanzania to the southern tip of cape province in. With increasing public concern for the environment, and the emergence of the citizen scientist, interest in less fashionable wildlife such as reptiles and amphibians has increased, writes herpetologist bill branch in his new book pocket guide snakes and other reptiles of southern africa. South africa, the southernmost country on the african continent, renowned for its varied topography, great natural beauty, and cultural diversity, all of which have. In those days south africa still lived under the cloud of apartheid, so after a quick visit to kruger national park i headed for botswana where i spent a year working before returning to east africa which remains my home to this day. A guide to the reptiles of southern africa introduces the 517 species currently described in the region, arranged into three main groups snakes and lizards, crocodiles, and shelled reptiles.
The snake produces a highly potent hemotoxin which disrupts. Complete guide to the snakes of southern africa johan. Black mambas are the largest venomous snake in south africa and can reach four metres long. What is disappointing, however, is mannings decision to exclude taxa that are nonarborescent and nongraminoid, but which nonetheless have small flowers or inflorescences. The boomslang dispholidus typus is one of the most venomous species of snakes in the world and is native to subsaharan africa. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Based on reptile expert johan marais a complete guide to the snakes of southern africa, this handy app will help you identify all the regions snakes by their size, pattern, colour, habitat and activity periods.
Feb 07, 2010 a collection of venomous snakes from south africa brought to you by mad martin and razedahell from the venom list team. Jan 25, 2018 herald snake crotaphopeltishotamboeia mildly venomous another prolific snake found across most of south africa occurring in all 9 provinces. South africas leadership and regional power dynamics. They are africas largest venomous snake and can grow to between 2. This insert below will touch on these medically insignificant snakes, which include harmless nonvenomous as well as the common mildly venomous snakes which the average south african may come across on a day. The congo has a rich herpetofauna amphibians and reptiles of 522 species. However, only 290 of these are reptiles, and only 95 are lizards.
A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa 1, marais. The venom is slowacting, with symptoms taking several hours to present themselves. Here are the top 10 most dangerous snakes to watch out for. It is one of the fastest snakes and can move at over 20kmhour.
He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses including snake awareness, scorpion awareness and venomous snake handling. He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses including. It is the largest venomous snake in south africa and can reach four metres long, said naude. Of the 170 species of snakes in southern africa only 20 are capably of inflicting a deadly bite. Brown the atlas of southern african birds volume 2. Common highly dangerous snakes of south africa camping tips. Mountains, deserts, in the sea, rivers, lakes, even in the arctic. Understanding south africas economic puzzles harvard university.
A variable snake which may have bright orangered, white, yellow or black colouration on the upper lip adding to its common name of the redlipped or herald snake. About help blog jobs established 1985 nhbs gmbh covid19. For the naturalist and the bibliophile this is a wonderful book. Intensive production of wild animals often happens in small enclosed areas or areas of limited size and requires more intensive management than the extensive production of wildlife. The atlantic ocean laps the western seaboard, and the southern and eastern shores are bounded by. Field guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern afrika author. Its venom is haemotoxic, which means that it disables the bodys natural bloodclotting mechanism and triggers uncontrollable external and internal bleeding. I know some of us have the urge for an urgent bond with wild animals which is to some extent understandable but rather odd. Johan is accredited by the international society of zoological sciences iszs and is a field guides association of southern africa fgasa and. Following on the success of the common snakes of durban post that was compiled here is a much broader spectrum to cover south africa. Of the 5 species of snakes in southern africa, only about 12 are potentially deadly. Field guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern afrika. Present rates of discovery, which for lizards are still comparable to those in the early phase of exploration in the 19 th century, indicate that the reptile fauna. If you see a snake, try to get away, is the advice from snake expert arno naude.
A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa by. Jul 15, 2005 this detailed and comprehensive guide to the 151 snakes indigenous to southern africa covers all essential aspects of snake biology and behavior. There are three types of venomous snakes in southern africa they fit into the cytotoxic, neurotoxic and haemotoxic category. Discovering the diversity of snakes found in southern africa. A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa kindle edition by marais, johan. A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa 1.
This detailed and comprehensive guide to the 151 snakes indigenous to southern africa covers all essential aspects of snake biology and behavior. Southern africa has the richest reptile diversity in africa, with a fauna that currently comprises 498 species 578 taxa if one includes subspecies in 116 genera and 23 families. In southern africa it may be found in most areas, but it avoids the extreme desert conditions, dense forests. 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 reclassified species and subspecies. Jun 07, 2018 the cape cobra is found in southern africa in a wide variety of habitats, including the savannas, deserts, semidesert regions, and bushvelds. Exploring the diversity of snakes found in southern africa. Field guide to mammals of southern africa, by chris stuart. Intensive wildlife production in southern africa exclusive. Southern africa is home to a remarkably diverse and rich reptile fauna. But i had already glimpsed such gems as botswanas okavango. Simple icons, distribution maps, succinct text and numerous fullcolour photographs assist with easy identification of snakes commonly encountered.
Elapidae and hydrophidae find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The korck publishing wall poster snakes of southern africa dangerous snakes and common harmless snakes. Based on reptile expert johan marais a complete guide to the snakes of southern africa, this handy app will help you identify all the regions snakes by their size, pattern, colour. Survey of reptiles in the wilderness section of the garden.
Just click on the links, but for the best snake website on the net about the snakes of south africa, please visit my facebook group at. Here is some information and photos about the snakes of southern africa on the left. Pdf snakes of africa exploitation and conservation. A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa by johan. Field guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern. In south africa there are 169 species of snakes of which only 14 are considered life threatening. Fitzsimons snakes of southern africa is the definitive study of the 160 species and subspecies known to occur in the southern african subcontinent. Rentokil south africa does not cover snakes as part of our service package. Pdf on jan 1, 1978, william r branch and others published the venomous snakes of southern africa. Our most venomous snakes include the aggressive black mamba, the puff adder, mozambique spitting cobra. Although we focus on snakes of south africa, lesotho, swaziland, namibia, botswana. This paper reports on the current occurrence of reptiles in the wilderness section formerly the wilderness national park of the garden route national park, south africa, in relation to that recorded previously as well as from other conservation areas in the southern cape. Snakebite season in southern africa africa geographic. A complete guide to the snakes of southern africa johan.
Typically only between 1012 deaths per year in south africa from snakebite. However, the last few years have seen the development of intensive wildlife production too. As its name suggests, eastern green mambas are jewelgreen in color, although juveniles are typically a darker bluegreen. 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. You dont want to encounter these snakes in south africa. Geographically, the field guide to mammals of southern africa chris stuarttilde stuart covers the area south of the cunene river in the west and the zambezi river in the east. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a complete guide to the snakes of southern africa. It contains accounts of all the species and subspecies of snakes known to occur in africa south of a line drawn from the zambesi river in the east to the kunene river in the west.
Quarto, colour plates, maps, small piece missing from corner of blank preliminary leaves, otherwise a very good copy in slightly chipped dustwrapper. South africa maps perrycastaneda map collection ut library. Southern africa is the southernmost region of the african continent, variably defined by. Snakes and snake bite in southern africa describes a total of 48 snake species found in southern africa. They are africa s largest venomous snake and can grow to between 2. South africa, officially the republic of south africa rsa, is the southernmost country in africa. Field guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern afrika, by bill branch. Aim to map and assess the richness patterns of reptiles and included groups. The richness of southern africas herpetofauna is best illustrated in comparison to the congo, the second largest country in africa and almost equal in size to the southern african subcontinent.
This is due to a variety of factors, including the snakes wide distribution, its prevalence in populated areas and its relatively aggressive nature. Area handbook for the republic of south africa pdf. A onto the spectacular flora of south africa scielo. Buy snakes of southern africa poster 9781919866147. It is found predominantly in the coastal forests of southern and east africa, and spends most of its life in the trees.
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