Animals of the Masai Mara

by Adam Scott Kennedy, Vicki Beard

Overview

One of the greatest attractions of a trip to Kenya is the chance to see animals such as lions, cheetah, leopards, zebra, and giraffe up close and in their natural habitats. Animals of the Masai Mara is a lavish photographic guide that explores the charismatic wildlife most likely to be encountered by a safari visitor to the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwest Kenya. More than 140 stunning photographs showcase 65 mammals and 17 reptile species, including 6 snakes. Designed to be informative and locally accurate, rather than purely identification-based, this easy-to-use book pays particular attention to wildlife behavior and is written from the firsthand experiences of the authors and the knowledge of local safari guides. Numerous "Top Tips" throughout show readers how and where to locate specific species. The only field guide to focus solely on the wildlife of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Animals of the Masai Mara will be indispensable to visitors to this famous park and all nature enthusiasts with an interest in this area of the world.

• The only photographic guide specific to the animals of the Masai Mara National Reserve


• More than 140 remarkable photographs covering 65 mammals and 17 reptile species, including 6 snakes


• Accessible text explores animal behavior and other interesting facts


• A brief and informative introduction to the habitats of the Masai Mara

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691156019
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	11/04/2012
Series:	Wildlife Explorer Guides , #44
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Since 2008, Adam Scott Kennedy and Vicki Kennedy have managed remote luxury safari camps in Tanzania and Kenya and now operate as private safari guides, specializing in photographic and wildlife safaris. Information on their tours and stock image library can be found at http://www.rawnaturephoto.com. Adam Scott Kennedy is the author of Birds of the Masai Mara (Princeton).

Table of Contents

About this book 7

Geography of the Masai Mara 10

Map of the Masai Mara 12

Where to watch wildlife in the Masai Mara 14

The great migrations 18

About the guides 22





Mammals

Lion Panthera leo 26

Leopard Panthera pardus 30

Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus 34

Serval Leptailurus serval 38

Caracal Caracal caracal 39

Wild Cat Felis sylvestris 40

African Civet Civettictis civetta 41

Small-spotted Genet Genetta genetta 42

Large-spotted Genet Genetta tigrina 42

Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta 44

Aardwolf Proteles cristata 46

Striped Hyena Hyena hyaena 47

Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula 48

Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo 49

Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguineus 50

Ichneumon Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon 51

Marsh Mongoose Atilax paludinosus 52

White-tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda 53

Zorilla Ictonyx striatus 54

Honey Badger Mellivora capensis 55

Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas 56

Side-striped Jackal Canis adustus 57

Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis 58

Wild Dog Lycaon pictus 59

Pangolin Smutsia temminckii 60

Aardvark Orycteropus afer 61

African Elephant Loxodonta africana 62

Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis 67

Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius 68

Warthog Phacochoerus africanus 70

Plains Zebra Equus quagga 72

Maasai Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis 76

Cape Buffalo Syncerus caffer 80

Eland Tragelaphus oryx 84

Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros 86

Bush Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia 88

Oribi Ourebia ourebi 89

Kirk's Dik-dik Madoqua kirkii 90

Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus 91

Mountain Reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula 92

Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca 93

Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus 94

Defassa Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus 95

Impala Aepyceros melampus 96

Grant's Gazelle Nanger granti 98

Thomson's Gazelle Eudorcas thomsonii 100

Coke's Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus 102

Topi Damaliscus lunatus 103

White-bearded Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus 104

Cape Hare Lepus capensis 108

Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis 108

Springhare Pedetes capensis 109

Unstriped Ground Squirrel Xerus rutilus 110

Striped Ground Squirrel Xerus erythropus 110

Grass Rat Arvicanthis niloticus 111

White-bellied Hedgehog Atelerix albiventris 112

Crested Porcupine Hystrix cristata 113

Bush Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei 114

Greater Galago Otolemur crassicaudatus 116

Lesser Galago Galago senegalensis 117

Guereza Colobus Colobus guereza 118

Red-tailed Monkey Cercopithecus ascanius 120

Blue Monkey Cercopithecus mitis 122

Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus 124

Olive Baboon Papio anubis 126




Reptiles




Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus 130

Savanna Monitor Varanus albigularis 132

Nile Monitor Varanus niloticus 132

Leopard Tortoise Geochelone pardalis 134

Helmeted Terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa 135

Flap-necked Chameleon Chamaeleo dilepis 136

Striped Skink Mabuya striata 136

Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia . 138

Cape Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus capensis 139

Mwanza Flat-headed Agama Agama mwanzae 140

Blue-headed Tree Agama Acanthocercus atricollis 141

Black-necked Spitting Cobra Naja nigricollis 142

Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis 143

Spotted Bush Snake Philothamnus semivariegatus 144

Velvety-green Night Adder Causus resimus 144

Puff Adder Bitis arietans 145

African Rock Python Python natalensis 146




References and useful resources 148

Acknowledgements and photographic credits 149

Index 150

Editorial Reviews

"This is the guidebook for every child, and child inside of us, between the ages of 5 and 105 that has ever dreamt of learning about the fascinating animals seen on a safari in Africa."—-Gabriel Thoumi, MongaBay.com

"Like its avian companion volume, you will love this book—even if you never visit the Masai Mara!"—-Devorah Bennu, GrrlScentist

"If you are going to visit the Masai Mara, this is a must have book. But I recommend this book equally to anyone who wants to take an imaginary journey to this part of the Serengeti. It is a fascinating book about the world's most charismatic community of animals."—-DRK, Wildlife Activist

From the Publisher

Like its avian companion volume, you will love this book—even if you never visit the Masai Mara!

GrrlScentist - Devorah Bennu

This is the guidebook for every child, and child inside of us, between the ages of 5 and 105 that has ever dreamt of learning about the fascinating animals seen on a safari in Africa.

MongaBay.com - Gabriel Thoumi