Table of Contents
Introduction 7
Major biotic zones of southern Africa 7
Using this field guide 10
Mammal identification 11
Conservation and wildlife management 12
Family Introductions 16
Order Afrosoricida 36
Golden moles (family Chrysochloridae) 36
Giant otter shrew (family Tenrecidae) 42
Order Macroscelidea 42
Sengis (Elephant-shrews) (family Macroscelididae) 42
Order Eulipotyphla 48
Hedgehogs (family Erinaceidae) 48
Shrews (family Soricidae) 50
Order Chiroptera 58
Fruit-bats (family Pteropodidae) 58
Insectivorous bats 70
Sheath-tailed & tomb bats (family Emballonuridae) 70
Trident & leaf-nosed bats (family Hipposideridae) 72
Slit-faced bats (family Nycteridae) 76
Horseshoe bats (family Rhinolophidae) 80
False vampire bats (family Megadermatidae) 84
Long-fingered bats (family Miniopteridae) 84
Vesper bats (family Vespertilionidae) 88
Wing-gland, serotina, pipistrelle, butterfly, long-eared & house bats (subfamily Vespertilioninae) 88
Woolly bats (genus Kerivoula, subfamily Kerivoulinae) 106
Free-tailed bats (family Moiossidae) 108
Order Primates 112
Baboons & monkeys (family Cercopithecidae) 112
Pottos (family Lorisidae) 126
Galagos (Bushbabies) (family Galagidae) 126
Order Pholidota 132
Pangolins (family Manidae) 132
Order Lagomorpha 134
Hares & rabbits (family Leporidae) 134
Order Rodentia 142
Scaly-tailed squirrels (family Anomaluridae) 142
Squirrels (family Seiuridae) 144
Dormice (family Myoxidae) 158
Springhsres (family Pedetidae) 160
Rodent moles (Mole-rats) (family Bathyergidae) 162
Porcupine (family Hystricidae) 166
Cane-rats (family Thryonomyidae) 168
Dassie rat (Noki) (family Petromuridae) 170
Rats & mice (family Muridae) 170
Gerbils (subfamily Gerbillinae) 182
Order Carnivora 222
Foxes, jackals & African wild dog (family Canidae) 222
Otters, badger, weasel & polecat (family Mustelidae) 230
Mongooses (family Herpestidae) 236
Genets & civets (family Viverridae) 256
Palm civet (family Nandiniidae) 260
Hyaenas & Aardwolf (family Hyaenidae) 262
Cats (family Fslidae) 268
Order Tubulidentata 282
Aardvark (family Orycteropodidae) 282
Order Proboscidea 284
Elephant (family Elephantidae) 284
Order Hyracoidea 286
Dassies (Hyrax) (family Procaviidae) 286
Odd-Toed Ungulates Order Perissodactyla 294
Zebras (family Equidae) 294
Rhinoceroses (family Rhmocerotidae) 296
Order Whippomorpha, Suborder Ancodonta 302
Hippopotamuses (family Hippopotamidae) 302
Order Suiformes 304
Pigs & hogs (family Suidae) 304
Even-Toed Ungulates Order Cetartiodactyla 308
Giraffe (family Giraffidae) 308
Buffalo & antelopes (family Bovidae) 310
Deer (family Cervidae) 368
Order Carnivora - Marine 370
Fur seals (family Otariidae) 370
True seals (family Phocidae) 374
Order Whippomorpha, Suborder Cetacea 380
Baleen or whalebone whales (infraorder Mysticeti) 380
Rorquals (pleated whales) (family Balaenopteridae) 380
Right whales (families Balaenidae) 388
Pygmy right whale (family Cetotheriidae) 390
Toothed whales & dolphins (infraorder Odontoceti) 390
Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) 390
Sperm whales (families Kogiidae & Physeteridae) 398
Whale dolphins, pilot whales, killer & false killer whales (family Delphinidae) 400
Order Sirenia 422
Dugong (family Dugonqidae) 422
West African manatee (family Trichechidae) 424
Skulls 426
Glossary 436
Suggested Further Reading 437
Photographic Credits 438
Index 439
