Animals of the Masai Mara (ebook)

Argumento de Animals of the Masai Mara (ebook)

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

"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

"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 Activist0About 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