African Predators - Hardcover

Mills

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1770072209 ISBN 13: 9781770072206

Publisher: Struik Publishers, 2005

Synopsis

From the sleek cheetah and the majestic lion to the oft-maligned hyena and opportunistic jackal, large carnivores reign supreme in the African wild. In African Predators, award-winning photographer Martin Harvey's dramatic images complement biologist Gus Mills's extensive field research to bring fourteen species of African carnivores to life. This group contains members of the families of cats (Felidae), hyenas (Hyaenidae), and dogs (Canidae), each with distinguishing as well as common characteristics.

Mills describes the origins and evolution of these mighty predators, examines their social structures and hunting behaviors, discusses their competition with each other for shrinking territory and resources, and presents the conservation status and outlook for each. Harvey's engaging full-color photographs bring the everyday existence of these majestic animals vividly to life.

About this title

About the Author:

Gus Mills is a specialist scientist with the National Parks Board in South Africa. He has spent more than twenty years studying the ecology and behavior of large carnivores and has written a book on hyenas, a popular book on the Kalahari, and was the editor of The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals.

Martin Harvey worked for various National Parks before taking up a professional photographic career in 1993. He has photographed in over twenty-two countries and his photographs have been published in books and magazines throughout the world, including National Geographic and BBC Wildlife.

From Booklist:

The photograph on the endpapers says what the book is about: predators, in this case cheetahs, watching their prey, wildebeest, flee in a cloud of dust. Africa is home to more large predators than any other continent--14 species with average weight more than 20 pounds. There are the famous, such as lions, leopards, and hyenas, and the not so famous, such as servals, caracals, and Ethiopian wolves. It is the coverage of these lesser-known carnivores that recommends this book for purchase, as it can be difficult to find pictures and good general information about these animals. Mills, a carnivore specialist based in South Africa, provides solid information in his somewhat terse text. An introductory chapter introduces the species, while chapters on hunting techniques and social life-reproduction compare and contrast the lifestyles of each predator. An extremely interesting chapter examines the competition between the various carnivores. Harvey's absolutely splendid photographs adorn every page, making the book even more invaluable and further recommending it for all libraries. Nancy Bent
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About this edition

• Publisher: Struik Publishers
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1770072209
• ISBN 13: 9781770072206
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160