African Wildlife & Environment Issue 80

GOOD READS

Sharks Ebert, David, Marc Dando and Sarah Fowler (2021). A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World. Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Semi- soft cover, 13 x 20 cm, 288 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with artwork, diagrams and maps. ISBN

Marine Mammals Stuart, Chris and Mathilda (2021). Marine Mammals. A guide to the whales, dolphins and seals of southern Africa and the southern Ocean. Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 13 x 19 cm, 72 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs, drawings and maps. ISBN 978-1- 77584 -789-2. RRP R150. Chris and Mathilde Stuart have made a major contribution to our knowledge of African mammals, wildlife and conservation, through their extensive range of books, field guides and mobile applications.You can learn more about this remarkable couple online here. Their latest offering is an easy-to-use identification guide to the whales, dolphins and seals found in southern African waters and in the Southern Ocean. At least fifty species occur in these waters, including nine species of baleen whale, 18 species of toothed whale, 16 species of dolphin, as well as three fur seals (family Otariidae) and five true seal (family Phocidae) species. A few species at the limits of their ranges and unlikely to be spotted in the region have been omitted. This handy little booklet is a real gem, and provides quick access to much information about our marine mammals. It should be of special interest to families with children, teachers and holiday-makers. Topics covered include key identification features, behaviour, diet and distribution; the best times and places to see the more commonly-viewed species; 'breaching', 'spy- hopping' and other behaviours are explained; and numerous other interesting facts about this fascinating group of mammals are provided. The book is beautifully illustrated with coloured drawings and photographs.The latter are quite stunning, with whales breaching and dolphins leaping out of the sea. One shot that impressed me was of three Killer Whales 'spy hopping' in a channel next to a sheet of ice, the front parts of their bodies held erect as they searched for some penguins to eat. Apart from being a useful identification guide, this booklet includes fascinating accounts of behaviour, as well as conservation issues. Whaling no longer occurs in the southern Ocean between the mainland and the Antarctic ice shelf. Threats

978-1-77584 -776-2. RRP R340. This is the revised and expanded second edition of the first and only field guide to identify, illustrate and describe every known shark species, and it is an impressive piece of work indeed. Its compact format makes it very handy for identifying living species, fisheries catches or sharks and their parts sold at markets.The biology, ecology and conservation of sharks are covered, and useful details on identification of shark teeth and fins encountered in trade are provided. Sharks are among the most misunderstood creatures on the planet, and have generally had a poor public image because of their occasional attacks on humans that intrude into their marine space. Movies like 'Jaws' have exacerbated the sinister reputation of the sharks. I can remember times walking along the beaches of the Natal South Coast with my children and watching fishermen pulling out 'sand-sharks' by the dozen; these were simply left to die and rot on the beach because they were considered to be the vermin of the sea. The barbaric practice of 'finning' sees fishermen cutting off the fins of living sharks to make soup, and then tossing the mutilated animals back into the sea. Such disregard for living creatures is truly a disgusting and shameful indictment of Homo sapiens. As a result of unrelenting human pressure, time is running out for many species that are seriously threatened with extinction, and are in greater need of conservation and proper management than any other major group of vertebrates. The three authors have impressive credentials; Mark Dando in particular deserves acclaim as the illustrator of the book.The time, patience and skill that has gone into the artwork for the hundreds of coloured drawings of sharks is truly impressive and admirable. This book is a must for anyone interested in sharks and their conservation.

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