Beat About the bush

Mammals are the animals that most people come to wilderness areas to see. They range in size from the pygmy shrew (2g) to the blue whale (120 tonnes). But what makes a mammal a mammal - indeed why is the blue whale not a fish? How does the elephant's trunk work? Why do many mammals have coat pattern. This title follows in the footsteps of its immensely popular predecessor, Beat about the bush - mammals and birds. This expanded version has, however, been revised to cover mammals in a much more comprehensive manner with updated classifications, new questions and answers, a more user-friendly format and more than 600 full-colour photographs. The section on tracks and signs is superbly illustrated to make this intimidating and confusing subject easy to grasp. The overall result is a field companion that still manages to answer all those everyday questions about mammals in a style that appeals to tourists, bush enthusiasts and field guides alike, by presenting the fundamentals of our wildlife in a detailed, yet easily understandable fashion.

Trevor Carnaby has been a professional field guide for more than 14 years. He has worked as a head guide, environmental manager, and guide trainer in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and is now a specialist guide based in northern Botswana.