Field Guide to the Snakes of Malawi

This field guide is the most up-to-date resource available on the snakes of Malawi, including detailed descriptions of all 67 recorded species along with species distribution maps and more than 300 photographs that make snakes easy to identify. Useful sections also include snakebite first aid, habitat notes and general country information. Field Guide to the Snakes of Malawi provides a complete account of all 67 snake species recorded in Malawi. Each species is illustrated with stunning photographs, over 300 images in all, as well as up-to-date distribution maps. The species are described in detail, including size, colouration, habits and diet. Species are presented in colour-coded groups based on the severity of their bite and venom: highly venomous, venomous, venomous but not dangerous, and non-venomous. This system enables the reader to quickly assess the treatment required following a bite and to seek appropriate first aid. Each species is contained in a double-page spread, making it easy for the reader to see all information on that particular snake, and also facilitating easy comparison by flicking between species. Dedicated sections also consider similar-looking species side by side, while there is also a wide-ranging discussion of snake behaviour, Malawi’s habitats and a host of other fascinating and useful information. This book brings together over 40 years of personal research by the authors – gathered from almost 6,000 individual specimens collected, catalogued and released – as well as previously unseen data from the 1960s on some of Malawi’s rarest species. It is an essential reference for the experienced herpetologist as well as a useful guide for amateur naturalists, hikers and tourists visiting Malawi.