Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know of a guide or field manual for the snakes of central Africa? Specifically the areas of Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Gabon, and Cameroon.

I've heard "The Dangerous Snakes of Africa" is a good all-around book for venomous species. But it's out of print and costs $150 .

I'll be in EG this year and would like to be able to identify some of the local herpetofauna there. I don't care if its in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. Or if it's a website or printed literature, current or outdated. I'm just really hurting for information on this area of Africa.

Terry

The nearest I can get you to is Zambia.

SNAKES OF ZAMBIA ~ Donald Broadley -C. Doria - J. Wigge
ISBN 3-930612-42-9

I got it through Krieger Books.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Check with www.mdreptilefarm.com for books. If it's available, he has it.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

I find it odd that an area with such a diverse array of herpetofauna as the Congo basin is so poorly represented in literature. I did have some luck though. Here are some titles that I found:

Snakes of South West Africa,1983

The identification of the poisonous snakes of British W. Africa, 1944

Snake report 721: A comparative study of the herpetological fauna of the former West Cameroon, Africa, 1979

I'm going to look at the library (if they can find them, it'll definitely be on loan) and I'd really like to find a copy of "Snake report 721." I googled it and found some scientific papers that cited it but haven't found it yet.

I would really like to know what areas the first book covers. Does anyone have this book?

Terry

Steve Spawls "Reptiles of East Africa" might cover some of the critters from that area. Roman's "Snakes of Upper Volta" (Burkina Faso) might help. It is in French.

There is an old book on Snakes of West Africa that I have seen, but I don't own it.

Otherwise, you will have to go into the literature.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

There is the Snakes of Southern Africa, by Johan Marais
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma (Juvie female)
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.0 Angolan Juvie
1.1 Savu
1.1 Juvie Bloods
1.1 Juvie Balls
1.1 IJ Carpets
1.1 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
1.0 Jungle Carpet
2.2 Scrubs (on breeding loan)
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC