The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals

1569 Pages·2003·20.31 MB·English

by  Jonathan Kingdon

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc,
50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP
www.bloomsbury.com
First published by Academic Press 1997
Reprinted with corrections 2001
Reprinted by A&C Black 2003, 2007
Reprinted by Bloomsbury Publishing 2012
This electronic editon published in 2013 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Copyright © 1997 Jonathan Kingdon
Jonathan Kingdon has asserted his right under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified
as the author of this work.
eISBN: 978-1-4081-7481-4
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You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part
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regulations of the country of origin.
CONTENTS

Preface and Acknowledgements
Checklist of Species
Introduction

Mammals
Primates
Bats
Insectivores
Elephant Shrews, or Sengis
Hares
Rodents
Carnivores
Scaly Ant-eaters
Aardvark
Hyraxes
Proboscids
Odd-toed Ungulates
Even-toed Ungulates

The African Environment
Physical
Climate
Vegetation

The Past
Habitats
Species
Conservation

Further Reading
Glossary
Addendum
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The motivation and impetus to prepare a guide to the mammals of a continent
came from a mix of immediate and more distant influences. My parents and
naturalists such as Bill Moore–Gilbert, Willoughby Lowe, Mtemi Senge
Masembe and Fairfax Bell illuminated a nomadic youth in Tanganyika. This led
on to a more disciplined interest in Natural History and a Darwinian outlook on
life. Reg Moreau and Desmond Vesey–FitzGerald were early influences while
L.S.B. Leakey, Sir Julian Huxley, Peter Miller, Leonard Beadle and Alan
Walker were among those who helped and provoked me into compiling an
Evolutionary Atlas of African Mammals that was an essential precursor to this
book. Indeed, since its publication there has been continuous pressure, from
friends and publishers alike, to condense the text and enlarge the range of that
work to embrace a continental scope.
A decisive influence on this project has come from my family, especially my
sons. Zachary read, processed, discussed and helped refine the entire text while
Rungwe pushed me into taking the first plunge. Elena has selflessly supported a
lifetime of research on mammals.
I am indebted to many institutions for their support over the years, from
Makerere University in Uganda and Oxford University in England to briefer or
less formal associations with Kyoto University, Japan, CSIRO Australia, various
museums both within and outside Africa, Wildlife Departments, National Parks
and numerous Universities. I owe some independence of mind and movement to
all those who have purchased my paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures and
books.
The contents of this Guide are drawn from observations made in various parts
of Africa, often in the company of friends and colleagues. They are also
compiled from publications, correspondence and conversation with more people
than can be acknowledged by name but some have had a more direct role.
Morris Gosling, Colin Groves, David Pye, Simon Bearder, Alan Root, David
Macdonald, Claudio Sillero, Patrick Duncan, Steve Gartlan, Mark Stanley Price,
John Phillipson, Redmond O’Hanlon, Tom Butynski, Annie Gautier, Hilary
Morland and John Fanshawe have kindly vetted structure, blocks of text or
illustrations. Annie and Jean–Pierre Gautier, Tom Butynski, Steve Gartlan and
many others, including John Skinner, Chris Hillman, Andrew Conroy, Gerard
and Ahn Galat, Caroline Tutin, Tom Struhsaker, Lysa Leland, Robert Glen, Dick
Estes and Keith Eltringham have hosted me in camps or homes in Africa. Their
company, ideas and hospitality have contributed in more ways than can begin to
be enumerated. Likewise Wildlife and National Park authorities in many African
countries have helped with permits, hospitality, transport and guidance,
assistance that has been vital in building up a broad overview as well as detailed
documentation of the mammals. The Welcome Trust gave vital aid (1968–78).
Among the many sources of help and encouragement over the years the
following are a far from adequate sample: P. Agland, I. Aggundey, T. E. Ahmed,
K. Al-Khalili, P. Anadu, L. Ambrose, M. Anderson, P. Andrews, W.F.H. Ansell,
A. Archer, E. Ayensu, E. Balson, W. Banage, W.W. Bishop, F. Bourliere, A.
Brosset, E. Bunengo, J. Bushara, S. Cobb, M. Coe, S. Cole, G.B. Corbet, D.
Cummings, M. Delaney, B.D. Dutrillaux, T. Fison, T. Flannery, G. Frame, U.
Funaioli, A. Gentry, W. Gewalt, L. Goodwin, J. Goodall, P. Grubb, A. Guillet,
A. Hamilton, D. Happold, M. Happold, G. Harrington, J. Harris, D.L. Harrison,
R.W.H. Hayman, H. Heim de Balsac, R.S. Hoffmann, R. Hofmann, M.E.
Holden, P. Honess, K. Howell, R. Hughes, R. Hutterer, E. Huxley, J. Itani, C.J.
Jolly, D. Jones, J. Karmali, F.X. Katete, T.A. Kindy, H. Klingel, S. Kondo, K.F.
Koopman, A. Koortland, H. Kruuk, J. Kundaeli, R. Laws, M. Leakey, R.
Leakey, J.M. Lernould, J.M. Lock, B. Loka–Arga, L. Lokwang, A. MacKay,
H.S. Mahinda, G. Maloba, G. Maloiy, R. Martin, A. Mongi, P. Morin, C. Moss,
G. Musser, F. Mutere, G. Mutinda, E. Neal, J. Nel, H. Ngweno, G. Ntenga, E.
Nyampunjo, J. Oates, J. Obondio–Odur, W.K. Otim, I. Parker, R. Pellew, A.
Pienaar, D. Pomeroy, S. Price, U. Rahm, G. Rathbun, A. Rogers, T. Rowell, S.
Ruweza, J. Sabater–Pi, S. Sanford, R. Savage, G. Schaller, D.A. Schlitter, K.
Schmidt–Nielsen, C. Sekintu, P. Shipman, R. Southwood, C. Spinage, P. Ssali, J.
Ssenkebugye, C. Stuart, J. Sugiyama, A. Suzuki, T. Synnott, J. Thompson, E.O.
Wilson, C. Thouless, N. Tinbergen, S. Tomkins, E. Vrba, S. Wainwright, R.J.
Wheater, J. White, F. White, L. White, N. Winser, W.C. Wozencraft, R.
Wrangham, S. Zuckerman.
My association with Academic Press, which dates back to 1966, has always
been cordial and I thank Roger Farrand and Andy Richford for maintaining our
long collaboration, also Maggie O’Hanlon and Shammima Cowan for their
editorial talents.
Perhaps this short list of today’s enthusiasts will give heart to tomorrow’s
warriors who must carry on the fight to save Africa’s fauna and flora and the
deeper realities of which they are the expression.
CHECKLIST OF SPECIES

MAMMALIA
PRIMATES PRIMATES
Old World monkeys and apes
Catarrhini