Boycott, Richard C. and Ortwin Bourquin. 2000. The Southern African Tortoise Book: A guide to southern African tortoises, terrapins and turtles. O. Bourquin, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, x, 228. HB. $35.00
Southern Africa boasts the richest diversity of tortoises, terrapins and turtles in the world - including the largest turtle, the Leatherback, and the smallest tortoise, the Namaqualand Speckled Padloper. This is the first book examining in detail all 30 specoes and subspecies occurring here, giving distribution, habits and conservation status. Fine color plates and a pictoral key for identifying species make this a valuable field guide.
It also offers the tortoise owner guidance on care of the animals in captivity. by publishing this book, authors Richard Boycott of the Swaziland National trust Commission and Ortwin (Orty) Bourquin, a retired biologist, aim to increase public awareness of these harmless and fascinating animals.
Contents:
Preface - vii
Acknowledgements - ix
Introduction - 1
Care in Captivity - 23
Checklist of Species - 36
Key to Species - 39
Side-necked Terrapins - 52
Soft-shelled terrapins - 68
Marine Turtles - 73
Tortoises - 137
Introduced Species - 196
Appendix I: Southern African tribal names - 198
Appendix II: Localities of place names mentioned in the text but not given on the maps on plates 2 and 3 - 200
Appendix III: Garden plants and tortoises - 201
Appendix IV: Breeding data table - 202
Glossary of terms - 204
Bibliography - 209
Index - 221
Subscribers - 227
