The books page has been compiled with the assistance of the Natural
History Book Service whose address is given at the end of these
reviews. To avail of special discount offers, readers of this
magazine should mention Arabian Wildlife when placing their order
with the Natural History Book Service.
Flora of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra
Volume I
Edited by A. G. Miller and T.A. Cope
This is the first volume in a comprehensive six part series which
charts the flora of the Arabian Peninsula and the Socotran archipelago
for the first time. It covers all native flowering plants and
ferns as well as major cultivated and amenity plants. The region
studied includes: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, The Sultanate of Oman,
United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. The first part
of this volume gives a concise introduction including sections
on topology and geology, climate, vegetation, floristics, phytogeography,
and conservation. Part two begins the systematic study of the
flora. Each species is separately mapped with notes on ecology
and distribution. Illustrations and keys are provided to aid identification.
With descriptions of around 700 species in each volume, this will
become an essential reference source on Arabian flora, valuable
to non-specialists and professionals alike.
Snakes of the Arabian Gulf and Oman
Michael Gallagher
Written and published by Michael Gallagher, this is a slim but
extremely useful booklet. An illustrated guide to the venomous
and harmless snakes of the Arabian Gulf and the Sultanate of Oman,
it is designed not only to help human beings to avoid danger,
but also the needless killing of harmless snakes, since, apart
from the sea snakes, only nine out of 22 species of land snakes
are actually dangerous. The booklet also includes practical tips
on snakebite prevention and first aid.
Habitats of the Jubail Marine Wildlife Sanctuary
An Introduction and Field Guide
Written by David Jones, Roderick Fleming and Huda Hajjar At-Tayyeb,
this is a superbly produced account of the Jubail Marine Wildlife
Sanctuary which stretches from Ras az-Zaur to Jubail Industrial
city and extends offshore, encompassing a total area of 2,000
square kilometres, and including the five coral islands of Harqus,
Karan, Kurain, Jana and Juraid. It is a well chosen area that
contains a wide range of coastal and marine habitats, including
some that are of great importance to the survival of certain species.
The book draws upon the research carried out by a large number
of marine scientists, stretching back to the early investigations
by Basson, Burchard, Hardy and Price which were recorded in Aramco’s:
Biotopes of the Western Arabian Gulf; and drawing upon subsequent
research by David Jones whose Field Guide to the Seashores of
Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf is a classic among tropical marine
field-guides; and upon other academic reviews such as Sheppard,
Price and Roberts’ Marine Ecology of the Arabian Region. It also
pulls together much of the recent research that has taken place
under the aegis of the Jubail Marine Wildlife Sanctuary since
the devastating effects of the 1991 Gulf War (eg. Abuzinada and
Krupp’s: The Status of Coastal and Marine Habitats Two Years After
the Gulf War Oil Spill), a project that has been supported by
the European Commission and the National Commission for Wildlife
Conservation and Development in Riyadh.
Following an introduction to the region, the text is arranged
into a series of chapters dealing with specific habitats: the
coastal desert, wetlands, intertidal, shallow sub-tidal, open
water and offshore coral reefs and islands. The book concludes
with a code of conduct for the sanctuary and a short bibliography.
In addition to the information being scientifically accurate,
the text is clearly written and the illustrations are of a very
high quality – with Dr Friedhelm Krupp being responsible for the
superb photographs whilst Pascale Vantieghem Symens deserves high
praise for the fine illustrations.
There is very little to criticise about this wonderful addition
to the literature on the Arabian Gulf. The only question marks
concern the choice of format: A4, which does not seem appropriate
for a field-guide; and the absence of an index. Neither of these
points detract seriously however from the book’s considerable
contribution to the region’s marine conservation through an enhancement
of public awareness and knowledge. (ISBN 3-929907-21-6, distributed
free of charge by Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft,
Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt a.M., Germany; and by NCWCD,
POB 61681, Riyadh 11575, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; also by Jubail
Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, PO Box 11071, Jubail 31961, Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia).
An Interim Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia
Prepared by Michael Jennings, this is a book that has been long
in coming but well worth the wait. It is the product of ten years
work by a dedicated and enthusiastic group of amateurs and professionals,
ably coordinated by Michael Jennings who deserves full credit
for the incredible effort that he put into the creation of this
interim atlas. The NCWCD should also be congratulated for realising
the importance of the project at an early stage and for staying
the course.
Ever mindful of the fact that more work is needed, Michael Jennings
points out that this 134 page volume is merely a preliminary report
of the ABBA project with maps compiled from observer reports received
between 1 January 1984 and 28 February 1995. In all, over 30,000
records are stored in the ABBA database.
The book aims to present a broad outline of the current breeding
ranges of Arabian birds and provide some very basic information
on their status, distribution, habitat and breeding biology. Its
secondary aim is to stimulate the new research that is now needed
in order to create a more thorough picture of Arabia’s breeding
birds. Michael is now working on a final atlas that will contain
reports from the literature and museum records as well as the
field-work that he coordinated. The book lists records for 245
breeding birds and includes an appendix on birds whose status
is in doubt. It is a must for any Arabian-based bird-watcher.
(published jointly by NCWCD and ABBA; interested readers could
write to Michael Jennings, 1 Warners Farm, Warners Drove, Somersham,
Cambridgeshire, PE17 3HW, UK; or contact the NCWCD).
An Annotated Checklist. Second Edition, by Arthur Stagg.
Published by NCWCD, Riyadh. 1994
The author is almost a living legend among bird watchers in Arabia.
His sustained observations and infectious enthusiasm for ornithology
has done much to encourage the development of bird research and
conservation efforts in recent years. The original Riyadh checklist
was compiled in 1987 and this updated version brings records up
to date. For the uninitiated it is a most revealing publication,
highlighting the tremendous variety of birdlife that can be enjoyed
in central Arabia; the book actually lists a staggering 311 species.
Furthermore, many of the species are water-birds – an apparent
anomaly that is explained by the man-made watercourse which runs
some 40 kilometres southward, beyond the boundaries of Riyadh
city, and out across the desert. The treated and purified water
is used for irrigation as well as forming some pools and streams
in which Tilapia fish flourish. Among the shallow pools, dense
reed beds and clusters of tamarisk that line the water course
one can observe warblers, bluethroats, moorhen, crakes, bittern,
stilts, avocet, herons and a host of other fascinating birds.
It is truly a rich area for birdwatching and one that will no
doubt attract increasing numbers of ornithologists in the years
to come.
RISALA: Newsletter published by NCWCD on behalf
of IUCN’s members of North Africa, West Asia and Central Asia
Region
Volume 1, Number 1 of this new newsletter was issued in November
1995 and contains news of the October ’95 IUCN Workshop (Riyadh
Conservation Forum) on regional conservation held at NCWCD’s headquarters.
RISALA is itself one of the first concrete outcomes from the meeting
and is to be welcomed as such. The main objective and theme is
one of fostering cooperation, a subject that Dr Abdulaziz Abuzinada
covers in his editorial. It has been widely acknowledged however
that action, rather than words, is the key to saving the region’s
wildlife and that in certain cases the need to take effective
action is extremely urgent if further species extinctions are
to be avoided. The Riyadh Conservation Forum, as reported by RISALA,
has set forth a clear programme for the forthcoming period, aimed
at meeting the infrastructural demands that will support effective
conservation efforts.
Vol. 14 1994
This is the latest volume in a continuous series on the animal
life of Saudi Arabia which is published by the Natural History
Museum Basel/Switzerland and the National Commission for Wildlife
Conservation and Development. The editors, Prof. Dr. W. Buttiker,
Basel, and Dr. F. Krupp, Frankfurt, in collaboration with over
150 eminent specialists worldwide, are continuing this series
which was commenced in 1979. Contributions to the series mainly
cover taxonomy, faunistics, zoogeography, ecology and animal conservation,
but also medical, veterinary and other zoological aspects of Saudi
Arabia. All volumes are high-quality productions, with copious
illustrations, including colour photographs.
This volume is no exception. Impressively produced, it contains
contributions by specialists from all over the world, focusing
on the scorpions, insects, fishes, reptiles and the birds of Arabia.
Ornithological Society of the Middle East
Bulletin 34
Spring 1995
Contains articles on the status of warblers in Kuwait; raptor
migration in the north-east of Turkey; foraging behaviour of Arctic,
Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua on migration in the Red Sea; observations
on copulating Crab Plovers in Kuwait; news and information; book
reviews and much more.
The Birds of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Ian J Andrews
Although it is a relatively small country, Jordan has a great
variety of dramatic bird habitats, ranging from mountain forests
to desert oases, from mountains and cliffs to sweeping deserts,
and from deep gorges to broad wadis. In addition, the country
is located on the junction of the Mediterranean and Arabian faunal
regions, as well as lying on a major bird migration route from
Africa to Eurasia. However, despite its large and varied avifauna,
this is the first comprehensive summary of the Kingdom’s bird
population. Compiled and published by Ian Andrews, he, himself
acknowledges that it should only be considered a beginning, and
that much work remains to be done. Nevertheless, his is an important
contribution: 374 species are detailed in the main bird list,
of which about 220 are migrants or winter visitors.
Although not a field identification guide, there are 33 pages
of colour photographs and delightful black and white drawings
by John Busby of Jordanian birds in their habitats. Information
on a selection of the most productive and easily accessible bird-watching
sites is also included. A well-produced and delightful book.
Books on East Africa
Collins Photo Guide
Wild Flowers of East Africa
Michael Blundell
This guide, in true Collins tradition, is highly accessible to
both the general reader and the expert botanist. Detailed descriptions
of the most common and some of the rarer specimens of East African
flora are included. However, the guide also has over 860 colour
photographs which are of invaluable help to the enthusiast who
would dearly like to be able to name a particular flower but baulks
at counting stamens and measuring calyx tubes. The photographs
are thoughtfully arranged according to colour in a sequence from
white to yellow and through orange o red, purple and blue.To aid
identification a simple key based upon conspicuous features is
included to guide readers to broad groups of families. If all
that fails then it is time to get out the measuring tape!
Collins Photo Guide
Larger Mammals of Africa
Jean Dorst and Pierre Dandelot
As the authors readily acknowledge, many books have been published
on African mammals. Most, however, are of limited help to the
wildlife enthusiast or occasional visitor who would like to be
able to identify mammals observed in the field. This practical
guide covers the whole of the continent south of the Tropic of
Cancer, its scope logically limited to species which a mammal
watcher can identify in the wild, especially, big game, carnivores
and primates. Other frequently sighted animals such as big diurnal
rodents, squirrels, a few shrews and even pangolins, aardvvark
and manatee are also included. Smaller mammals, difficult to observe
and identify, have been omitted. Neither will you find comprehensive
descriptions of the animals, their coat, horns, skull and teeth,
their ecology and behaviour. However all the species listed in
the guide are beautifully illustrated in colour with distinguishing
features clearly highlighted – an invaluable aid to identification.
In addition, the text provides sufficient information on habitat
and behaviour to whet the appetite – even if it is a little obscure
at times. For example, the authors refer to elephant movements
which ‘have an alimentary origin’. Surely, it could simply be
said that elephants travel in search of food and/or water? But
this is just a small quibble in an otherwise invaluable book.
An essential addition to your African library.
Collins Field Guide
Birds of East Africa
J.G. Williams & N. Arlott.
It is for their immensely successful pocket field guides to birds
of various regions that Collins have become famous. Compiled by
experts in the field and richly illustrated by talented artists,
these guides satisfy the need in so many of us to put a name on
what we see. This particular volume on the birds of East Africa
is no exception to the rule. The most common species of birds
to be found in the vast region and those which draw attention
by their spectacular appearance or loud calls are all here: 665
species are fully described and illustrated in colour with key
characters clearly marked. The well-informed text provides useful
information on distribution, habitat and habits, as well as listing
the essential field characters of a further 633 species. The commonplace
and spectacular, richly-plumaged and dull, majestic and ordinary
share the pages of this invaluable field guide – enough to satisfy
even the most determined birdwatcher.
Collins Field Guide
National Parks of East Africa
J.G. Williams, N. Arlott & R.Fennessy.
If you do not wish to lug the two volumes described above on your
trip around the National Parks of East Africa then this guide
is for you. It incorporates nearly 400 mammals and birds, the
commoner East African birds most likely to be encountered in the
National Parks as well as the larger and more commonly observed
smaller species of mammal. As always, diagnostic field characters
and distributions are listed. The bird illustrations are beautifully
executed by Norman Arlott, as in the previous volume, however
mammal illustrations painted by Rena Fennessy are of a much finer
quality than those in the guide to the larger mammals of Africa.
National Parks, Game Reserves and other areas of special zoological
importance and tourist appeal are also detailed, each with a list
of its characteristic mammals and birds.
In addition, the author, John Williams, expresses a wish to meet
with and advise naturalist visitors on their itineraries – an
offer that should be taken up.
2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TD9 5NX, United Kingdom
Telephone: 01803-865913
International: +44-1803-865913
Fax: +44-1803-865280
E-mail: [email protected]
Arabian Wildlife. Volume 2, Number 3