AFRICAN SNAKES, behaviour & biology

216pp., colour illus., paperback, Struik Nature, Cape Town, 2026

ISBN: 9781779890580

This well-illustrated book includes the evolutionary history of snakes, with profiles of the eight families found in Africa today; notes on inner and outer anatomy; explanations of snake behaviours, such as hunting techniques and defence mechanisms; profiles of particularly interesting species; answers to dozens of frequently asked questions, and handy diagnostic characteristics to help identify snakes in the wild.

Master herpetologist and snakebite expert Marcel van Driel lives in Zambia, where he provides training in snake safety and venomous snake handling, and trains doctors in effective and safe snakebite management. He is the author of the book Snakes and First Aid in Snakebite in Zambia and compiled Zambia’s national guidelines for the management of snakebite.