I got the Pocket Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa.
I was slightly apprehensive at first about getting a field guide that does not completely cover every possible species but only 'the most notable ones', but the species that it does not cover in detail are listed at the end of each genus with a brief (usually one or two lines) description including size, distribution, and a description.
According to the blurb, it "Covers 278 species in detail with brief information on a further 316 species, giving complete coverage for East Africa"
I would have preferred the big full field guides that cover all reptiles and amphibians for East Africa, which the pocket guide is based on, but they would have been something like $200 for them both which I could definitely not afford. The pocket guide is also extremely light, small, and portable, so I will definitely be taking it next time I go to East Africa.
I have the Pocket Guide, and it's good for the species that are covered. For those further mentioned with brief information it can be confusing as it's not detailed enough. Unless your photo looks exactly like the photo for one of the species that is covered in detail, then I wouldn't be 100% sure about anything.
I have the Pocket Guide, and it's good for the species that are covered. For those further mentioned with brief information it can be confusing as it's not detailed enough. Unless your photo looks exactly like the photo for one of the species that is covered in detail, then I wouldn't be 100% sure about anything.
There are a couple that I am 100% sure about as they match the book exactly, the small white frog for example, but for the others my technique has been to google all of the ones with the brief information until I find the most similar, which is somewhat difficult and probably a bit unreliable.
I will check a few of the ones that I got tentative IDs for though with some more googling, and with the information that you sent me in the private message.
Well I've finally got all of these IDs of East African Herps done and finalised. This is the final and correct ID and I'm not going to change it later. Promise.
