Book Review: Freshwater Life

As a keen nature enthusiast, field guides always seem to find their way onto my personal bookshelf at home.

This latest offering by Struik Nature follows the recent trend of using specific ecosystems or habitats rather than animal groups (like mammals, birds or insects) as the subject for their guide. I like this approach and although some could argue at first glance that you lose depth in specific animal classes (for example only nine mammals are listed although more are illustrated), you must view this book in its context.

It does not try to describe all birds, insects or plant species in Southern Africa, but Freshwater Life – a field guide to the plants and animals of Southern Africa, does exactly what the title promises – it is currently the most comprehensive guide covering fauna and flora that you could expect to encounter in the freshwater systems in Southern Africa.

Don’t let the fairly drab cover fool you as the book is beautifully illustrated with full colour photos for easy identification.

You will find all the species you recognise, as well as ones that you would never have guessed are found in and around our waters. Look out for the 2.5kg powder blue Marron freshwater crayfish as a case in point.

The book briefly introduce topics such as climate, rivers and wetlands water cycles, the impact of pollution and human activity and exploitation of freshwater systems. Frogs, insects, birds, mammals, molluscs, reptiles and plants are however just some of the real stars of this book that describes the ecology of more than 1 000 freshwater organisms.

Whether you are a hydro-biologist or just someone who likes to look a little deeper into the natural world we live in, Freshwater Life is a great addition to any field guide collection – there is now certainly a little less space on my own bookshelf. – PN