Fitzimons’ Snakes of Southern Africa

FitzSimons’ Snakes of Southern Africa (1983), revised by Donald G. Broadley, is a comprehensive and authoritative reference on the serpentine fauna of the southern African subcontinent. Building on the foundational work of Dr. Vivian F.M. FitzSimons, this edition updates and expands the original content to reflect advances in herpetological research. It details 160 species and subspecies of snakes found in the region, providing full descriptions, synoptic keys, field notes, and vital information on coloration, size, and distribution.

The book is richly illustrated with 85 colour plates by renowned wildlife artist P.J. Smit, along with 209 black-and-white photographs and figures, and 83 distribution maps that enhance visual identification and understanding. Designed to serve both scientists and general readers, it includes an accessible introduction, a bibliography of relevant literature up to 1982, and a supplementary bibliography in the addendum. A detailed general map of southern Africa is also included.

Published by Delta Books in Johannesburg, the 1983 edition comprises 376 pages and is bound in Hardcover with a dust jacket. It remains a definitive resource for herpetologists, naturalists, and enthusiasts of southern African wildlife.