The Buck That Buries Its Poo

Is a zebra black with white stripes, or white with black stripes? And why do flamingos stand on one leg and bats hang upside down? Did you know that a chameleon's tongue can accelerate at five times the speed of a fighter jet?

In The Buck That Buries Its Poo (a habit of the ibex, by the way), naturalist and bushcraft expert Quinton Coetzee answers these and many other intriguing wildlife questions. He also dispels many myths and elucidates some of the legends around creatures we thought we knew in the South African bush. For example, bats do not get tangled in people's hair (because they are far too adept at flight) and elephants are not afraid of mice (but they do fear bees!). Talking about elephants, did you know the African elephant and rock hyraxes (dassies) are related?

Other tall tales you might hear aroubd the campfire are that lion roll in animal dung, entrails or carcasses to disguise their scent, and that rhinos have a predilection for stamping out fires. What is true, though, is that hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs..

This handy guide is based on Coetzee's own research and that of others, and his experience gleaned over decades living close to nature and wildlife. It seeks to unravel the mysteries of nature in Africa - from mammals and birds to arthropods and plants - with fascinating information and fun trivia. A book that will enlighten and entertain.

PS Zebra are black with white stripes and every zebra has a unique pattern of white and black stripes, much like fingerprints.