Around this time of year where most things are quiet amongst those who go out actively searching for reptiles and amphibians especially in Kwa Zulu Natal a few friends and i headed out to a slightly new area to do some active field work and photograph some animals.
I recently upgraded my camera body to the 7D http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos7d Still trying to get to grips with it though.
We arrived at the location after a very early morning and some far then comfortable temperatures 4 degree's Celsius at 06:10am. Isn't that what weekends are for?
First Photo of the day.
The area is incredible dry , the ground dusty and the sun is fierce yet cold. Lending itself towards numb fingers and sun burn.
Early Morning Sunshine over the grasslands
Afroablepharus wahlbergii - Wahlberg's Snake Eyed Skink.
The Wahlberg's Snake-eyed Skink is a small (40mm to 50mm long) burrowing skink with small,
well-developed five-toed limbs and an unblinking snake-like eye hence it's common name.
Agama atra - Southern ground Agama.
The southern Rock Agama is probably the most well-known lizard in South Africa .
This is because of its extensive range and the conspicuousness of the brightly coloured males perching on rocks
and fence poles along roads. It is diurnal and mainly rock-dwelling
Aparallactus capensis - Black headed Centipede Eater.
The Black-headed centipede eater can be identified by its distinctive black head and collar,
its small thin body and strictly nocturnal lifestyle. It grows to an average length of 30 cm and a
maximum length of 40 cm.As the common name suggests this snake feeds exclusively on Centipedes.
The area is sparse with few tree's a mixture of short grasses and longer grasses makes trekking through the tertian much easier then in the summer months.
Sparse Grasslands. Where the follow frog was found.
Breviceps adspersus - Bushveld Rain Frog
An interesting frog not to mention species , the Bushveld Rain Frog lives underground, only emerging to feed and mate after it rains.
These small frogs can stay submerged for months at a time beneath the ground surface especially under large flat stones where the
burrow and proceed to cover themselves and simply wait it out until the rains arrive.
Causes rhombeatus - Rhombic Night Adder.
One of the Country's most common venomous ( non lethal snakes) these snakes are usually associated with damp localities where
the search out their preferred prey items of frogs and toads. This particular specimen was found amongst some rocks in a dry field.
It looked as if it had seen better days and was most likely escaping the cool winter before spring to once again be in search of frogs.
Cordylus vittifer - Transvaal Girdled Lizard
A nice find for the day a species we hadn't recorded for this particular area previously always a nice surprise to add a new species to the list.
A very flattened girdled lizard from North eastern South Africa it inhabits rock outcrops in open grassland and feeds on small insects.
This species grows to about 95 mm long from snout to vent. Transvaal girdled lizards are distinguished from most other girdled lizards by
elongation of the first row of dorsal scales directly behind the head.
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia - Herald Snake.
Another one of the country's most common mildly venomous snakes. this particular specimen which is type typical for the area having bright red lips.
The snake widespread and is present throughout South Africa.It favoured habitats are marshy areas in lowland forest, moist savanna, grasslands and fynbos.
A Friend Sam photographing a Red Sided Skink which we had found out basking on the same rock, luskily for us the skink was some way from the nearest crack and we were able to catch it without too much hassle.
Trachylepis homalocephala- Red Sided Skink
Another common Skink for the area, these small skinks averaging 60-80mm (TL) can often be seen scurrying amongst the rock outcrops in search for some beetles and insects they are ferocious predators and usually are quick to disappear amongst the rock rocks before you get a good look at them.
Dasypeltis scabra - Rhombic Egg Eater.
On this trip we found both species which can be easily mis-identified by the novice. This being the harmless Egg Eater as well as the venomous Night adder which this egg eater shares both the dorsal patters of as well as a V shaped marking on the back of the snakes head.
The rhombic egg eaters from this area tend to have a beautiful orange /yellow hue to the scales and are quite distinct from other specimens in and around Kwa Zulu Natal.
Psammophylax rhombeatus Spotted Grass Snake / Rhombic Skaapsteker.
Another extremely common snake species fro the area, a trip usually is always accompanied by a handful of these snakes.
How ever this was the only specimen we found on the day.For the area this is a very vividly marked specimen they
cruise through the long grass with must speed and usually are pretty difficult to get a grip on luckily this particular specimen
was found beneath an dried out log. A real difficult snake o get to sit still but still managed a few alight images.
Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Moderator: Scott Waters
- mariquensis
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- The Real Snake Man
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Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Very interesting stuff. Do you see a lot of those centipede-eaters with scars on them? Maybe I'm way off base, I just usually think of Scolependra when I see the word "centipede".
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Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Nice pictures, I assume it warmed up from 4 deg? What did it peak at that time of year? I love South Africa and I think it will be my next vacation destination. I would love to go herping there!
- mariquensis
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Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
We found 28 centipede eaters that day, only one had a truncated tail most were all in perfect condition.
Temps got up to around 12 degree's bright sunshine but not allot of warm air around.
Temps got up to around 12 degree's bright sunshine but not allot of warm air around.
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Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Interesting to know that these snakes don't mind cooler temperatures. I know eastern Garters can survive as North as Thunder Bay, ON, but I didn't know these Aparallactus can survive as well
- The Real Snake Man
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Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Wow! 28 in one day? That's quite a day.
- Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Very nice stuff! That Girdled Lizard is something else...
Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Awesome stuff. I love the Psammophylax shots.
Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
I like everything posted here, particularly the Breviceps (and I ain't no frog guy).
Re: Winters Day Well Spent Kwa Zulu Natal , South Africa
Very nice post. Enjoyed it!
Aparallactus is so much like Tantilla. Convergence, damn cool.
-Jake
Aparallactus is so much like Tantilla. Convergence, damn cool.
-Jake