Scelotes inornatus. Distribution: Endemic to South Africa and limited to the greater Durban area of KwaZulu-Natal, from the Durban beachfront (next to the old FitzSimons Snake Park) in the north to Scottburgh in the south, and as far inland as Woodlands/Montclair. The published localities (Broadley 1994) on the northern and southern banks of the Umgeni […]
On my previous trip to this area of the Western Cape in February was quite a different experience, in February the weather was hot, dry and relatively quiet on the reptile front with hours spent in the field offering very little rewards. This time around thankfully was a vastly different experience. Earlier in the year I […]
Scelotes bipes – Silvery Burrowing Skink. Is a South African endemic that occurs in the Western Cape from Mossel Bay to near Saldanha Bay, with records from Robben Island. There appear be be five distinct subpopulations of these Scelotes, with substantial gaps between some of them. Text Source: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/44979043/0
A very smooth-scaled snake with a blunt head that is not distinct from the body. It has minute eyes and a very short, bluntly rounded tail. Colour varies from a pinkish grey to a plain brown. A fossorial species sometimes encountered in termitaria or above ground after rain. Little is known about the natural history […]
Cordylus macropholis – Large Scaled Girdled Lizard is an endemic terrestrial cordylid, preferring the succulent plant Euphorbia caput-medusae and related species as shelter (Mouton et al. 2000). It may also shelter beneath calcrete rocks and in stick-nests of Vlei Rats (Otomys species) (P. le F.N. Mouton pers. obs.) Occurring on the west coast of South Africa, in the Northern […]
The beginning of the year has come and gone and, to be honest, the first quarter is just about through too. I’ve added a few thousand kilometres to my car’s mileage, and a few new species to my Bradypodion list, which include: Bradypodion ngomeense Bradypodion occidentale. Everyone always has plans for Easter […]
The 13th Herpetological Association of Africa conference took place at Bonamanzi Game Reserve, Kwa-Zulu Natal January 23rd-27th 2017. This year’s conference was dedicated to the life of Zimbabwean Herpetologist Dr Donald Broadley (1932 – 2016), who played a leading role in the establishment of the Herpetological Association of Africa, and who contributed extensively to the body of […]
The most difficult part of any journey is deciding on which route is the best/safest or most economical way to go. The route. It’s not the first time, the Wild Coast has attracted my attention over the last few years due to the unique landscapes from green rolling hills, steep cliff faces and virtually unspoilt […]
Avoiding the horrible, cliché “Spring has Sprung” post, the Vernal Equinox only takes place on the 22nd of September in the Southern Hemisphere, but this isn’t about that. The West Coast is AMAZING; the West Cost National Park is only just over an hour from the hustle of over-priced coffee and the plethora of bagel shops […]
As many of you may know, I am an avid field herper (herpetology), the last few years my main objective has been to find and photograph Bradypodion across South Africa. Currently, there are 17 described species in South Africa (with only two species not being endemic to the region) With the addition of my day […]