South Africa - Zululand January/February 2016

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mariquensis
Posts: 93
Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm

South Africa - Zululand January/February 2016

Post by mariquensis »

Thought I'd share some Images from Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa from the first two months of the year.
We've has some serious drought issues so trips have been rather hit and miss outside of a few good rainy days.
Habitats range from Moist Savannah grasslands, Indian Ocean coastal belt forests and Sand Forests.


Afroedura marleyi - Marley’s Flat Gecko. From Lembombo Mountains
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Amblyodipsas polylepis - Common Purple Gloss Snake. From St Lucia
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Hemisus mammoratus - Mottled Shovel Nosed Frog. From Hluhluwe.
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Dasypeltis medici - East African Egg Eater. From Igwala Gwala Forest.
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Image- Decoster's Garter Snake. From near Tembe Elephant Park.
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Kassina seneagalensis - Bubbling Kassina. From St Lucia.
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From Hluhluwe.
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Nucras ornata - Ornate Sandveld Lizard From Lebombo Mountains.
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Leptopelis mossambicus - Brown Back Tree Frog. From St Lucia.
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Prosymna janii - Mozambique Shovel-Snout. From St Lucia
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Philothamnus natalensis natalensis - Eastern Natal Green Snake. From Cape Vidal.
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Psammophis brevirostris - Short Snouted Whip Snake. From Lebombo Mountains.
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Python natalensis - Southern African Python. From St Lucia
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From Lebombo Mountains.
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Pyxicephalus edulis - Afrian Bull Frog .Edible Bull Frog. From Hluhluwe.
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Sclerophrys garmani - Eastern Olive Toad. From Monzi
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Scelotes vestigifer - Costal Dwarf Burrowing Skink. From Cape Vidal.
Adult and offspring.
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Smaug warreni warreni - Warren's Dragon Lizard. From Lebombo Mountains.
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Tomopterna krugerensis - Knocking Sand Frog. From Hluhluwe An incredible variable species all found within 20km.
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Thanks for looking!

You can see more images of these and other reptiles and Amphibians on my site: http://www.tyroneping.co.za/
Jacob
Posts: 122
Joined: July 1st, 2010, 8:07 pm

Re: South Africa - Zululand January/February 2016

Post by Jacob »

Awesome. Wish I had gone to St. Lucia while I was there. Have you checked to see if your C. warreni is a new record for the area? I am fairly sure a few have been recorded from that range but you may have more to offer in a specific location. Look at:

Stanley, E.L. and M.F. Bates. Here be dragons: a phylogenetic and biogeographical study of the Smaug warreni species complex (Squamata: Cordylidae) in southern Africa. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 172:892-909.

Great showing.
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mariquensis
Posts: 93
Joined: April 8th, 2012, 12:54 pm

Re: South Africa - Zululand January/February 2016

Post by mariquensis »

Jacob wrote:Awesome. Wish I had gone to St. Lucia while I was there. Have you checked to see if your C. warreni is a new record for the area? I am fairly sure a few have been recorded from that range but you may have more to offer in a specific location. Look at:

Stanley, E.L. and M.F. Bates. Here be dragons: a phylogenetic and biogeographical study of the Smaug warreni species complex (Squamata: Cordylidae) in southern Africa. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 172:892-909.

Great showing.

Glad you enjoyed the post Jacob. Lebombo is known for the S.warreni warreni and was a specific target for the trip. They're not an uncommon species but they occupy a very specific habitat type.
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Roki
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Joined: January 23rd, 2012, 10:08 am
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: South Africa - Zululand January/February 2016

Post by Roki »

Stunning photography and diversity. Every post I see from this region makes me want to get there more.
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dwakefield
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Re: South Africa - Zululand January/February 2016

Post by dwakefield »

Amazing. That photo of the rock python in the shrub is really great!
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