Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Africa

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Nick Evans
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Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Africa

Post by Nick Evans »

In the past month I've travelled around the province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa to see what I could find. Reptile and amphibian activity is decreasing as we go into Winter but I still managed to find a few things.

First off I went North to my favourite part of the province, Zululand.

I spent a few days in St.Lucia, an awesome little town full of wildlife!

The estuary

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Hippos wander around the town at night and aren't shy.

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Cell phone pic

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Setaro's Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion setaroi)

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Southern African Python (Python natalensis)

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Rhombic Egg-eater (Dasypeltis scabra)

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Brown House Snake (Boaedon capensis)

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Variegated Slug-eater (Duberria variegata)

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Black File Snake (Gonionotophis nyassae)

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Pickersgill's Reed Frog (Hyperolius pickersgilli)

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Juvenile Painted Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus taeniatus)

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Bushsqueaker (Arthroleptis wahlbergi)

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Striped Stream Frog (Strongylopus fasciatus)

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I then headed further North to Hluhluwe.

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A Forest Cobra (Naja melanoleuca) from Hluhluwe.

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Made my way back down home to Durban. Found this little Pondo Flat Gecko (Afrodeura pondolia) not far from the city.

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I then went off to the Drakensberg Mountains. I hadn't been there for years and I've never really looked for reptiles there.

After hiking up a mountain, the view was pretty amazing!

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Montane Speckled Skink (Trachylepis punctatissima)

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Drakensberg Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus)

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Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra)

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Drakensberg Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion dracomontanum). The highlight of the trip for me! Ended up seeing quite a few.

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Herald Snake (Crotaphopeltis hotamboiea)

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Common River Frog (Amieta quecketti)

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Raucous Toad (Amietophrynus rangeri)

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Uroplectes triangulifer with babies

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On the way back home, we stopped off in the Midlands to look for the Midland's Dwarf Chameleon.

Male Midland's Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion thamnobates)

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Female

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I then went down the South Coast for a weekend at Oribi Gorge.

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Large-spotted Gecko (Pachydactylus maculatus)

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Snoring Puddle Frog (Phrynobatrachus natalensis)

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As I was leaving for home, this crossed the road.

Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

My goodness, what a trip that must have been. Thanks for sharing!!
Jacob
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by Jacob »

It's always a pleasure to see your photo's! Thanks
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Rothdigga
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by Rothdigga »

Nick! Good to see you on here. I'm planning my next work trip down to SA now as our contest is quickly coming up again. Looks like you've given me some extra spots to think about with this awesome post.
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Nick Evans
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by Nick Evans »

Thanks guys!

Jason, glad you're coming back! Yes still a lot to see here, the Drakensberg is an amazing place! But nothing can beat Zululand! There's just wildlife everywhere there, and a huge variety. Hopefully see you soon!
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KevinS
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by KevinS »

Nice finds and great pictures!
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moloch
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by moloch »

Absolutely spectacular shots, Nick! You found so many interesting animals. Loved the photos of the Drakensberg. I walked to the Giant's Castle once but was birding rather than looking at herps. It would be so much fun to visit again.

Regards,
David
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Soopaman
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by Soopaman »

Awesome! One of the first international posts that is fairly dominant in snake photos instead of being all silly frogs and lizards.

Very cool snakes and it looks like you got to see a lot of stuff. The forest cobra and puff adder are my favorites.
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Hans Breuer (twoton)
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Re: Reptiles & amphibians from around KwaZulu Natal,South Af

Post by Hans Breuer (twoton) »

Soopaman wrote:Awesome! One of the first international posts that is fairly dominant in snake photos instead of being all silly frogs and lizards.
Have some mercy on us outlanders, please. Unlike the blessed people in God's Own Country, people in foreign countries have no control over the quality of their wildlife. We all secretly wish we could do what they do in Florida to boost the low number of snake species: bring them in by the truckload and let them loose in the swamps for snake-loving herpers to find! I've petitioned the Malaysian government for years to allow the import of a few thousand taipans and rattlesnakes to fill our biomass-challenged rainforests. But they're kinda stuffy about the idea ... so I'm afraid you'll keep seeing little else but frogs and lizzerds from us :-)
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