Some Herpetological Highlights for Summer 2012/13

I started the season off in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The weather was very bad (flooding disasters etc.), but I did manage to find a few reptiles and amphibians.

Painted Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus)

These frogs are very widespread and their high-pitched whistle/squeak can be deafening when in a wet area at night. The colouration of these frogs can be very variable and region specific.

On a clear day while searching for reptiles I flipped a log and found three Skaapstekers underneath. One escaped, but I did manage to photograph two. One was in the blue. Both snakes were very docile. Skaapsteker is the Afrikaans name for these snakes and can be roughly translated as "sheep staber". This is based on the ignorant belief that these snakes are responsible for killing sheep. The venom is very mild and it would simply not be capable of killing a sheep.

Rhombic Skaapsteker, Psammophylax rhombeatus  

I encountered this Puff Adder a little further into the hills. It was sunning itself on the path. These snakes have a terrible reputation but I find them a pleasure to photograph. This one was extremely docile and relaxed.

Puff Adder, Bitis arietans

The last two reptiles I found in the area were Leopard Tortoises. It is said that they reach the biggest size in this part of the world. One of the specimens we found was indeed huge. An interesting thing about the Leopard Tortoise is that it enjoys water and will even swim.

Leopard Tortoise, Stigmochelys pardalis

The next trip I made was to Madikwe Game Reserve, in the North West Provence (close to Botswana). The area is dry Savannah and it is a beautiful part of the country. I found a lot of stuff moving around out there.

 

There were many of these Tree Agamas everywhere. These lizards have real character and are very active in defending their territories from rivals. This involves a lot of visual communication. In the second photo, look how chameleon-like the lizard is.

Southern Tree Agama, Acanthocercus atricollis

In Madikwe both Eastern Olive and Western Olive Toads can be found.

 Eastern Olive Toad, Amietophrynus garmani

 Western Olive Toad, Amietophrynus poweri

It is always good to see chameleons. Many people are afraid of the gentle creatures.

 Flap-neck Chameleon, Chamaeleo dilepis

This striking lizard is a Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko. They are big geckos and are active in the day as well as the night.

 Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko, Homopholis walbergii

Here I have a Mozambique Spitting Cobra. These snakes are very common and often get into houses. Many people are afraid of them and will not hesitate to kill them on sight. They have a venom that is predominantly cytotoxic and bites can result in loss of limbs and digits and fatalities are not unheard of. They also spit their venom and if it gets into the eyes can cause a lot of pain. This individual was calm and only interested in escaping. This was the first Mozambique Spitting Cobra I have caught.

 

 Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Naja mossambica

One night while out looking for reptiles I came across this Red Toad. This particular individual was completely blind. It seemed that the defect could have been there it's entire life as there was no wound. While I was photographing the toad it was eating termite alates that were attracted to the light. This is one of the most interesting things I have ever seen.

 Red Toad, Schismaderma carens

These Leopard Tortoises were congregated at a puddle together and they were enjoying the water.

 Leopard tortoises, Stigmochelys pardalis

This little Tremolo Sand Frog superficially resembles a juvenile Bull Frog. These are burrowers.

 

 Tremolo Sand Frog, Tomopterna cryptotis

Before a storm broke one night I found this little Centipede Eater hunting. I captured the snake to photograph the next day in the light, but it escaped from the overnight tub.

  

 Cape Centipede Eater, Aparallactus capensis

The next trip I did was to the West Coast National Park in the Western Cape just outside of Cape Town. On the way I found this dead Aurora House Snake. They are very striking snakes.

 

 Aurora house snake, Lamprophis aurora

There were a lot of Puff Adders and Boomslang in the West Coast National Park. I saw seven separate Boomslang (all males) and two Puff Adders. The Puff Adders were very docile. The one in the first image was lying flat in some vegetation. It was practically invisible. I pressed onto the snake's back with my hook stick (I applied a fair amount of pressure) and the snake did not move. it only moved when I picked it up with the hook.

 

 

 

Puff Adder, Bitis arietans

 Boomslang, Dispholidus typus

I came across this Western Dwarf Chameleon. Unfortunately it was dead. These are one of the many endemic South African species of Dwarf Chameleon.

 

 Western Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion occidentale

Another genus that exhibits a high degree of endeminism in Southern Africa is Breviceps, otherwise known as Rain Frogs. These frogs have a fascinating life cycle. They are not dependent on water in the conventional amphibian sense for metamorphosis to take place. The female lays her eggs underground and the tadpoles develop in a kind of jelly that is created by the parent.

Namaqua Rain Frog, Breviceps namaquensis

This little Egg-eater was found one day while out on a hike. These snakes are one of three species of Egg-eater found in Southern Africa. They feed exclusively on bird eggs. The Rhombic Egg-eater isan adder mimic.

 Rhombic Egg-eater, Dasypeltis scabra

There were a lot of Angulate Tortoises, they occur in very high numbers in the nature reserve and can be found under almost any bush. I also came across a lot of dead ones, larger ones on their backs and small ones the size of golf balls just dead. 

 Angulate Tortoise, Chersina angulata

 I never found as many lizards as I hoped I would. But I did find a few interesting species.

 Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko, Afrogecko porphyreus

Spotted Sand Lizard, Pedioplanis lineooccelata

On the way back to Durban from the Cape, I spent the night in Philippolis in the Free State. I decided to do a road cruise and found this Cape Coral Snake on the road. This is a fierce little snake. Cape Coral Snakes are elapids and spread a narrow little hood. Very interesting snakes and definitely the highlight of my trip. 

 Cape Coral Snake, Aspidelaps lubricus

In Durban one morning I spotted this little Green Water Snake basking in the sun. This little snake was in the blue. These are common snakes in Durban, but even though they are common this is the first time I got an opportunity to photograph one.

Green Water Snake, Philothamnus hoplogaster

Here are two amphibians from the Durban region. 

 

Bush Squeaker, Arthroleptis wahlbergi

 

 Guttural Toad, Amietophrynus gutturalis

I then did a trip to the Waterberg Mountains in February. These mountains are in the bushveld biome and they are made of sandstone. These mountains are where writer, Eugene Marais studied nature and did his ethology of the Baboons. 

The Waterberg Mountains

I was there in a relatively dry period but did see a few amphibians. The Raucous Toad is a common and widespread species. These toads can get quite big. I always love to photograph toads, they have such complex eyes and tend to sit still for photographs which is not too common amongst amphibians.

Raucous Toad, Amietophrynus rangeri

The next toad is a Pygmy Toad. These are often overlooked and assumed to be juvenile toads of the Amietophrynus genus, however they can be easily distinguished as members of the Poyntonophrynus genus due to the lack of symmetry in their markings.

 

Northern Pygmy Toad, Poyntonophrynus fenoulheti

These Wahlberg's Velvet Geckos were very active in the communal kitchen area both at night and during the day. These are big geckos. Note the difference in colouration to the one I photographed in Madikwe.

Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko, Homopholis walbergii

The sandstone boulders were alive with Flat Lizards. These were particularly skittish.Anyone who has watched these lizards will know that they have a social relationship to other Flat Lizards in the immediate area, they are constantly signaling and interacting. Viewed from above these lizards are dull coloured, but underneath they are very brightly and vividly coloured. This all aids in their communication with one another.

 
Waterberg Flat Lizard, Platysaurus minor

One night on a walk I came across this little Wolf Snake Hunting. They feed on sleeping lizards sheltering in crevices and between rocks and debris. They are completely inoffensive little snakes.

 Common Wolf Snake, Lycophidion capense

While walking there were many of these Plated Lizards moving through the grass. They are very fast and quickly disappear into the grass or their burrows. 

 Yellow-Throated Plated Lizards, Gerrhosaurus flavigularis

On my last night in the Waterberg, looking for nocturnal reptiles I came across this big Snouted Cobra. Very nice snake and the highlight of that particular trip.

Snouted Cobra, Naja annulifera

The next trip I managed to do was into the Lowveld near Kruger Park. I was invited to spend a few days in the Umbabat Game Reserve and specifically the Ingwelala concession. I was not able to walk around much because there are dangerous animals in the area, but I did manage to find some good things. Firstly this little Leopard Tortoise and this Painted Reed Frog were around the house (note the different colouration on this individual as opposed to the one from Grahamstown, this one is subspecies taeniatus, the one from Grahamstown is subspecies verrucosus).

 

Leopard tortoise, Stigmochelys pardalis
 

Painted Reed Frog, Hyperolius marmoratus

While taking a short walk one day I was lucky enough to photograph these lizards, the first is a Common Rough-scaled Lizard. These lizards are fast and move around during the hottest part of the day. The other is a Giant Plated Lizard. One of the most magnificent species of lizard in Southern Africa and the third biggest after the two species of Monitor Lizards.

 

Common Rough-scaled Lizard, Ichnotropis squamulosa

 Giant Plated Lizard, Gerrhosaurus validus

This Eastern Olive Toad was particularly photogenic and so was the Southern Foam Nest Frog.

 

Eastern Olive Toad, Amietophrynus garmani

Southern Foam Nest Frog, Chiromantis xerampelina

Finally, the highlight of the trip was this Southern African Rock Python. It was about 1.7 metres in length and very docile. I released it into back into a tree that it was heading up when I found it. Once this snake reaches maturity it will eventually manage to consume prey up to the size of an Impala.

Southern African Rock Python, Python natalensis

The final reptile of this trip was this Rhombic Egg-Eater. In this region they mimic the Night Adders and they do a good job of it.

  Rhombic Egg-eater, Dasypeltis scabra

My final trip for the season was back into the Lowveld of Southern Africa, this time I went more North and spent a few weeks on the Selati river in the Selati Game Reserve and then moved into another wilderness area called Karongwe Game Reserve. Both are beautiful regions and I found a lot of reptiles; the bio-diversity in the lowveld is astounding. There is just so much life.

This little Mottled Shovel-Nosed Frog was moving around one warm night. They are a burrowing species and unlike other burrowing frogs they burrow head first. These frogs also lay their eggs in the ground like the Rain Frogs, but the female remains with the eggs underground until they hatch and then she digs a tunnel or channel to open water and carries the tadpoles out to the water to complete their metamorphosis. 

Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog, Hemisus marmoratus
 

Where you find frogs there will also be frog-eaters. This Snouted Night Adder is one such frog eater. These snakes are small and robust. The venom is cytotoxic and is considered mild. This particular snake was moving around on a cool, overcast day.

 Snouted Night Adder, Causus defilippii

During a drive I managed to photograph this Vine Snake. They are also known as Twig Snakes. They are very cryptically camouflaged and have been known to remain in the same position for days. These snakes have a haemotoxic venom and bites are considered dangerous.

 Southern Vine Snake, Thelotornis capensis

I came across two reptiles that are not often seen. The Wolf Snake was in the 'blue' that is why it looks so blue. It was the first time I have seen one of these. The Reticulated Centipede Eater is a snake I never thought I would see. They appear to be locally common in the area as I saw three in total (one dead). It was an extremely difficult snake to photograph. The Cape Centipede Eater on the other hand is common and widespread. Snakes in the Aparallactus genus feed on centipedes.

 

Variegated Wolf Snake, Lycophidion variegatum 

 Reticulated Centipede Eater, Aparallactus lunulatus

 Cape Centipede Eater, Aparallactus capensis

There were many skinks moving around wherever I looked. These lizards occurred in high densities and could be seen practically anywhere. Observing the skinks I noticed a lot of social interaction amongst them. They were constantly gesturing towards one another. They were also a pleasure to observe as they become used to an observer quickly and natural behaviour can be seen in a short period of time. I watched skinks for hours, chasing each other, hunting, lying together and occasionally fighting. I must admit that I really have a new found interest in these little reptiles.

Eastern Striped Skink, Trachylepis striata

 Rainbow Skinks, Trachylepis margaritifer (the male is the one that is more orange)

 

 Variable Skink, Trachylepis varia

 I found this little Serrated Hinged Terrapin in a rock pool near the Selati River. These terrapins can live relatively long. In captivity they have been know to reach an age of 29 years.

 Juvenile Serrated Hinged Terrapin, Pelusios sinuatus

Tomopterna is another genus of burrowing frogs. They are often overlooked and assumed to be juvenile toads. I found two species to be very common in the area I was. I also came across a Bushveld Rain Frog one morning. The frog immediately began to burrow backwards into the ground and was gone withing seconds.

Knocking Sand Frog, Tomopterna krugerensis

 Russet-backed Sand Frog, Tomopterna marmorata

 Bushveld Rain Frog, Breviceps adspersus adspersus

On a warm day this Striped Skaapsteker was moving around. These snakes are, as mentioned above, blamed for the death of sheep. This is just ignorant as the venom of this snake is not harmful to anything bigger than a mouse. 

 

 Striped Skaapsteker, Psammophylax tritaeniatus

Another reptile that moves around on hot days is the Black-lined Plated Lizard. This was one of four Plated Lizard Species in the area I was. The other three are the Giant Plated Lizard, Rough-scaled Plated Lizard and the Yellow-throated Plated Lizard pictured below.

 Black-lined Plated Lizard, Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus

 Juvenile Yellow-throated Plated Lizard, Gerrhosaurus flavigularis

These lizards are fast, but not as fast as this Western Striped-Bellied Sand Snake. This snake is considered one of the fastest snakes in Southern Africa. They prey predominately on lizards but will also take warm blooded prey like birds and rodents. This particular snake was exhibiting some interesting behaviour; it was holding its tail in the air (about 20 cm high) and swaying. The effect looked like a piece of grass moving in the wind.

 

 Western Striped-Bellied Sand Snake, Psammophis trigrammus

Common Flat Lizards were also abundant in the area I was. This one was the most striking individual I managed to photograph.

 Common Flat Lizard, Platysaurus intermedius

This beautiful lizard is Turner's Tubercled Gecko. They are big geckos and they are very slow moving. There are three species in Southern Africa and they are all named after herpetologists (the other two are Bibron's Tubercled Gecko and FitzSimons' Tubercled Gecko).

 Turner's Tubercled Gecko, Chondrodactylus turneri

This Flap-necked Chameleon was sleeping near the path. They are very easy to find at night as their colour stands out with artificial light, I have found more chameleons at night than in the day.

  

 Flap-necked Chameleon, Chamaeleo dilepis

The last animal I will share from the season is the Bushveld Lizard. These lizards are incredibly fast and move around during the hottest part of the day. When they are young they mimic the Ground spitting beetle (Anthia cinctipennis). The juvenile Bushveld Lizard (the first image below) even hunches its back and walks in such a beetle-like way - it has to be seen to really see how amazing this mimicry is. 

 

Bushveld Lizard, Heliobolus lugubris

Herpetology has always been a passion of mine, even if it is only on an amateur level. Reptiles and amphibians are the creatures that lure me out into wilderness areas and I see them as the initial interest that took me into the direction of ecology and the natural world and for that reason they will always be special to me.