Our group consisted of seven herpetologists of four nationalities, including a couple of famous herpetology professors. The idea was to piss about (mostly me as I was just on holiday) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Joburg for a day or two, then pack our stuff into an 8-seater VW Combi and take a 5000+km road trip to the Herpetological Association of Africa meeting in Gobabeb, have some fun and do some herping along the way.
University of the Witwatersrand.
Origins museum.
Trachylepis punctatissima.
Lygodactylus capensis.
I stayed at the dear professor’s house for the first couple of nights before setting off. The lizards above were found in his garden. Unfortunately, despite electric fences, the house got robbed a day before setting off and along with the professor’s home electronics, they got my unpacked backpack, lenses and flash, so pretty much everything but my daybag (on that day, a laptop + camera with one lens). Having been left with limited camera gear and only the clothes I was wearing, we made a dash for the camera- and clothes shops where I spent a significant amount of money on a 105mm Micro-Nikkor and an SB-910 flash. Also some classy, cheap clothes. Having managed to get everything super-quickly and just before closing time, we set off to the Namaqualand coast at 4am.
4am start.
First amphibian was found at our first bathroom stop. Xenopus laevis.
DOR boomslang.
A must-do for any herpetologist visiting the region. A photo by the Pofadder sign.
Guilty.
After a 1460km drive from Joburg, we finally arrived at the coast. The site is super-interesting for herping as both Bitis cornuta and B. schneideri occur there.
Our accommodation was basic but comfy, and the location was stunning.
After settling in for an hour or so, we spent the final daylight doing what herpers do.
Karusasaurus polyzonus. A cool cordylid.
Found a couple of lizards, but were quickly ready for a braai and bed. The view next morning was pretty stunnig.
Ready for herping.
Acontias littoralis.
Scelotes sexlineatus. Notice the individual “only” having hind legs.
Came across an ostrich nest. Got us very alert very quick looking for the adults that may be nearby and ready kick the s*it out of us.
Karusasaurus polyzonus, in situ. A difficult species to get close to.
Meroles knoxii.
The reality of herping.
A grumpy, gravid buthid.
Flipping in a ghost town abandoned by De Beers employees after the mining had finished.
Acontias littoralis. There are two distinct morphs.
Scelotes sexlineatus. Unfortunately with the tail lost.
Pachydactylus labialis.
Evening at the coast. We went out looking for mainly Bitis, although it was prime time for looking for herps in general.
And luckily enough, we found a beautiful, female Bitis schneideri. “Fully grown” with a total length of around 200mm.
After a braai and a good night’s sleep it was time for some slightly different type of habitat further inland. Meroles ctenodactylus.
Trachylepis variegata.
Psammophis crucifer.
Horrible photos, but this is noosing an agama out of the window of our van.
And here it is. A gravid Agama hispida. Measured and sampled for tissue.
Acontias namaquensis. A cool little lizard, but a bastard to get any decent photos of.
Chondrodactylus bibroni.
Another Pachydactylus labialis.
Goggia lineata. It just happened to be on the same piece of wood as the Pachydactylus from before.
Ooh, what’s this? The fellas have found something.
Bitis schneideri male. Total length around 150mm.
Another lovely snake. Psammophylax rhombeatus.
After this we hopped back in the car and set off to Namibia for a few days and then back to SA. A report of that will follow in a few days when I have the time.
Happy Saturnalia, Christmas, holidays etc. Which ever you prefer.
Thanks for sharing this nice report !
