Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

For your reports/images, made outside Europe and the "Mediterranean" countries. Not to be too narrow minded and limited to our European/Mediterranean herps.

Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Nick Evans » Fri Apr 01, 2016 1:15 pm

Hi all

Thought I'd share some photos of some of the reptiles & amphibians I've been lucky enough to see over the past few months. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get away as much as I would have liked, but I did get to do some exploring in the KZN Midlands and in the Northern parts of the province (Zululand).

I'll start off with pics from where I'm based, Durban.

My absolute favourite snake, and a very misunderstood animal: Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis). A juvenile specimen full of attitude.

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One of the countries most beautiful snakes in my opinion, the Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps). I removed this beaut from someone's car engine.

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Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica). I removed 3 juveniles from an office in Westville, in the space of 5 days.

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New-born Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

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Adult male Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

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Vine Snake (Thelotornis capensis) Wasn't keen on posing for me, so this is all I got.

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Southern Stiletto Snake (Atractaspis bibronii)

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Eastern Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus natalensis natalensis)

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Southern Brown Egg-eater (Dasypeltis inornata) in action! Yes, I fed it the chicken egg before releasing it, it wasn't raiding a chicken farm.

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Hatchling Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)

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Critically Endangered Smith's Dwarf burrowing skink, (Scelotes inornatus). Turned a friends garden upside down to try and find one, but all I saw was what I though was a head, but it shot down into the sand. This specimen was caught by my friend the day before.

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Bushveld Rain Frog (Breviceps adspersus). Gotta love these guys!

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Endangered Kloof Frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi), keeping her eggs moist by urinating on them. Lovely.

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Now some photos from Zululand...

The best sighting I have had in the bush: A young Southern African Python that snatched a dove out of the air!

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Snouted Cobra (Naja annulifera) I was up at Bhejane Nature Training, teaching the field guides about reptiles & amphibians. I heard one of the students scream from his tent. He had lifted up a pile of dirty clothes and found this underneath!

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Eastern Tiger Snake (Telescopus semiannualatus)

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Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko (Homopholis wahlbergi)

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The Endangered Umlalazi Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion caeruleogula)

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Knocking Sand Frog (Tomopterma krugerensis)

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Now for some pics from the Drakensberg and Midlands...

Rinkhals (Haemachatus haemachatus)

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Drakensberg Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion dracomontanum)

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Midlands Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion thamnobates)

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The highlight of the season for me by far, the Endangered Long-toed Tree Frog (Leptopelis xenodactylus)

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Yellow-striped Reed Frog (Hyperolius semidiscus)

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Hope you enjoyed the post!

Cheers,
Nick

KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian & Reptile Conservation
http://www.kznamphibianreptileconservation.com
https://www.facebook.com/KZNHerpConservation/
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Jürgen Gebhart » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:08 pm

Some cool stuff and great pics!
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Pablo Deschepper » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:45 pm

Damn, cool rinkhals and yes, I giggled when I saw the rain frog. Thanks for sharing!
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Gabriel Martínez » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:57 pm

Wow Nick! Your experience as snake rescuer improves year to year. It´s incredible how many elapids you found around human areas. I think (based in my small experience with elapids) that is much more easy to find them in human areas than in true habitat! Even in Kwzulu Natal anybody told me that 90% of snakes that enter in houses are cobras!! (amazing for herpers but a nightmare to "normal" people!). A dream to find Dendroaspis alive in my life!
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:44 pm

Thank you sooo much for posting this here! Again a really outstanding collection of species and photos!
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Laura Bok » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:06 pm

Oh man, this is really great. As Jeroen already said, a great collection - of stunning animals, beautiful photos and interesting scenes. Love it!
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Nick Evans » Sat Apr 02, 2016 7:23 am

Thank you very much guys, for your kind comments :)

Gabriel, yes plenty of elapids around the city! In Northern KZN, most snakes that enter homes are indeed cobras. Around Durban, I get a lot of calls for Mozambique Spitting Cobras, they're one of the most common species around. Lots of Black Mambas around too :D
I've only seen3 or 4 Black Mambas in the bush, but in the city we just wait for them to come to us! :lol:
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Ray Hamilton » Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:10 am

Some fine photographs of great looking reptiles and amphibians, especially enjoyed the shot you managed of the feeding python.

Thanks for posting.
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Thomas Bader » Sat Apr 02, 2016 8:15 am

Absolute fantastic pictures and post, thank you very much. You made my day. So many highlights... awesome!
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Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN, South Africa

Postby Bobby Bok » Sat Apr 02, 2016 9:44 am

Nothing to add here, simply amazing collection of herps and pictures!
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