Easter Herp Trip - Eastern Cape.

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

Easter Herp Trip - Eastern Cape.

Postby Tyrone Ping » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:35 pm

Making the best fo the Easter Holiday weekend I decided it was time to knock off yet another Bradypodion ( Dwarf Chameleon), the 1300km round trip's main focus would be the Kentani Dwarf Chameleon.
Not the kind of Bradypodion you see for sale in the pet trade, when it comes to information online for this species it's virtually non-existent.

The plan, as you can see this part of the country is really slow going.
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Acontias plumbeus - Giant Legless Skink
Afrotyphlops bibronii - Bibrons Blind Snake
Amietia delalandii - Common River Frog
Bradypodion kentanicum - Kentani Dwarf Chameleon
Leptotyphlops scutifrons conjunctus - Peter's Thread Snake
Lygodactylus capensis - Cape Dwarf Gecko
Philothamnus natalensis occidentalis - Western Natal Green Snake
Sclerophrys capensis - Racous Toad
Strongylopus fasciatus - Striped Stream Frog
Varanus niloticus - Nile Monitor

Acontias plumbeus - Giant Legless Skink
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Afrotyphlops bibronii - Bibrons Blind Snake
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Amietia delalandii - Common River Frog
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Bradypodion kentanicum - Kentani Dwarf Chameleon several adults and juveniles +-12 specimens
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Typical resting positions of these chameleons.
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Good friend Luke Kemp, photographing Kentani Dwarf Chameleon.
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Colours when encountering another chameleon:
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Habitat of Bradypodion kentanicum - Kentani Dwarf Chameleon
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Now of all the described species of Chameleon in South Africa:
Bradypodion atromontanum
Bradypodion caeruleogula
Bradypodion caffer
Bradypodion damaranum
Bradypodion dracomontanum
Bradypodion gutturale
Bradypodion kentanicum
Bradypodion melanocephalum
Bradypodion nemorale
Bradypodion occidentale
Bradypodion pumilum
Bradypodion setaroi
Bradypodion taeniabronchum
Bradypodion thamnobates
Bradypodion transvaalense
Bradypodion ventrale
Chamaeleo dilepis
Chamaeleo namaquensis


I have found and photographed all with the exception of Bradypodion nemorale!

Leptotyphlops scutifrons conjunctus - Peter's Thread Snake. The smallest species of snake in South Africa this specimen was 75mm TL!
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Lygodactylus capensis - Cape Dwarf Gecko. A new born with strong orange tail specimen was under 60mm.
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Philothamnus natalensis occidentalis - Western Natal Green Snake
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Interesting to note the same specimen with different scalation on either side of the head.
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Myself photographing the Western Natal Green Snake.
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Sclerophrys capensis - Racous Toad. The most common of the toad species in the province.
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Strongylopus fasciatus - Striped Stream Frog
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Varanus niloticus - Nile Monitor
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A close up of the skin
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A good time in the field whilst out collection info in conjunction with http://www.herpconservation.org/
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Thanks for looking.
Here's one last look at Bradypodion kentanicum for size reference, an adult male.
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More at http://www.tyroneping.co.za
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Re: Easter Herp Trip - Eastern Cape.

Postby Bobby Bok » Fri Apr 21, 2017 8:50 am

Seeing SA herps never gets boring and especially not when they are portrayed so beautifully. Thanks for sharing!
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Re: Easter Herp Trip - Eastern Cape.

Postby Tyrone Ping » Fri Apr 21, 2017 10:45 am

Thanks Bobby, much appreciated.
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Re: Easter Herp Trip - Eastern Cape.

Postby Daniel Kane » Fri Apr 21, 2017 5:04 pm

Awesome photos Tyrone. Seems like you guys had a great road trip! Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures from SA in the future :)
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Re: Easter Herp Trip - Eastern Cape.

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:05 pm

Same here - thanks for sharing!
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Re: Easter Herp Trip - Eastern Cape.

Postby Tyrone Ping » Wed May 03, 2017 11:01 am

Daniel Kane wrote:Awesome photos Tyrone. Seems like you guys had a great road trip! Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures from SA in the future :)


Thanks!
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