The herping season is coming to an end for the time being in South Africa
Summer heat has slowly made it's way out and the autumn has crept it. Here are a few pictures from my last trip for a while.
All animals found in the North/North Eastern Part of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
The list broken down:
Afrotyphlops schlegelii - Schlegel’s beaked blind snake
Arthroleptis wahlbergii - Bush Squeeker
Boaedon capensis - Brown House Snake
Bradypodion ngomeense - Ngome Dwarf Chameleon *lifer*
Breviceps adspersus - Bush Veld Rain Frog
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia - Herald Snake
Dasypeltis inornata - Southern Brown Egg Eater
Dispholidus typus viridis - Common Boomslang
Pachydactylus vansoni - Vanson's Gecko
Pelusios sinuatus -Serrated Hinged Terrapin
Psammophis brevirostris - Short Snouted Grass Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus - Spotted Bush Snake
Philothamnus natalensis natalensis - Eastern Natal Green Snake
Pseudaspis cana . - Mole Snake
Python natalensis -Southern African Python
Sceoltes mirus - Montane Dwarf Burrowing Skink
Afrotyphlops schlegelii - Schlegel’s beaked blind snake.
A large blind snake that can get close to one metre (three foot) in length.
Arthroleptis wahlbergii - Bush Squeeker
Typically found amongst the leaf littler on forest floors.
Boaedon capensis - Brown House Snake
Another extreamly common yet really variable species across South Africa.
Bradypodion ngomeense - Ngome Dwarf Chameleon
This species has been on my wish list to find in the field for years, I've just not had the opportunity to go out and look for it.
This species is poorly represented in terms of photographs (a quick google search will show you this) and information so I trust many of you may find this species something interesting.
The first specimen was discovered in 1994 but was only recently described in 2009 by Tilbury & Tolley.
Endemic to a single forest patch in North-eastern Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
Habitat: Typically found on the edges of forest paths as well as high in the canopies (in excess +4m from the forest floors)
Vegetation Type: Southern Mistbelt Forest.
Sub-adult Male
Sub-adult Female
Adult Female
Breviceps adspersus - Bush Veld Rain Frog
Notoriously difficult yo locate these Rain frogs often sit at the base of plants and call, whilst devouring ants.
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia - Herald Snake
Typically these snakes have bright red upper lips. This speciemen was rather dull.
Dasypeltis inornata - Southern Brown Egg Eater
One of the three species of Egg Eating snakes.
Dispholidus typus viridis - Common Boomslang
One of South Africa's most well known and beautiful juvenile snakes.
Pachydactylus vansoni - Vanson's Gecko
Common in the montane grasslands, found under rock flakes and deep crevices.
Pelusios sinuatus - Serrated Hinged Terrapin
[img]http://www.tyroneping.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pelusios-sinuatus©_Tyrone_Ping_2017_WM-3.jpg[/img]
Psammophis brevirostris - Short Snouted Grass Snake
Large powerful rear fanged snakes.
Philothamnus semivariegatus - Spotted Bush Snake
A proliphic species in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Philothamnus natalensis natalensis - Eastern Natal Green Snake
Common species along the Coastal Belt, this was one found about 300m from the ocean.
Pseudaspis cana - Mole Snake
Another juvenile:
The juveniles are vividly marked but these markings fade rapidly as they grow.
Python natalensis -Southern African Python
These young pythons can be really plentiful on cruises in late summer.
Sceoltes mirus - Montane Dwarf Burrowing Skink
Another infinately diffisult species to photograph.
Thanks for looking more over on http://www.tyroneping.co.za/
Best - Tyrone.