Reptiles of Somabula Nature Reserve

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Kennyakagera » Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:24 pm

Very good post ! Thank you very much for sharing !!
That naja shot is STUNING !! Love it !!
East African Herpetofauna Group.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/662521540444058/
User avatar
Kennyakagera
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:04 am
Location: Rwanda Akagera National Park.

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Chris89 » Tue Nov 06, 2012 7:44 pm

A few recent finds
Image
Image
Lamprophis aurora. This beast has a SVL of 695mm. TL 725mm with a stump tail. She was active just before dawn after a light shower of 4mm the previous evening.
Image
Acanthocercus atricollis. Another big herp with a stump. Male in breeding colours.
Image
Image
Nucras ornata. Very happy with this find. It was found sheltering under a stone in what looked like an Opistaphthalmus burrow. Does anyone know if these burrows are dug by the lizard or taken over from scorpions?
Chris89
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:21 pm
Location: Cullinan, Gauteng

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Chris89 » Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:14 pm

And for anyone interested, a few small mammal species from the area.
Image
Tatera leucogaster. This species is common in open sandy areas where it lives in colonies.
Image
Steatomys pratensis. Relatively rare. A possible range extension.
Image
Mastomys sp. .These guys are abundant. Not sure on the taxonomic status of the complex but this is either the Multimammate or Natal Multimammate Mouse.
Image
Aethomys chrysophilus. Dominant on termitaria bushclumps.
Image
Otomyssp. This is either Angoni Vlei Rat or Vlei Rat. Dental examination is necessary for an accurate ID.
Image
Crocidura mariquensis
Chris89
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:21 pm
Location: Cullinan, Gauteng

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Fooble » Tue Nov 06, 2012 10:10 pm

That aurora is a monster!

Some especially nice images of the Rodents!
Organized crime comes in more forms than one.
User avatar
Fooble
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 5319
Joined: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:32 am
Location: Umhlanga, Durban - KZN

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Westley Price » Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:10 am

Great stuff man!

That Agama picture is great!

That shrew is one freaky little bugger.
"I am dying by inches from not having anybody to talk to about insects." - Charles Darwin
User avatar
Westley Price
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 4019
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:25 am
Location: South Africa

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby TH » Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:06 pm

Great finds and photos! As someone who has other biodiversity interests beyond reptiles, I am loving the photos of the small mammals as well... well done, some excellent finds there... :D
follow my local exploits in the field at:
http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/

see my photos and longer trip reports at:
http://www.hardaker.co.za
User avatar
TH
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 137
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: Cape Town

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Chris89 » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:17 pm

Thanks guys. the small mammals are fascinating creatures that one relly never gets a proper look at. According to distribution, there could be an even higher diversity of rodents and insectivores in the area than reptiles(30 species recorded now on just 400ha). I'll post a few more photos next week. New finds include Common rough scaled lizard, Rhombic eggeater and an unidentified agama(Southern rock or Distant's ground). I've got a few nice mammal pictures from a camera trap as well if anyone is interested.
cheers
Chris
Chris89
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:21 pm
Location: Cullinan, Gauteng

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby John Rees » Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:33 am

What a fantastic post! I will definately come back to this one a few more times. Great variety, great photos. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing all this!
John Rees
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 193
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:42 pm
Location: Pietermaritzburg

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby 9Naja » Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:53 am

Hi Chris,

Great pics, have you submitted these to http://vmus.adu.org.za/ ?
9Naja
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:24 am

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Chris89 » Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:39 pm

These are the three scorpion species found in the area. They are all common within their specific microhabitats
Image
Opistophthalmus glabrifrons
Image
Uroplectes triangulifer
Image
Hadogenes gunningi
Chris89
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:21 pm
Location: Cullinan, Gauteng

Re: Snake photos, Cullinan area, GP

Postby Nick Evans » Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:59 am

Great finds and great photos!
User avatar
Nick Evans
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:45 pm
Location: Durban, KZN

Re: Reptiles of Somabula Nature Reserve

Postby Chris89 » Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:31 am

A few recent finds from the reserve:
Image
Causus rhombeatus female, 652mmTL
Image
Dasypeltis scabra, 690mmTL
Image
Typhlops bibronii
Chris89
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:21 pm
Location: Cullinan, Gauteng

Re: Reptiles of Somabula Nature Reserve

Postby dobby7 » Wed Feb 13, 2013 11:28 pm

This is definitely one of the best threads I have ever seen on the forum! keep up the good work.
If you cant beat them, join them. If you cant join them, shoot them.
1.1.0 Red tail boas
1.4.2 Corn Snakes
0.0.2 Heralds
1.1.0 Brown House snakes
1.1.0 Copperheads
0.0.2 Leopard geckos
dobby7
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:31 pm
Location: Durban

Re: Reptiles of Somabula Nature Reserve

Postby Chris89 » Tue May 14, 2013 3:01 pm

Looks like the house geckos have found their way onto the reserve. this one lives on a chalet so it could have come from anywhere, although they do occur in nearby cullinan so maybe theyve always been here.
Image
Hemidactylus mabouia
Chris89
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 98
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:21 pm
Location: Cullinan, Gauteng

Previous

Return to Gauteng

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests

cron