All sorts

[Chris89]

Hi guys and girls
A few random pics from the archives

Spotted sandveld lizard

Distant's ground agama

Cape dwarf gecko

[Westley Price]

Sandveld lizards are always awesome. Did they ever describe the new species? I recall there was debate about some of the tesselata specimen possibly being a different species.

Where were the pics taken?

[Chris89]

Howzit Westley. I'm not sure about a new species, have been slack with the book learning haha. It's a tricky genus though isn't it? There seems to be very little difference between the species. What are your thoughts on reptile taxonomy? If my understanding is correct(probably not), an almost infinite number of species could be described, depending on the criteria for considering species distinct. Surely, whatever critical value used must be nebulous? Apparently our east coast Bonefish has recently been elevated to a new species but is morphologically indistinguishable from the species from which it was split. Fascinating subject anyway.If anyone understands this better, please explain!
The lizards and blind snakes are from the Cullinan area.

Took these photos to show some of the obvious differences between Bibron's blind snakes and Delalande's beaked blind snakes

Bibron's


Delalande's

Some differences noted: Bibrons is the larger, stockier species, generally darker in colour. The snout profile differs(Sharper in Delalande's). Bibrons has a light/white marking on the ventral/under side of the tail.

[Chris89]

Gravid Hadogenes gunningii

Same scorpion with UV torch

[Chris89]

Relocated Rock monitor, not happy..

Nice sized Rhombic night adder. Love the blue tongue

[reptile]

Wow, stunning photography, some of the best I've seen around, well done. Love the Spotted Sandveld Lizard pic , what camera are you using if I may ask?

[Dr Dill]

Very awesome pictures very well done on the photography side of things. Also a very nice variety of animals.

[Westley Price]

Chris, to be honest, I have no idea what criteria are used to define a species, but in my opinion one should stick to morphological differences and not only DNA evidence.

Possibly if there is a major difference in DNA between two morphologically identical populations one can describe two different subspecies. Then at least one can still ID any specimen to species level.

But I am just an amateur field herper, what do I know

[Chris89]

Thanks guys, I use a 5mp nikon d40 with the standard 18-55mm lens
Haha ja we leave the taxonomy to the taxonomists Wes
Some frogs

Bushveld rain frog, Pietermaritzburg area


Bubbling kassina


Banded rubber frog

Natal tree frog, Sodwana

Bush squeaker, Durban area

[Chris89]

Mantis

[reptile]

Awesome, the Mantis picture is so cool, how the heck did you take it???

[Chris89]

It was quite an involved shot...but no expensive equipment involved. Takes alot of patience and trial and error though. The subjected is suspended on some fine cotton tied across a window frame. Original orientation 90deg anti-clockwise. I used a cheap set of close up filters(R150) because I don't have macro but a DIY extention tube(toilet roll/pvc pipe etc.) would work better and is very easy to make. The camera has to be kept absolutely still if you want similar lighting so you need a tripod/ table/anything flat and sturdy to support the camera. I used a cheap oldschool external flash(R40) for the lighting. Flashed from above. No synch cable or electronic trigger though so timing is important. Its essential to have lots of negative space behind the subject if you want a pure black background. Done at night obviously. So you set up the subject, focus the camera, turn off the lights, open the shutter(B/bulb setting), flash manually, close shutter. You will have to edit out the cotton but you can do that quite easily with a black paint brush in ms paint or with photoshop or similar

[reptile]

Cool, I shoud try that sometime.

[Mitton]

Great post, love the Natal Tree Frog, would love to photograph some one day.