Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakensberg

Accounts and photos of non-captive reptiles in their natural habitat in South Africa. Try to record with your account details such as time of day/night, temperature, weather conditions, lunar cycle, sex, rough age of reptile, and so on.

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Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakensberg

Postby Fooble » Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:57 pm

With the Winter months in full swing and the herps becoming less and less (unless you go look for them.)

I've travelled extensively over the last few weeks under some tough conditions and other rather pleasant ones.
From lush tropical forest. sand forest, montane grasslands and thicket along the Transkei. A collection of animals I've encountered in the Eastern Half of South Africa.

Apologies for my absence from the forum so I'll leave you these.

Bradypodion setaroi - Setaro's Dwarf Chameleon, iSimangiliso Wetland Park Lucia, Kwa Zulu Natal.
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Kassina maculata - Red Legged Kassina. Eastern Shores,iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Kwa Zulu Natal.
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Dendroaspis angusticeps - Eastern Green Mamba,Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal.
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Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia - Herald Snake, With strange coloured scales Malvern Kwa Zulu Natal.
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Philothamnus semivariegatus - Spotted Bush Snake, La Lucia, Kwa Zulu Natal.
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Pseudocordylus spinosus - Spiny Tailed Girdled Lizard. Monks Cowl Drakensberg Mountains.
Male
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Female
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Gary photographing a Pseudocordylus.
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Philothamnus natalensis natalensis - Eastern Natal Green Snake, Cape Vidal,Kwa Zulu Natal
An extremely common snake of the Nothern Coastal Regions of Kwa Zulu Natal, I found several of these just walking through the costal forests and listening for them as they make it through the branches.
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Naja melanocleuca - Forest Cobra, iSimangiliso Wetland Park Lucia, Kwa Zulu Natal.
The infamous
Mongoose
with a hatchling forest cobra.
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Gonionotophis capensis capensis - Common File Snake, Hluhluwe, Kwa Zulu Natal. This specimen seemed to have had a rough time.
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Bradypodion caffer - Transkei Dwarf Chameleon (Pondo Dwarf Chameleon) , Port St Johns Transkei.
Probably the highlight of all of the animals I photographed I drove some 550kms just to try locate these chameleons and successfully photograph them in their tiny isolated distribution. They are found almost exclusively in this small coastal town which is threatened by major urbanisation and habitat loss. I found these relatively easily and found a larger number, however they are listed as critically endangered due to their small distribution. There are few images available online of these amazing Bradypodion so I am even more pleased to be able to share these.

Adult Male
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Adult Female:
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Juvenile Female
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Juvenile Male
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Adult Male
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Adult Male
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Thanks for Looking!
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby Herper » Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:20 pm

Awesome pics!!!
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby reptile » Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:13 am

As good as all your other posts amazing!!!! Thanks for sharing really enjoyed all the excellent pics!!!
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby Mitton » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:09 am

Love the Green Mamba!
Thanks for sharing these great pics.
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby Mehelya » Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:12 am

Man, T... Those photos are excellent as always. Love the N melanoleuca and the G capensis! Still have to see them in their natural habitat. Those Tranksei Dwarfs are also quite unique. How big are they in general as adults? Can't be too big though.
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby Fooble » Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:59 pm

Thanks for the kind words guys.

@Mehelya the Bradypodion are very small probably no longer than 12cm. One of the most bizarre Bradypodion I've ever encountered.
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby krah » Wed Jul 29, 2015 11:46 pm

Awesome photos!
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby rolandslf » Thu Jul 30, 2015 8:27 am

Once Again, Of the Highest Quality Big T.
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby Bushviper » Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:55 am

Such a pity a small reserve cannot be put aside for these chameleons. By the time they think about it they will be gone.
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby Ruan Stander » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:16 pm

Brilliant photography and some awesome animals. The colouration on that mamba is spectacular.
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Re: Eastern Kwa Zulu Natal, Pondoland (Transkei) and Drakens

Postby Westley Price » Fri Jul 31, 2015 6:22 pm

Great photography, great species! What more can I say...
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