Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Nick Evans » Fri Apr 01, 2016 2:11 pm

Hi all

Thought I'd share some photos of some of the reptiles & amphibians I've been lucky enough to see over the past few months. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get away as much as I would have liked, but I did get to do some exploring in the KZN Midlands and Zululand.

I'll start off with pics from where I'm based, Durban.

My absolute favourite snake, and a very misunderstood animal: Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis). A juvenile specimen full of attitude.

Image

One of the countries most beautiful snakes in my opinion, the Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps). I removed this beaut from someone's car engine.

Image

Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica). I removed 3 juveniles from an office in Westville, in the space of 5 days.

Image

New-born Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

Image

Adult male Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

Image

Vine Snake (Thelotornis capensis) Wasn't keen on posing for me, so this is all I got.

Image

Southern Stiletto Snake (Atractaspis bibronii)

Image

Eastern Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus natalensis natalensis)

Image

Southern Brown Egg-eater (Dasypeltis inornata) in action! Yes, I fed it the chicken egg before releasing it, it wasn't raiding a chicken farm.

Image

Hatchling Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)

Image

Critically Endangered Smith's Dwarf burrowing skink, (Scelotes inornatus). Turned a friends garden upside down to try and find one, but all I saw was what I though was a head, but it shot down into the sand. This specimen was caught by my friend the day before.

Image

Bushveld Rain Frog (Breviceps adspersus). Gotta love these guys!

Image

Endangered Kloof Frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi), keeping her eggs moist by urinating on them. Lovely.

Image

Now some photos from Zululand...

The best sighting I have had in the bush: A young Southern African Python that snatched a dove out of the air!

Image

Snouted Cobra (Naja annulifera) I was up at Bhejane Nature Training, teaching the field guides about reptiles & amphibians. I heard one of the students scream from his tent. He had lifted up a pile of dirty clothes and found this underneath!

Image

Eastern Tiger Snake (Telescopus semiannualatus)

Image

Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko (Homopholis wahlbergi)

Image

The Endangered Umlalazi Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion caeruleogula)

Image

Knocking Sand Frog (Tomopterma krugerensis)

Image


Now for some pics from the Drakensberg and Midlands...

Rinkhals (Haemachatus haemachatus)

Image

Drakensberg Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion dracomontanum)

Image

Midlands Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion thamnobates)

Image

The highlight of the season for me by far, the Endangered Long-toed Tree Frog (Leptopelis xenodactylus)

Image

Yellow-striped Reed Frog (Hyperolius semidiscus)

Image

Hope you enjoyed the post!

Cheers,
Nick

KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian & Reptile Conservation
http://www.kznamphibianreptileconservation.com
https://www.facebook.com/KZNHerpConservation/
User avatar
Nick Evans
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:45 pm
Location: Durban, KZN

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Mitton » Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:03 pm

Awesome photos man, really enjoyed this post. Thanks.
www.moreliapythons.co.za
User avatar
Mitton
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 3206
Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:32 pm
Location: Jhb

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Nick Evans » Sat Apr 02, 2016 1:05 pm

Thanks so much Mitton :D Glad you enjoyed it!
User avatar
Nick Evans
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:45 pm
Location: Durban, KZN

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby GCol » Sat Apr 02, 2016 2:56 pm

Amazing photos Nick, and some awesome reptiles. Keep it up. :D
Gareth Coleman
GCol
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 193
Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 11:26 am
Location: Eshowe, KZN

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Warren Klein » Sun Apr 03, 2016 10:04 am

Excellent photography of some truly special herps. That python catch must have been a sight to witness.
An inaccurate naturalist is a pest and a danger, forever perpetuating illogical deductions and landing later naturalists in trouble. Damm and blast them all to hell in the most painful way. C.J.P. Ionides
User avatar
Warren Klein
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 932
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:16 pm
Location: Bela Bela, South Africa / Angola

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Nick Evans » Sun Apr 03, 2016 10:59 am

Thank you guys :-D
User avatar
Nick Evans
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:45 pm
Location: Durban, KZN

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby levi_20 » Sun Apr 03, 2016 2:08 pm

amazing photos, thanks
User avatar
levi_20
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 230
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:34 pm
Location: Cape Town

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby krah » Mon Apr 04, 2016 9:15 am

Awesome! That Baby Puffie actually looks cute haha.
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."
Winston Churchill.

Pastel BP 0.1.0
Firefly BP 1.0.0
Spider BP 1.0.0
Normal BP 0.1.0
Pied BP 1.1.0
Axanthic het pied BP 0.1.0
Banana BP 1.0.0
Albino Corn 0.1.0
Beardies 1.1.0
User avatar
krah
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 157
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 11:51 am
Location: Kempton Park

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Ruan Stander » Mon Apr 04, 2016 11:00 am

Great finds and some nice shots too.
The way to success has no shortcuts.
Ruan Stander
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 1008
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:25 pm
Location: Mookgopong/Modimolle(Naboomspruit/Nylstroom)

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Allen G. Liebenberg » Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:25 pm

Great,great photos.Thank you.
Allen G. Liebenberg
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 60
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:13 pm

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Westley Price » Wed Apr 06, 2016 7:43 pm

Great post!
"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: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby GOB » Thu Apr 07, 2016 7:34 am

Awesome pictures!! keep it up man
GOB
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:56 pm
Location: Western Cape

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Chopper 1 » Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:36 pm

Great pics - that dove is a Emerald (Green) spotted wood dove and they are not capable of flying slowly due to their high wing load. That python must be a few centimeters longer after latching on to that guy if it was in flight. Really a once in 10 million chance of getting a wild pic like that.
To fly is Heavenly but to hover is Divine
User avatar
Chopper 1
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 148
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:50 am
Location: Bela Bela

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby Nick Evans » Thu Apr 07, 2016 2:49 pm

Thank you all for the comments :) Appreciate it!

Chopper 1, thanks for the ID. I just wish I got the strike on video :cry:
User avatar
Nick Evans
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 174
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:45 pm
Location: Durban, KZN

Re: Reptiles & Amphibians from around KZN

Postby JamesWittstock » Mon May 02, 2016 3:39 pm

Great post nick!
JamesWittstock
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon May 02, 2016 3:20 pm
Location: Durban, South Africa.


Return to Kwazulu Natal

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

cron