Oudtshoorn Herps

by **rubida** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:47 pm

Received a call-out from the SAP tonight concerning a snake in a house. On my arrival (21:57) it was everything but in the house. So the lady pointed out where she saw the snake slithering in the garden. A few minutes later I spotted the snake slithering peacefully through the ivy’s with toads jumping out from various directions and SAP officers following their example. What is it? A cape cobra, the last snake ever on my list to be out that time of the night…what a surprise! Will post some photos over the weekend of this weeks catches.

by **Bushviper** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:51 pm

Possibly the heat has made them turn crepuscular to avoid getting fried. The food will also not be out during the day anymore at such high temperatures.

by **rubida** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:20 pm

The two cape cobras which I removed this week.

Hatchling from Millennium village, Oudtshoorn.

The adult female which I caught Tuesday night.

by **MrG** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:29 pm

Lovely snake that female. Do they vary in colour in the area or does it stay more or less the same.

by **rubida** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 6:34 pm

They are very variable…we encounter about four different colour phases in the same area.

by **Rob** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:20 pm

How boring, you didnt even have to wear your glasses.

by **rubida** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:50 pm

See, instead of a phase full of venom you’ll find a colourful phase! Must say it was great to have had a chance to catch a spitter again...and to have a chance to look fashionable while catching a cobra! :lol:

by **rubida** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:41 pm

Another male Rock monitor from town today…Male No.12

by **jka** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:43 pm

You know when the distribution will finally change to include Oudtshoorn as well?

by **armata** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:20 pm

Good question! They may be even further west.

by **BushSnake** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:30 pm

I always thought monitors were mainly savanna lizzards that occasionally venture into other area, but the two spots where I have seen the most were Norther Natal (Ndumo, Kosi Bay, etc) and strangely enough the area around Bedford and Pearston in the Eastern Cape. Other places produce 1 or maybe 2 a day but both these spots have loads running all over the place. These habitats are about as different as Africa from Europe.

by **rubida** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:26 pm

Lycondonomorphus rufulus (brown water snake) with Afrana fuscigula (cape river frog) from Oudtshoorn. Time photographed 08:40.

by **Bushviper** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:29 pm

He had to have constricted the frog because it looks dead. Is that an injury on his neck?

That is one of the few snakes I have ever seen feeding in the wild. They dont seem to be bothered by humans because this one should have dropped the food and run away.

Nice photograph to add to the group that you use when you give talks.

by **drummer** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:10 pm

i have seen a spotted bush snake eat in the wild...but thats it. Was chasing down a gecko, flew off roof then got it!

by **rubida** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 7:21 pm

BV: No, just the shape its body took on as he tried to pull up the frog between the rock cracks.

They dont seem to be bothered by humans because this one should have dropped the food and run away.

True, he just continued to do his thing.

Oudtshoorn Herps

Oudtshoorn Herps

Who is online