Thick-Toed Geckos

Turner's Thick-Toed Gecko, Chondrodactylus turneri, is a common inhabitant of the northern and eastern parts of South Africa.

It is superficially near identical to Bibron's Thick-Toed Gecko, C. bibronii, which occurs to the west and inhabits more arid habitats.

They are mostly rock-living, but can often be seen hunting on the ground at night. It is usually the most common gecko wherever it occurs.

They often shelter communally, and as many as five may be found in the same hiding place.

Wolf Snake

The Cape Wolf Snake, Lycophidion capense, is a common fossorial snake found in most of southern Africa.

It is a docile snake that spends most of its time underground where it mainly hunts fossorial skinks.

It is completely harmless and very reluctant to bite. When threatened it may flatten the body and hide the head beneath the body.

Sticky Feet, Foamy Nests

The Foam Nest Frog, Chiromantis xerampelina, is widespread in the lowveld and bushveld.

They are well adapted to living in an environment that would be too dry for other amphibians.

They are expert climbers and can leap effortlessly.  Foam Nest Frogs are very well camouflaged and have the ability to change colour from dark to light shades.

Their nests can be seen as foamy masses on grass or branches overhanging water. The eggs are laid in the foam and when the tadpoles hatch, they drop into the water below.

Dung Lover

This dung beetle, a member of the Heliocopris genus, was photographed between Polokwane and Mokopane, Limpopo.

The Thinker

This Southern Rock Agama, Agama atra, looked deep in thought as it enjoyed the late afternoon sun while scanning the air for predators.

Mature males like this one can be distinguished by their blue throats and often an entire blue head.

Silky Smooth

Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko, Homopholis wahlbergii, is a common species found in eastern and north-eastern South Africa.

It is a fairly large gecko that gets its name from the velvety smooth scales. Like most geckos it is nocturnal and feeds mainly on flying insects.

When threatened this gecko may gape,  revealing an inky black mouth in an attempt to scare off potential predators. It is however completely harmless.

Lightning With Legs

The Common Flat Lizard, Platysaurus intermedius intermedius, occurs in north-eastern Limpopo.

It inhabits granite outcrops and feeds on insects and soft fruits.

They are incredibly agile and take refuge in narrow cracks and crevices.

It is a sexually dimorphic species, with adult males being brightly coloured, while females and juveniles are shades of brown or black with yellow or white stripes.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

The Beaked Stiletto Snake, Atractaspis duerdeni, has an erratic distribution in South Africa, mostly in the north-western parts of the country. The closely related Southern Stiletto Snake, Atractaspis bibronii is more widely distributed and fairly commonly encountered.

Stiletto Snakes spend most of their lives underground, where they hunt rodents and other fossorial reptiles in their burrows. Because of this hunting method, the snake has developed the ability to protrude the fangs from the side of the mouth, allowing it to squeeze in next to it's prey and 'stab' it. For the same reason, the snake cannot safely be restrained behind the head, or handled in any way.

They are small snakes that look harmless, however they have a strong cytotoxic venom that causes severe swelling and pain and have caused many to lose a finger.

Never pick up any little black or purple looking snake.

Ultra Endemic

The Granite Dwarf Gecko, Lygodactylus graniticolus, is a highly endemic species found only in the Percy Fyfe and Witvinger  nature reserves near Mokopane in Limpopo.

It is a diurnal (day active) species that inhabits sandstone outcrops on grass dominated koppies. It feeds on small insects and shelters in rock crevices.

Magical Polokwane Sunsets

Sunset at Bendor, Polokwane.

Roses are Red

This rose was photographed in the beautiful rose garden of The Ranch Hotel outside of Polokwane.

Snakes wear lipstick ?

The Herald Snake, Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, is more commonly known as the Red-Lipped Snake. This name is slightly misleading though, as the lip is not always red and may in fact be white, yellow or may not be different in colour at all.

It is a common snake in the northern and eastern parts of South Africa and frequents areas near water sources and moist environments. Their prey, as is evident in their habitat preference, almost exclusively consists of frogs, toads and tadpoles. Geckos, lizards and fish may be taken opportunistically.

It is mildly venomous but not dangerous to man, and no symptoms usually result from a bite, specifically not a headache, as is often believed.

When threatened, this snake flattens the head and may strike out repeatedly.

Spotted Bush Snakes

The Spotted Bush Snake, Philothamnus semivariegatus, is a common diurnal snake species in various areas across Southern Africa.

It is often killed because it is mistaken for the highly venomous Boomslang (Dispholidus typus). The Spotted Bush Snake is however completely harmless.

They are great climbers that can scale trees and rock surfaces with ease. Lizards and geckos make up the staple of its diet.

When threatened, they may inflate the neck to reveal bright blue intersitial skin (skin underneath the scales). This threat display is seen in the Boomslang and Vine Snakes (Thelotornis species) as well.

It can be distinguished from the Boomslang by its girth- an adult Spotted Bush Snake is only slightly thicker than a Bic pen. A Boomslang grows much thicker and is large bodied. The scales of a Boomslang are also much bigger and more prominent.

King of the Bushveld

Snouted Cobras, Naja annulifera, are common and widespread throughout the savanna biome of southern Africa.

Of the two cobra species in Limpopo it is the largest, known to reach lengths of 2.5m.

It is most active in the late afternoon and first hour or two after dark. It feeds on a variety of prey including other snakes, particularly puff adders, but toads are a favourite.

It has a strong neurotoxic venom with a significant presence of cytotoxins in it.

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Egg Thieves

The two-lined shovel snout, Prosymna bivittata, is a harmless fossorial snake that feeds on the eggs of other snakes and particularly gecko eggs.

They are small snakes easily identified by the shovel-like snout. Often seen moving around on the surface in the late afternoon following showers and pour-downs.

When molested, they may flatten the body and hiss as they coil and uncoil.

Dragons in the Mountains

The Waterberg Dragon Lizard, Smaug breyeri, is an endemic species that is restricted to the Waterberg area of western Limpopo, South Africa.

Despite their fierce appearance, they are non-venomous insectivores and are locally common where they inhabit rocky outcrops in mountainous areas.

It gives birth to a small number of live young.

Lavender

Lavender is said to keep snakes away, but that is an old wives tale. To date there are no proven snake repellents, including commercially available products.

Puff Adders

Puff Adders (Bitis arietans) are probably the single most widespread snake in Africa, even reaching the Arabian peninsula.  Because of its extensive range and ambush behaviour it is responsible for a very large number of snakebites every year.

Research has however shown that puff adders in ambush seldom bite when stepped on, since it would give away the snake's position. New research has also revealed chemical crypsis in this species-the snake somehow masks its scent when it ambushes, and cannot be smelled by predators. This together with its outstanding camouflage makes it a true master at avoiding detection.

They are highly venomous and have a strong cytotoxic venom.

Leopards in Shells

Leopard Tortoises, Stigmochelys pardalis are widely distributed in South Africa and much of sub-Saharan Africa. It is easy to see where they get their name from.

These tortoises can live for up to 70 years and more in the wild. They are strict herbivores and are well adapted to arid environments.

The temperature at which the eggs are incubated determines the sexes of the hatchlings, with more females developing under higher temperatures, and more males when the temperature is cooler. The shells are very soft when the tortoises hatch.

This little one was only a few days old, and still has its eggtooth intact.

Monitor Lizards

The White-Throated Monitor, Varanus albigularis albigularis, is one of the two monitor species that can be found in South Africa. It is the smaller of the two species, but still a large lizard when fully grown. Monitors are incredibly robust animals with tough skins, very strong claws, powerful tails and mighty jaws.

They are intelligent reptiles and are widespread, particularly in the savanna throughout Southern Africa.
They are opportunistic feeders that eat anything that can fit in their mouths from snakes, frogs, insects, other lizards, birds, rodents, eggs and carrion. Monitors can swim very well, have excellent eyesight and a keen sense of smell. Their powerful legs allow them to run incredibly fast and they are masters at climbing and can scale trees and rock surfaces with ease.

Research has revealed that monitor lizards are in fact venomous, but have no fangs, thus the venom is carried in the saliva. It has mild effects however, and is not considered dangerous. A bite is rather unpleasant, simply because of their strong jaws and sharp teeth. The tail is also used as a whip for self defense.

The local English name is 'leguaan', similar to the Afrikaans 'likkewaan'.

This young male was removed from a suburban home in Polokwane and released into the Polokwane Game Reserve.

Busy Bees

Not too bad for a bridge camera at all. This bee was photographed hard at work in a garden outside of Polokwane.

Facebook Page

Visit the Beautiful Africa Photography facebook page for more photos, and an action shot of a chameleon catching a grasshopper.

Ground Lion

The word 'chameleon' is derived from the Greek term "ground lion", even though most chameleon species are arboreal (tree-living).

Chameleons are well known for their ability to change colour. This is done by constricting and dilating pigment cells known as chromatophores, the same phenomenon is seen in certain fish species. Chameleons change colour for various reasons, the most obvious being camouflage. However it may also be in response to temperature and exposure to the sun, a perceived threat or a mate.

Chameleons have eyes that are capable of moving independently in different directions, giving them close to 360 degrees field of vision.

The Common Flap-Neck Chameleon, Chamaeleo dilepis dilepis pictured below, feeds mainly on winged insects. Prey is captured using the long tongue, which may be twice the total body length of the animal. The tongue has a suction cup and very sticky mucus covering. This chameleon occurs throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa and as a result there are a number of subspecies.

It is one of only two chameleon species found in Limpopo, the other being the Transvaal Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion transvaalense.

Uncommon find in Limpopo

Although very common in certain parts of South Africa, the Mole Snake, Pseudaspis cana, is a rare find in the Limpopo Province, especially in the northern areas.

Mole Snakes can grow to be large, thick-bodied snakes. Although they are not venomous, the teeth are long and  large individuals may inflict painful bites. Small snakes like the Thread Snakes (Leptotyphlops) and even the venomous Stiletto Snakes (Atractaspis) are often incorrectly referred to as Mole Snakes by locals.

It spends much of its life underground, hence the common name. It feeds mainly on rodents and fossorial (living underground) skinks.

The colour may vary, with solid black individuals being common in some parts of the country. Juveniles undergo a colour change when they become adults, and are blotched/checkered at birth (Mole Snakes give birth to live young, they do not lay eggs).

The individual pictured below was an adult photographed on the outskirts of Polokwane in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

Two Common inhabitants of the Waterberg

The Red Toad, Schismaderma carens, is locally abundant in the Waterberg area of Limpopo and is widespread throughout Limpopo.

A very common lizard, especially at higher elevation in Limpopo, is the Variable Skink, Trachylepis varia. This was a juvenile.

Birth of the Blog

Beautiful Africa Photography is an attempt to share not only the smaller, often overlooked gems that Africa has to offer, but the sheer beauty and magnificence of the continent. Like all things in life, it has humble beginnings and it is a learning process. It is hoped that many eyes will be opened, misconceptions cleared up and souls inspired.

 To start off with a classic African feel-These photos were taken at dusk near Bandelierkop in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. It features two typical African plants, an Acacia (on the right) and Euphorbia tree(left).