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.