Summer 2019 (January to May) Tortoises, Flat Lizards and One Lucky Pangolin

A rescued African Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temnickii) busy feeding on cocktail ants. Photo Melissa Petford.

It’s been a long period since our last blog post and we have been very active this summer. As usual, most of our time was spent at Medike Nature Reserve, but we have also visited other regions, most notably Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park, Makabeng Plateau, eastern Soutpansberg, Alldays Region and some new sites in the western Soutpansberg. Besides our fieldwork we also were involved in a pangolin rescue and maybe the most exciting development of all was Melissa finally submitting her PhD entitled Ecology and Conservation of Restricted Reptiles, which focused on the endemic and rupicolous reptile species of the Soutpansberg. Below we share some of our highlights and interesting observations.

Orange cliffs of Medike, the effect is created when the sun is low and lights up orange lichen growing on cliffs.

Testudines

Our year got off to an exciting start and the SCBC hosted two researchers, Melita Vamberger and Flora Ihlow, who were looking at Kinixys and Pelomedusa throughout the north eastern parts of the country. We assisted them in the Soutpansberg region and saw and learned a lot about Testudines: a very interesting and diverse group of reptile. This is the first time we have specifically gone into the field looking for tortoises and they are actually difficult animals to target, especially Kinixys which normally occur in low densities.

Juvenile Hinged Tortoise (Kinixys spp.) from the northern Slopes of the Soutpansberg.

Adult Kinixys from the top of the Soutpansberg.

Adult Kinixys spekki from the Limpopo Valley.

Juvenile Kinixys speki from the Sand River.

Hatchling Kinixys spekki from the Sand River.

Marsh Terrapin (Pelomedusa subrufa) near the Limpopo River.

Helmeted Terrapin (Pelomedusa) from near Polokwane.

Serrated Hinged Terrapin (Pelusios sinuatus), Soutpansberg.

Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) feeding on lion scat, Mapaungubwe National Park.

Kruger National Park and Mapangubwe National Park

Kruger National Park was one of our destinations during the summer and we were lucky to visit after some heavy summer rains. Pans had formed in many areas that are normally dry and we were lucky to see some of the exciting herpetofauna that Kruger National Park exhibits.  Besides the reptiles we also had some amazing bird and mammal sightings.  The most exciting being an unusual Nyala which had retained female colouration but grown horns. This is apparently caused by some kind of hormonal imbalance – a very unusual animal.

Aberrent Nyala Bull (Tragelaphus angasii), Punda Maria, Kruger National Park.

A difficult reptile to see due to it's retiring nature Rough-scaled Plated Lizard (Broadleysaurus major), Punda Maria, KNP.

Soutpansberg Purple-Glossed Snake (Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra) the Soutpansberg's and only endemic snake. Punda Maria, KNP.

We also did a few trips to Mapangubwe National Park throughout this period and one weekend in particular was exceptional for birding, we recorded 167 species in a three days visit. Some highlights of the trip were seeing thousands of Muller’s Platanna (Xenopus muelleri) congregating at the edge of the Manoutswa pan, a Martial Eagle Eating a Rock Monitor, a new reptile for our list: Boulenger's Garter Snake (Elapsoidea boulengeri) and finally a rare bird, the Slaty Egret which we spotted in a small pan. Thanks to Richard Petifor for making it such a successful trip.

Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) consuming a Rock Monitor (Varanus albigularis).

Thousands of juvenile Muller’s Platanna (Xenopus muelleri) gathering along edge of Manoutswa Pan,
Mapungubwe NP.

Slaty Egret (Egretta vinaceigula) at Mapungubwe National Park.

Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) basking at Mapungubwe National Park.

Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis) preying on Southern Foam Nest Frog (Chiromantis xerampelina).

Platysaurus

Another mentionable highlight was an outing was to see the Platysaurus species of an area just south of Blouberg. We found three species living in very close proximity to one another, this is quite a special situation as there can’t be too many places in Southern Africa where one can see that many Platysaurus in easy walking distance.

Dwarf Flat Lizard (Platysaurus guttatus) this species is incredibly shy and difficult to approach. Blouberg Region.

Waterberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus minor), Blouberg Region.

Orange-throated Flat Lizard (Platysaurus monotropis), Blouberg Region.

 Other Platysaurus we have seen this season were Soutpansberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus relictus), Blouberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus parvus), Wilhelm's Flat Lizard (Platysaurus wilhelmi), Zimbabwe Flat Lizard (Platysaurus rhodesianus) and Sekhukhune Flat Lizard (Platysaurus orientalis).

Wilhelm's Flat Lizard (Platysaurus wilhelmi).

Blouberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus parvus), Blouberg Nature Reserve.

Soutpansberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus relictus), Soutpansberg.

Sekhukhune Flat Lizard (Platysaurus orientalis) Blyde River Canyon.

Zimbabwe Flat Lizard (Platysaurus rhodesianus)

Surveys

During this period we undertook two notable surveys in new areas of the Soutpansberg. Our first survey was at the farms Leek and Surprise, located roughly south-east of Medike. We recorded 31 reptile species from the property, the most significant of these were five endemic Soutpansberg reptiles: Soutpansberg Worm Lizard (Chirindia langi occidentalis), Soutpansberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus relictus), Soutpansberg Rock Lizard (Vhembelacerta rupicola), Cryptic Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus incognitus) and Soutpansberg Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis). The abundance of L. incognitus, L. soutpansbergenis, P. relictus and V. rupicola indicates that the property is an important location for the conservation of these species.

Spotted Sandveld Lizard (Nucras intertexta)

Soutpansberg Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis)

Flat Dragon Lizard (Smaug depressus), an iconic species of the Soutpansberg.

Soutpansberg Worm Lizard (Chirindia langi occidentalis), an important high altitude record.

Bibron's Blind Snake (Afrotyphlops bibronii) locally common invertebrate eater.

In addition to the endemics we also found a new locality of Spotted Rock Snake (Lamprophis guttatus) and a new species for our records: Broadley’s Flat Gecko (Afroedura broadleyi).

Spotted Rock Snake (Lamprophis guttatus), a difficult to see crack dweller.

Broadley's Flat Gecko (Afroedura broadleyi) the first specimen for our lists.

 Another notable survey was a visit to a reserve near Tshipise where we conducted a site visit to assess the practicalities for further surveys on the property. We recorded 15 species and our highlights include the most westerly Soutpansberg records for Stevenson’s Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis) and a good easterly record of Black Lined Plated Lizard (Gerrhosaurus intermedius), we don't have many localities in the region for this secretive species. We look forward to surveying the property again in the future.

Svenson's Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus stevensoni) hiding in plain site on a tree.

Black-lined Plated Lizard (Gerrhosaurus intermedius) a lizard not often encountered.

Eastern form of Pienaar's Flat Gecko (Afroedura pienaari)

Speckled Gecko (Pachydactylus punctatus).

This period also produced many general biodiversity highlights. The most interesting were seeing a live African Hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis) in the Soutpansberg for the first time. Saving an African Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) from people trying to smuggle it into illicit trade (animal was rehabiltated and is now part of a African Pangolin Working Group programme which will reintroduce Pangolins into Northern KZN where they have become expatriated). Witnissing a Rock monitor (Varanus albigularis) predating on a hatchling Hinged Tortoise (Kinixys spekii). Observing a large Whalberg’s Velvet Gecko (Homopholis wahlbergii) consuming a Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia). Capturing a White-backed Night Heron (Gorsachius leuconotus) on camera trap and finding a Slaty Egret (Egretta vinaceigula) at Mapangubwe. 

African Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) photo Melissa Petford.

White-backed Night Heron (Gorsachius leuconotus)

Whalberg's Velvet Gecko (Homopholis wahlbergii) and Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia)

Watched this Rock Monitor (Varanus albigularis) digging out a Hinged Tortoise (Kinixys spekii).

Summer 2019 has been exceptional and we have seen so much, encountered so many species, met some amazing people and accomplished so much over the years. The coming summer will see us continuing our surveys by targeting gaps in our survey effort, tying up loose ends and continuing our collaborations we have built over the years. Watch this space for our final blog post at the end of the year.

African Hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis) photo Melissa Petford.

Curious luck: New Species, Rarities and the familiar (April to June 2017)

Transvaal Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion transvaalense) from Entabeni. Photo Melissa Petford.

Panorama of Medike clearly showing the gorge cut by the Sand River (Photo Ryan MacDonnell)

The first half of the winter has been a very interesting period at the Soutpansberg Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation. We have traveled widely to under sampled areas, spent a lot of time on the Northern Slopes and also enjoyed a fair bit of time at Lajuma and sunny Medike.

Spotted Bush Snake (Philothamnus semivariegatus). Lajuma. Photo Melissa Petford.

Hatchling Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) Photo Leo Eastley.

New Species for our Lists

During the last couple of months we have been working very hard looking for reptiles and meticuliously logging everything for our biodiversity surveys, amongst the 2406 records generated in just over two months, we managed to find some new species which is always exciting. 

The first new species for the period was a Horned Adder (Bitis caudalis) from the hot dry northern slopes. After finding a sloughed skin of the species earlier this year we have been working very hard to locate specimens for photography and finally we caught up with one. Although these snakes are common they are very difficult to see. Since the first find we have located another.

First Horned Adder (Bitis caudalis) for SCBC from the Northern Slopes. Photo Melissa Petford.

Second Horned Adder (Bitis caudalis) from the Soutpansberg. Photo Melissa Petford.

The second new species for the period was a rather big surprise, it was a juvenile Snouted Cobra. Anecdotal records indicated that the species did occur on Medike but we had not located them until May 2017 (note that we have been sampling since 2014). After the first we saw another, a very thickset two metre long adult, and a week later another. Very exciting! 

First Snouted Cobra (Naja annulifera) for Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Second Snouted Cobra (Naja annulifera) for Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

The other new species we found this past winter have been the elusive Dwarf Sand Snake (Psammophis angolensis), we spotted this little beauty while walking along the track at Medike. Next surprise was finding the Cape Skink in some deep Kalahari Sands while sampling in the far western Soutpansberg. Another interesting find was locating Stevenson's Dwarf Gecko near Pafuri in the North East. 

Dwarf Sand Snake (Psammophis angolensis) new species for Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Cape Skink (Trachylepis capensis) from the far Western Soutpansberg. Photo Melissa Petford.

Stevenson's Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus stevensonii) from the North Eastern Soutpansberg. Photo Melissa Petford.

Southern Brown Egg-Eater (Dasypeltis inornata) from high altitude grassland in the Soutpansberg. Photo Melissa Petford.

The final new species for our list was the Southern Brown Egg-Eater (Dasypeltis inornata). The Soutpansberg harbours a relicit population of these plain, yet beautiful snakes. These snakes are completely harmless and feed exclusively on bird's eggs. These new finds bring our total list of reptiles for the Soutpansberg to 103 species and we are confident that we will locate even more with hard work in the coming months.

  

Rarities and Soutpansberg Endemics and Special Finds

The Soutpansberg is a hotspot for reptiles with many unusual and exciting animals to be seen. Sometimes locating them can be difficult, but with time we eventually catch up with even the most secretive. The most unusual and rare sighting we witnessed over this early winter period was Giant Baboon Spiders (Harpactira gigas) mating in the wild. We moved a rock and saw the male near the females chamber, the male started drumming and approaching the female. The whole thing took about five minutes and the male ran away in the end. This was a once in a lifetime sighting and amazing to witness. The whole thing was filmed by Ryan Macdonnell from Canada.

Reticulated Centipede Eater (Aparallactus lunulatus) a rarity so far only found at Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Melanistic form of Cregoi's Legless Skink (Acontias cregoi) Punda Maria Kruger National Park. Photo Melissa Petford.

Normal colour morph of Cregoi's Legless Skink (Acontias cregoi) Lajuma. Photo Melissa Petford.

The endemic Lang's Dwarf Worm Lizard (Chirindia langi langi), far eastern Soutpansberg. Photo Melissa Petford.

Some of our highlights include: locating another rare Reticulated Centipede Eater (Aparallactus lunulatus), so far we have only located six individuals of this species at Medike which is a considerable range extension; finding a population of melanistic Cregoi's Legless Skinks (Acontias cregoi) near Punda Maria in the Kruger National Park; more localities for Lang's Dwarf Worm Lizard (Chirindia langi langi); obtaining a high altitude record for the Soutpansberg Purple-Glossed Snake (Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra); a far western record for Savannah Lizards (Meroles squamulosus); and another locality for Jones's Girdled Lizard (Cordylus jonesii).

The endemic Soutpansberg Purple Glossed Snake (Amblyodipsas microphthalma nigra) Entabeni, Photo Melissa Petford.

Savannah Lizard (Meroles squamulosus) a new species for our western Soutpansberg Lists. Photo Melissa Petford.

Gravid Jones's Girdled Lizard (Cordylus jonesii) Western Soutpansberg. Photo Ryan van Huyssteen.

The Familiar

During Winter things are a bit slower and we tend to take more time with the animals we find and get some photographs of more common and visible species. Because our participants over the past two months were avid nature photographers we took a little more time to get some good images of the more common but still exciting Soutpansberg reptiles. As you can see we were lucky to see so many different species.

Lizards

Spotted Sandveld Lizard (Nucras interetexta) Lajuma. Photo Melissa Petford.

High altitude camera trap image of a Giant Plated Lizard (Matobosaurus validus). Courtesy of Jordy Koedam.

Whalberg's Snake Eyed Skink (Panaspisd whalbergii) Lajuma. Photo Melissa Petford.

Kalahari Dwarf Worm Lizard (Zygaspis quadrifrons). Goro Game Reserve. Photo Melissa Petford.

Yellow Throated Plated Lizard (Gerrhosaurus flavigularis) Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Soutpansberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus relictus) Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Bushveld Lizard (Heliolobus lugubrus), Northern Slopes. Melissa Petford.

Hatchling Soutpansberg Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus soutpansbergensis) photo Melissa Petford.

Flap-necked Chameleon (Chameleo dilepis), near Pafuri. Photo Ryan van Huyssteen.

Water Monitor (Varanus niloticus), Pafuri, Kruger National Park. Photo Melissa Petford.

Water Monitor (Varanus niloticus) Punda Maria, Kruger National Park. Photo Melissa Petford.

Snakes

Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica) near Waterpoort. Photo Melissa Petford.

Natal Rock Python (Python natalensis) Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Common Slug Eater (Duberia lutrix) Hanglip. Photo Melissa Petford.

Herald Snake (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia) Hanglip. Photo Melissa Petford.

Common Water Snake (Lycodonomorphus rufulus) Hanglip. Photo Melissa Petford.

Common Centipede Eater (Aparallactus capensis) Goro Game Reserve. Photo Melissa Petford.

Large Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) Goro Game Reserve. Photo Melissa Petford.

Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) in camouflage mode, Lajuma. Photo Melissa Petford.

Juvenile Puff Adder (Bitis arietans), Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Long-tailed Thread Snake (Myriopholis longicauda). Medike. Photo Melissa Petford.

Big thanks to everyone who helped us in the field and with additional support over the past few months, without you all none of this would be possible. Special thanks to Goro research Centre, Lajuma Reserach Centre, Hannes and Maritjie Underhay, Jordy Koedam, our assistants Leo Eastley and Ryan Macdonnell, Craig Napier and family, Nimeng Safaris and Johan Marais.

The core team for the past few months. From left Ryan Macdonnell, Jordy Koedam, Ryan van Huyssteen, Melissa Petford and Leo Eastley (Centre).