Clicking Stream Frog (Strongylopus grayii) |
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Breeds well in any puddle of water that is well supplied with vegetation
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Can even breed in brackish pools near the sea
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As the name indicates, their call is a wooden tapping sound - repeated monotonously
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Leopard Toad (Bufo pardalis) |
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One of the largest southern African toads
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Up to 13.5 cm long, but more commonly 5 to 7.5 cm long
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Said to make a short soft grunt, much like a drawn-out snore, audible only at about a metre away
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Painted Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus) |
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Quite small, growing up to 2.8 cm in length
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Their colouration is very variable - there are several subspecies listed
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Their call is a shrill, high pitched whistle, rapidly repeated
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Often seen hiding under leaves in the daytime
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They do well in urban environments
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Helmeted terrapin (Pelomedusa subrufa) |
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Seldom exceeds 30 cm in length
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It is a very common species in freshwater pans - even in arid areas such as the Karoo
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Omnivorous and may even take birds (such as doves) when they come to the waters' edge
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Angulate Tortoise (Chersina angulata) |
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Frequently seen on campus and on the trail
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Grows to a maximum size of 30 cm
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Their diet includes grasses, shrubs and succulents
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These tortoises have a home range - males will spar ferociously when defending their territories
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Combat involves butting and using the enlarged shell plate under the neck to overturn one another
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Mountain Tortoise or Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) |
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Largest tortoise in southern Africa
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Can achieve lengths of 72 cm and weigh 40 kg
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Feeds on grass, shrubs and succulents - may gnaw on bones to obtain sufficient calcium for its shell
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They have a large home range (1-2 square km) and will defend it vigorously
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Spotted Thick-toed Gecko (Pachydactylus maculatus) |
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Small gecko, here seen hiding in the shell of a Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica; max 15-20 cm)
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Reach a maximum length of 11 cm - several of them may crowd into a big snail shell during winter
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Feed at night on small insects and spiders
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They live for 3 to 4 years
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Common or Rhombic Eggeater (Dasypeltis scabra) |
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A common snake known to occur throughout southern Africa - however, it is seldom seen
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Egg eating snakes have several adaptations of the head and jaws - make it possible for them to eat eggs of up to three time the diameter of their heads
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Special teeth in the gullet saw through the shell as it is being swallowed, allowing the liquid part of the egg to be extracted
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The collapsed shell is spat out
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Only fresh eggs are eaten
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Slug Eater (Duberria lutrix) |
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Common and inoffensive species
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A great help to gardeners - it eats slugs and other garden pests
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When alarmed it rolls into a tight spiral
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Reaches a maximum length of 43 cm
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Mole Snake (Pseudaspis cana) |
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A large (max. length 210 cm), thick snake
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Harmless constrictors - can be very useful in controlling the populations of mice and rats
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Olive House Snake (Lamprophis inornatus) |
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Reaches a maximum length of 130 cm
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Prefers slightly more moist habits than the Brown House Snake
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Eats rodents and may also eat other smaller snakes
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Brown House Snake (Lamprophis fuliginosus) |
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The largest of the House Snakes (max. length 150 cm)
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Quite a handsome snake with two pale yellow streaks down the sides of the head
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Like Mole Snakes, House Snakes will attack when provoked or handled - are easy to tame once they calm down
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As the name suggests they were kept in, or encouraged near houses and granaries to eat rats and mice
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Spotted or Rhombic Skaapsteker (Psammophylax rhombeatus) |
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Very active species of snake that will pursue its prey instead of just waiting in ambush
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Diet includes lizards, frogs, rodents and even other snakes
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Females stay with the eggs and guard them by coiling around them
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They are called Skaapstekers (sheep biters) because of the old belief that they bit sheep
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Herald or Red-lipped Snake (Crotaphlopeltis hotamboeia) |
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Common name of is derived from the newspaper (The Eastern Province Herald) that first noted its presence
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Upper lip is reddish or orange for animals in the southern part of its range
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It will rear up and flatten its neck when provoked - causes it to be confused with cobras or vipers
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Although its bite will bleed profusely, the venom has little effect on humans
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Its normal prey, mainly frogs, are not so lucky and will succumb quickly once bitten
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Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) |
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"Boomslang" means Tree Snake - these beautiful, shy snakes are almost always found in trees
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One of the few snakes which has been recorded to cause a human death in southern Africa
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A back-fanged snakes - has to "chew" the prey with fangs found at the back of the mouth
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Most cases of human poisoning were reported by careless snake handlers - generally this snake will only bite under severe provocation
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It hunts during the day - its huge eyes aid vision in the shaded treetops
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The male is shown here - females are usually light brown or olive with white to brown bellies
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They become quite long (max. 200 cm) but remain slender
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Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) |
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One of the smaller cobras in the region (max. 170 cm)
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Several colour phases, but usually it is dark yellow or copper coloured
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The photo shows the speckled form, which is also found here
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The venom is highly neurotoxic - this snake is not shy and will readily rear up to attack when disturbed
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Death usually occurs from the rapid onset of paralysis - large amounts of antivenom is required
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Rhombic Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus) |
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As the name indicates, this is a nocturnal snake
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Rests up under logs and in termitaria during the day
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Has poor eyesight and hunts mainly by smell
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Although this snake is poisonous, it's venom is not very potent and causes mainly pain and swelling
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Puffadder (Bitus arietans) |
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A thick, heavily built snake - reaches a maximum length of 120 cm
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Females give live birth and can have between 20 to 40 young
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Hunts by ambush, and is less likely to move out of the way than most other snakes
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It hisses ominously when disturbed - hence the name "puff" adder
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Front-fanged snake - when it strikes the fangs fold forward and inject venom into the prey on impact
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The venom is cytotoxic and is usually deeply injected
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About 60% of serious bites in Southern Africa are caused by Puffadders - responsible for most of the fatalities
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