Category Archives: South African Wildlife

The inhabitants of South Africa’s wild places

Freshwater Crabs

Genus Potamonautes

South Africa is home to as many as 19 species of Freshwater Crab, all of them from the genus Potamonautes, and up to 14 of those species are not found in any other country, although the experts still differ on exactly how many species there are and what differentiates them from each other.

Potamonautes crabs are equally at home in cold or warm, deep or shallow, clear or murky and flowing or standing water and are a crucial part of healthy freshwater ecosystems; Freshwater Crabs aerate muddy substrate, break down detritus and control populations of micro-organisms while in turn being a source of food for a multitude of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Most species dig tunnels – often well hidden under rocks and logs and in certain species up to 70cm deep – in which they live an amphibious life, spending considerable time out of the water, especially at night.

Female crabs of this genus carry their fertilised eggs – up to 850 – and developing babies in a “purse” formed by their tail below their stomach, releasing them into the water when they are fully formed miniature crabs.

Crab holding on for dear life at the weir (photo by Joubert)

Freshwater crab in mountain stream

Crab crossing a road

Freshwater Crab

Freshwater crab

Freshwater Crab

African Death’s-head Hawkmoth

4 Replies

Acherontia atropos

The African Death’s-head Hawkmoth, characterised by the superficially skull-like marking on its thorax from which it gets its name, is a large moth with a wingspan of about 13cm and capable of powerful flight. Adults have the amazing ability to produce a squeaking sound through their proboscis, which it is thought soothes honey bees into passivity when the moth raids a hive for the honey on which this species feeds. The larvae subsist on the leaves of plants in the nightshade family, including tomatoes, potatoes and cannabis, and is considered a minor agricultural pest. They pupate in chambers they excavate underground.

The African Deaths-head Hawkmoth is found all over South Africa and is nocturnal in habit.

African death’s-head hawkmoth

Little Bittern

10 Replies

Ixobrychus minutus

Little Bitterns are shy birds, usually solitary, active by day and night and almost entirely restricted to dense reedbeds occurring along rivers, streams and dams, in marshes and even at waste water works. They feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates, frogs and fish.

These herons form monogamous pairs, with the male taking responsibility for building the platform nest on the edge of the reedbed. They breed from spring to autumn and pairs often raise two broods per year. Both parents incubate the clutch of 2-5 eggs over a 3 week period and provide food to the chicks after they’ve hatched. The chicks start clambering away from the nest when they’re only around 10 days old and can fly by the time they’re a month old. They’re among the smallest kinds of herons, weighing only about 110g and measuring about 36cm in length.

The Little Bittern has an enormous distribution, occurring over sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, along the Nile, throughout Europe and into western and central Asia. In South Africa specifically it is sparsely distributed through most of the country, but cannot be considered common anywhere, though their numbers are boosted in this part of the world by the arrival of migrating birds from the northern hemisphere in our summer months. According to the IUCN the species is of least concern.

Little Bittern

Immature Little Bittern

Streaky-headed Seedeater

5 Replies

Crithagra gularis

The Streaky-headed Seedeater is a type of canary and, in keeping with many members of the family, has a very sweet song. They occur commonly in South Africa’s southern, eastern and northern regions, and beyond our borders are found as far afield as Angola. They inhabit savannas, woodlands, fynbos and forest edges, often on hillsides and in mountainous terrain, where they feed on seeds, flowers, nectar, fruit and the occasional insect. They’re usually seen in pairs or small groups of up to 8, and regularly associate with birds of other kinds.

Streaky-headed Seedeaters nest in spring and summer, when the female constructs a cup-shaped nest placed in a tree or bush. The female incubates the clutch of 2-4 eggs for around a fortnight while the male provides her with food. For the first few days after the chicks have hatched she broods them continuously while the male brings back food for the female and chicks. They leave the nest before they’re 3 weeks old but remain dependent on their parents for quite a while longer after that. Fully grown these little birds weigh about 20g and measure approximately 15cm in length.

The IUCN lists the Streaky-headed Seedeater as being of least concern.

Streaky-headed Seedeater

Streaky-headed Seedeater (photo by Joubert)

Streaky-headed Seed-eater

Large-leaved Dragon Tree

9 Replies

Dracaena aletriformis

The Large-leafed Dragon Tree is an evergreen plant growing to a height of up to 5m, occurring in coastal and montane forests from the Eastern Cape to the escarpment in Limpopo. It is also a popular feature plant in shady gardens, its flowers being a magnet to bees, moths and butterflies and its berries being rather popular with frugivorous birds.

Large-leaved Dragon Plant

Broad-billed Roller

11 Replies

Eurystomus glaucurus

A bird of moist savannas, woodlands and forests, often found near large rivers and permanent water bodies, the Broad-billed Roller subsists on a diet that is mainly made up of termite and ant alates, beetles and other invertebrates caught in flight. They start breeding after good rains, nesting in holes in dead trees where clutches of 2-4 chicks are raised. Adults weigh about 100g and measure approximately 29cm in length.

The Broad-billed Roller has a wide distribution over Africa’s tropical and sub-tropical regions and is also found in Madagascar. They migrate to South Africa around mid-spring and depart again by the end of summer and have a very limited local range, occurring only in coastal northern Kwazulu-Natal, the Lowveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and in the Limpopo River Valley. The IUCN lists the Broad-billed Roller as being of least concern.

Broad-billed Roller

Broad-billed rollers

Broad-billed Roller

Purple Roller

13 Replies

Coracias naevius

The Purple Roller occurs fairly widely in the woodland and savannah areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, and the IUCN considers it to be of least concern. Here in South Africa they’re found from the north of Kwazulu-Natal through the Lowveld and Bushveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo to the North West Province and Kalahari regions of the Northern Cape, but isn’t commonly encountered anywhere.

Purple Rollers feed mainly on insects but will also snap up other invertebrates and even small lizards, mice and baby birds! They’re usually seen alone or in monogamous, territorial pairs. Partners perform elaborate aerial courtship displays – hence the family name – and strengthen the pair bond by feeding each other. They usually nest in cavities in dead trees, laying clutches of 2-5 eggs, during spring and summer. Both parents take care of the chicks at the nest. Adults weigh above 150g and measure about 33cm in length.

Purple Roller

Purple Roller (photo by Joubert)

Purple Roller

Purple Roller (photo by Joubert)

Purple Roller

Caspian Tern

9 Replies

Hydroprogne (Sterna) caspia

While the IUCN considers the global population of the Caspian Tern as being of least concern, with the species being found on all the continents except South America and Antarctica, the South African population is considered to be vulnerable and is estimated at less than 1,000 adults birds with only about 300 breeding pairs in the country. Here they’re found along our entire coastline, preferring river mouths and bays, and at permanent water bodies on the Highveld. Caspian Terns feed almost exclusively on fish, caught by hovering and then diving to snatch the prey from the water. They’re mostly seen alone or in small flocks, often mixing with other kinds of water birds.

Caspian Terns form permanent pairs, breeding during the summer season in nests that are little more than a shallow scrape on the ground lined with a few pieces of dried plant material. The parents work together to incubate clutches of 1-3 eggs over a three week period. While the chicks leave the nest when they are only around a week old, they can’t fly till they’re about a month old and remain with their parents until about 8 months of age. Fully grown Caspian Terns, the largest species in the family, weigh almost 700g and measure around 50cm long.

Caspian Tern

Willow Warbler

10 Replies

Phylloscopus trochilus

The Willow Warbler is a bird that visits South Africa during our summer months, the first ones arriving towards the end of September and the last departing again by May. While they’re here they may be found in all our provinces, though they rarely venture into the dry western parts of the country. Willow Warblers breed across a large swathe of Eurasia. The IUCN estimates their total population at as many as 650-million birds and lists the species as being of least concern.

Willow Warblers eat insects and other invertebrates and lives in a variety of woodland and savanna habitats and also well planted parks and gardens. These are restless birds, usually seen singly, in pairs or small groups of 3 or 4 (rarely up to 30), and often associate with other small insectivorous birds in mixed “feeding parties”.

Adult Willow Warblers weigh only about 9g and measure only around 12cm in length.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler (photo by Joubert)

Willow Warbler

Willow Warblers (photo by Joubert)

Pea Blue Butterfly

5 Replies

Lampides boeticus

One of the most widespread butterflies in the world, being found in Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa, the Pea Blue, or Long-tailed Blue, occurs all over South Africa. They’re quite catholic in their habitat requirements and very common in gardens. They can be a pest where peas and beans are farmed; the larvae feeding on plants from the legume family.

Adult Pea Blues are seen throughout the year and boast a wingspan of only 2-3cm. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern.