Namaqua trip (lotsa pics)

[BushSnake]

Hi all

Just got back from a trip to the place where cops arrest other people for catching reptiles (Namaqualand). Fortunately for me nobody stopped us. Got some brilliant reptiles and had a great time. The following are pics of some of the things we got:

Psammophis trinasalis (Kalahari Sand Snake). DOR. I got DNA samples for those interested...


Psammophis crucifer (Crossed whip Snake)


Big dull Puffy. She was found while crossing a dirt road when it was 12 o'clock and about 15 degrees outside.


Skapie


Vioolsdrift - probably one of the least likely areas where living things can be found in South Africa. Only one Cordylus disappeared into the rocks but there should be loads of other things.


The area where the skaapsteker, as well as the following things were found:





Since the trip was actually a butterfly surveying trip, I thought it would be appropriate to show the things we were really after:


Chrysoritis pyroeis (Sand-dune Opal). Since many butterfly guys are submitting pictures for SARCA, I think the reptile people should submit some pics of butterflies for SABCA (SA Butterfly conservation assessment). The virtual museum should be up and running in a week or two! Have a look at
http://sabca.adu.org.za

And 1 good reason not to walk around without shoes...

This Parabuthus granulatus was found under a rock in the camp site. Comforting thought ...

So on the way back we came accross this gecko on a road that has a fairly unique road sign:



Eventually we got (photographed) :
Snakes:
Psammophis trinasalis X 2 (both DOR)
Psammophis crucifer
Psammophylax rhombeatus (Skaapsteker)
Bitis arietans (Puffy)

Lizzards:
about 20 photographic records.
Too many shapes and sizes so SARCA will have to tell me what I got.

Other Reptiles:
Chamaeleo namaquensis
Chersina angulata ? (SARCA will have to identify properly)
Homopus areolatus ? (SARCA will have to identify properly)

All in all a brilliant trip despite the cool weather.

[Mongoose]

Woah, it looks like you had some fun!

Im hopeing to head up there very soon!

[Bushbaby]

That's awesome. Over how many days did you find this number of snakes?

[alexander]

i wish i got that much when i went , the tort. is a angulate, is there a pic of the other?

[BushSnake]

We spent 4 days there but the first two days were really awefull weather. It started to heat up Monday and Tuesday was great but Sunday was so bad that we didn't even see a butterfly. Stange enough - that was the day I found the puffy and the crossed whip snake. We drove around quite a lot to try and visit as many places as possible.

[rubida]

Bushsnake, nice puff adder. In Vioolsdrift you would have had the opportunity to find Bitis xeropaga.

[BushSnake]

Yeah but we were only there for a few hours looking for a specific butterfly. I have no idea where one could start looking for that beast since flipping rocks is out of the question.. I would imagine scanning the roads at night is the best?

[rubida]

Road cruising can work…but walking and scanning the ground at dusk would be better.

[armata]

Gonna get my permits in place and head up sometime soon with a neon snake hook.!!

[Pythonodipsas]

LOL @ armata !!!

I can't believe I missed this topic! If my browser shuts down without warning (Eskom), then I lose my 'unread' posts/topics.

Anyway, awesome photos and sounds like you had a great trip. I have a butterfly friend and he says there are some fascinating species out there.

Were you looking for any specific butterflies in the Richtersveld (Vioolsdrif)?

Are any butterflies endemic to the Richtersveld?