Recent Finds and Relocations (Northern Natal Interior)

[Mehelya]

Well, the start to the season was off with a bang, and I thought I 'd share some of the relocations, and finds that have appeared in my area. These may be in no particular order.

First up, this rather nice, and large Leptotyphlops spp, most likely L scutifrons.


Afrotyphlops bibronii, possibly a pair, based on the difference in girth.


Philothamnus semivariegatus, Spotted Bush Snake Juvenile.


Lycophidion capensis, Common Wolf Snake


Crotapholpeltis hotamboeia, Herald Snake Juvenile. Love the red eyes on the dark head.


Sub-Adult Male Bitis arietans, Puff Adder.


Some Juvenile House snakes



These two were within 20m of each other. Love the genetic diversity within the species.


Psammophis brevirostrus, Short-Snouted Grass Snake, measuring approx. 117.9cm.


Juvenile Scelotes mirus


Adult Pachydactylus maculatus


Bubbling Kassina


Enjoy. I'll upload more as I get call-outs or whatever I find on the outings here.

[Chris89]

Quality photos Mehelya! Lekker sized grass snake there. Keep up the good work

[Ruan Stander]

Nice selection of species.
The Philothamnus is real purdy

[reptile]

Wow, the spotted bush snake is super man, wish they would quit growing and stay that size!

[levi_20]

Great variety of finds, thanks for sharing!

[Mitton]

Really nice find. The one BHS is really red!
Thanks for sharing.

[Mehelya]

Chris89, thanks for the compliment. Was a decent-sized Psammophis, and glad that the tail was still complete.

Predator678 and Reptile, Spotted-bush snakes are easily the most common snakes in my area. Feisty and fast. Always fun to work with.

Levi_20, I am slowly trying to catalogue all the reptile and amphibian species in my area, after someone told me I live in a dead zone.. So I had to prove them wrong.

Mitton, that little housie was really red. Never seen one that red before. Would be nice to see it in 2 year's time. Hopefully the area it lives in remains undeveloped, and I get to see it again. Sadly, the roads in the area have an average of 2 trucks every 5-10 minutes during the day. But I have yet to see any road kill.

Thanks everyone. I will upload more to here as I go along.

[rolandslf]

Hey Rian, busy time you are having indeed.
Nice variety of species there.
Well Done

[Westley Price]

Good stuff Rian.

That Pachy is super cute!

[SteveZi]

Very nice finds and photos!
I also found a pair of a species of blind snakes yesterday - they gave off a rather bad odour when I handled them.

[Mehelya]

Thanks Westley. These are probably the most common of the Gecko species around here, save for the dwarf geckos, and tropical house geckos. Have also seen another species, but until I can physically photograph it, I won't mention it, beyond this.

SteveZi, yes, the blind snakes do give off a rather off-putting smell.. Can honestly say I haven't had them do in a while. I try to handle them delicately these days.

[Mehelya]

Managed to finish a few more shots. Hope you all enjoy!

This is what I get to see most mornings when I go out herping... Thanks to the gf for this photo. Teaching her the limited camera skills I have, and by the looks of things, she'll surpass me quickly... X_x


Tropical Wolf Spider. Ceratogyrus, you'll have to give the scientific name here...



Corn Cricket, Bradyporidae spp...


Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko



Philothamnus hoplogaster, Green Water Snakes (second one is due to shed soon)



And I just had a ball doing a photoshoot with this young Causus rhombeatus, Common/Rhombic Night Adder





Enjoy. Going out again soon, so will hopefully have more finds to share. Enjoy the eye candy.

[Jason&Sam]

Nice post Rian. Quality pic's. Looks like an all round success.

[Mehelya]

Thanks Jason&Sam. I am slowly building up quite a database of reptiles in our area, and it is growing by the week!

This little chap was hiding out, making himself very fierce. Such attitude for such a small snake, hatchling Dasypeltis scabra, Rhombic/Common Egg Eater.


Enjoy!