Male orange-breasted sunbird around a temporary pond. Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Adult male is easily identified by its orange belly and purple breast band, as well as its elongated central tail feathers. Yellow pectoral tufts only visible in display.Female is olive-green above, and yellow-green bellow (not grey like the smaller female of the… Continue reading Orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea)
Category: Marine Life
Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala)
Juvenile black-headed heron, lacking the black crown yet, but showing the characteristic dark ear coverts. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024) - iNaturalist A large, greyish heron of terrestrial habitats. Slightly smaller than the grey heron, with contrasting dark flight feathers and pule underwing coverts in flight. Black crown and hindneck contrast with white throat. Underparts… Continue reading Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala)
Southern periwinkle (Afrolittorina knysnaensis)
Gang of Southern periwinkles hiding in a rock crack. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024) - iNaturalist Aperture rounded and closed by a transparent, horny operculum. Shell smooth, with a short conical spire. Colour from flecked brown with a dark ring around each coil to almost pure black. Usually under 10 mm. Congregates in crevices, or… Continue reading Southern periwinkle (Afrolittorina knysnaensis)
Common dogwhelk (Nucella dubia)
Details of the yellow speckled foot of the common dogwhelk. Doringbaai, Western Cape (2020). Extraordinarily variable (hence, dubia). Aperture usually large. Body whorl weakly ridged. Colour variable, from grey with black flames, to red-brown with dotted bands, plain grey or brown. Aperture usually dark, often purple. About 20 mm. Extends almost to the high-tide mark… Continue reading Common dogwhelk (Nucella dubia)
Chili pepper sponge (Tedania anhelans)
Probable specimen of chili pepper sponge on the side of a rock pool, surrounded by a mat of Spirobranchus kraussii. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Reddish-brown, also reported as orange-green or blueish. Massive sponge with conical oscular elevations, and thinner blind-ending fistules and projections. Surface smooth, consistency soft, compressible and… Continue reading Chili pepper sponge (Tedania anhelans)
Striped bubble shell (Hydatina physis)
Details of the two eye-spots visible in the gap of the headshield. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024) - iNaturalist Also called the striped paper bubble, green-lined paper bubble, brown-lined paper bubble, and rose petal bubble shell. Shell external, delicate and oval, bearing numerous spiral brown lines. Foot large and pink with thin wavy margin edged… Continue reading Striped bubble shell (Hydatina physis)
Cape false-limpet (Siphonaria capensis)
Two Cape false-limpets (Siphonaria capensis) in a shallow rock pool. Mosselbaai, Western Cape (2022) - iNaturalist Apex of the shell almost central. Outline oval but slightly swollen on the right to accommodate a siphon that extends outwards from the lung cavity. About 40-50 low, flat ribs that are roughly equal in size and scarcely project,… Continue reading Cape false-limpet (Siphonaria capensis)
Bearded limpet (Scutellastra barbara)
A bearded limpet on a rock surface. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Highly variable, but typically tall, with strong, spiky ribs. Sides of the foot white, speckled grey. About 80 mm. Maximum size : 100 mm (Kensley, 1973; Kilburn & Rippey, 1982). Occurs on the low-shore and subtidally. On the East Coast, it defends 'gardens'… Continue reading Bearded limpet (Scutellastra barbara)
Marine springtail (Anurida maritima)
Springtail cruising on a rock surface. Doringbaai, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Minute, mauve-coloured, six-legged, wingless creatures, covered in short waxy hairs. About 2-3 mm. During high tides, shelters in air pockets under rocks and shells, or in crevices. Emerges during low tide to scavenge, sometimes congregating around dead or dying animals. Often seen floating… Continue reading Marine springtail (Anurida maritima)
Indo-Pacific man-of-war (Physalia utriculus)
Bluebottle washed on the rocks. Cape Agulhas, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Unmistakable with its inflated blue-green float and long trailing tentacles. Float 50 mm long, tentacles up to 10 m long, but contracting to about 30 cm. Floats on the surface of the sea and is vulnerable to being cast ashore by onshore winds.… Continue reading Indo-Pacific man-of-war (Physalia utriculus)
F*CK FISH 