Leopard turtoise sticking its head out of its shell to check for safety. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also referred to as the mountain tortoise, or bergskilpad (in Afrikaans). Fourth largest species of tortoise in the world, with typical adults reaching 40 cm for 13 kg. Maximum adult size vary along their… Continue reading Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)
Tag: Bathurst
White-edge slug (Latoia intermissa)
Male white-edge slug holding on a security gate. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Previously called Latoia albicosta, also referred to as the white-edge Latoia. Forewing 14 - 21 mm. Thorax setose, reddish-brown. Abdomen light orange. Forewings divided by an oblique line, basal section dark brown, distal section lighter, with the leading edge… Continue reading White-edge slug (Latoia intermissa)
Cape weaver (Ploceus capensis)
Male Cape weaver working on a brand new nest. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2024). A large weaver with a long, pointed bill. Breeding male is less yellow above than 'golden' weavers, with a chestnut wash on the face and throat, but lacks the well-defined bib of the Southern brown-throated weaver… Continue reading Cape weaver (Ploceus capensis)
Common ghost mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa)
Male leaf mantid attempting to remain motionless to blend with its surroundings. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Large mantid that mimics dead leaves. Head has a long, erected, wavy dorsal projection. Legs are ornamented with prominent leaf-like lobes.Males are slender and mottled brown with dark shoulders and a darker cross on their… Continue reading Common ghost mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa)
Cape terrapin (Pelomedusa galeata)
Cape terrapin found on the side of a dirt road. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Large-sized, often dark-coloured helmeted terrapin. Pectoral scutes always with broad or very broad contact at the plastral midseam. Either two small temporal scales present on each side of the head, or one large undivided temporal scale. Two… Continue reading Cape terrapin (Pelomedusa galeata)
Painted bug (Bagrada hilaris)
Two adult painted bugs mating, the smaller one being the male. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also called the bagrada bug, or the twee-twee-luisie. Adult males and females are similar in appearance, with the female being larger. Back of both sexes black with orange and white spots. Underside of the abdomen varies… Continue reading Painted bug (Bagrada hilaris)
Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans)
Close-up on a budding flower. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also called musk thistle, or nodding plumeless thistle. A spiny, herbaceous, biennial plant, with sharp spines that densely covers the stems and leaf margin, giving the plant a spiny texture. Leaves dark green and bipinnately lobed.Flower heads are large, red, pink or… Continue reading Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans)
Silver-leaf bitter apple (Solanum elaeagnifolium)
Details of the satansbos flower, with its purple petals and its thick yellow pistils. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also called satansbos (in Afrikaans), silver-leaf nightshade or bitter apple. A herbaceous shrub, growing up to 60 cm high, with felty stems and deep, spreading roots. Stems and undersurfaces of the leaves covered… Continue reading Silver-leaf bitter apple (Solanum elaeagnifolium)
Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Young tubular flower of the spear thistle. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also called Scottish thistle or bull thistle. A spiny, herbaceous, biennial plant, with a large basal rosette of leaves, a deep taproot, and a flowering stem growing from the center of the rosette up to 1.5 m high. Stems have… Continue reading Spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Long triangle (Cuneisigna obstans)
Side view of the long triangle moth, with details of the black triangle on the forewings. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Forewing 15 - 17 mm. Body and wings grey to cream. Forewings with distinctive narrow black triangle on the inner margin, and vertical undulating black bar separated from the brown wing… Continue reading Long triangle (Cuneisigna obstans)
F*CK FISH 