Land Reptiles · Lizards · South Africa · Terrestrial

Southern rock agama (Agama atra)

Southern rock agama chilling on a rock along a hiking trail. Baviaanskloopf, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2020). Called the ' dark agama' in French. Short, plump body, with a thin dorsal crest, a thin tail and a triangular head.During the breeding season, the heads of males become bright blue. Males take to sitting on top… Continue reading Southern rock agama (Agama atra)

Land Reptiles · Lizards · South Africa · Terrestrial

Spotted sand lizard (Pedioplanis lineoocellata ssp. pulchella)

Spotted sand lizard in situ. Bavianskloof, Eastern Cape (2020). Orange to grey lizard, with white-blue and dark bordered ocelli (eye-like markings) on flanks and numerous paler spots on the back, which may fuse into a dorsolateral lines.Sexes distinguished in adults by the presence of a hemi-penal bulge (a bulge on the base of the tail… Continue reading Spotted sand lizard (Pedioplanis lineoocellata ssp. pulchella)

Insects · Moths & Butterflies · South Africa · Terrestrial

Micragrotis interstriata

Shiny specimen of Micragrotis interstriata. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2025). Thorax blackish-brown. Abdomen brownish-ochreous. Forewing blackish-brown in the coastal-marginal area and in the cell, bluish-grey below it, browner in the marginal area, where there are black streaks at the veins and brown ones between them. Interior line fin, double, very strongly dentated inwards. Ring-macula and… Continue reading Micragrotis interstriata

Insects · Moths & Butterflies · South Africa · Terrestrial

Recurved swallowtail (Urapteroides recurvata)

Close-up of a specimen of recurved swallowtail. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Forewing 21 - 26 mm. Front margin of forewings slightly convex and bearing tiny brown spots. Wings white, bordered by a thin brown line, variably spotted, with fine black spots in some individuals, and neatly divided by 3 fine transverse… Continue reading Recurved swallowtail (Urapteroides recurvata)

Land Reptiles · South Africa · Terrestrial

Leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)

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)

Insects · Moths & Butterflies · South Africa · Terrestrial

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)