Mottle brown Columbus crab found washed ashore. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also referred to as Gulfweed crab or flotsam crab. Conspicuous eyes in wide orbits at the corners of the wide front edge of the carapace. First pair of pereiopods - or walking legs - with a symmetrical pair of chelae - or claws… Continue reading Columbus crab (Planes minutus)
Tag: Port Alfred
African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
Dead specimen of jackass penguin washed up on the beach. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also called the jackass penguin. The only species of penguins that breeds in southern Africa. Adults are jet black, with diagnostic striped head and sides. Some have a double breast band as in the Magellanic penguin, but with a narrower… Continue reading African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
Small goose barnacle (Lepas pectinata)
Small goose barnacles attached on a ram's horn squid shell washed on the beach. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). White small stalked barnacle with a light-brown always short peduncle. Body shelled with thick striated plates. Scutum round and broad, with a ridge so forward that it appears not to have one. Tergum triangular and pointy.… Continue reading Small goose barnacle (Lepas pectinata)
Lycus poultoni
Two specimens of Lycus poultoni on top of each other. You can see two pairs of antennae. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). A member of the net-winged beetles in the tribe Lycini, family Lycidae. An ochraceous bug with species-specific black markings. Head very deeply depressed, eyes forming two deep pits, and long… Continue reading Lycus poultoni
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)
Cape gannet (Morus capensis)
Dead Cape gannet washed ashore. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). The largest gannet in the Sulidae family. Adult white with golden head, black stripe across the eyes and long black gular stripe down the throat, black tail and flight feathers. Some have 1 - 4 white outer-tail feathers. Pale blue bill pointed with fine serrations… Continue reading Cape gannet (Morus capensis)
Eastern Cape giant cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii)
The Eastern Cape giant cycad is shaped like a palm tree. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Medium to large evergreen, long-lived plant producing initially a single erect trunk and can grow up to 7 meters tall. Some plants will produce suckers at the base of the trunk, which in time develop to… Continue reading Eastern Cape giant cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii)
Goose barnacle (Lepas anserifera)
Close-up of goose barnacles attached on the sole of a shoe washed ashore. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Off-white stalked barnacle. Shelled body flat, triangular in shape and compressed, wide at bottom and narrowing to a point.Shell plates (5) calcareous, not overlapping and with no gaps in between, with orange edges, covered with radiating ridges… Continue reading Goose barnacle (Lepas anserifera)
Ribbed false-limpet (Siphonaria concinna)
Adult and juvenile ribbed false-limpets on an exposed rock. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Previously called Siphonaria deflexa. Apex of the shell almost central, smooth, white and oval. Outline oval but slightly swollen on the right to accommodate a siphon that extends outwards from the lung cavity. Ribs well-spaced and never prickly, with 20-25 (or… Continue reading Ribbed false-limpet (Siphonaria concinna)
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)
F*CK FISH 