Here are a few of the reptiles and amphibians that one could encounter in the eMalangeni Peat swamp forest. I will be adding to this list as from time to time when I have taken identified more species as well as when I take or acquire more photos.
The flap-necked chameleon, Chamaeleo dilepis
known as unwabu in Zulu is a lizard belonging to the family Chamaeleonidae which apart from being found in the eMalangeni Peat Swamp Forest has a very wide distribution, occurring throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa from as far north as Ethiopia and Somalia to a western extreme of Cameroon, and as far south as northern and eastern South Africa. It inhabits coastal forest, moist or dry savannah, woodland and bushy grasslands, and may also venture into rural and suburban areas.
Chamaeleo dilepis is a large green chameleon a pale stripe on the lower flanks reaching a total length of 35 cm that is difficult to not recognize.
The Flap-Necked Chameleon feeds on Insects, particularly grasshoppers and beetles, in return they are commonly preyed on by snakes such as the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) and the Southern Twig Snake (Thelotornis capensis).
It is easy to tell the males from the females in the Flap-Neck Chameleon, the males having a broadness at the base of their tails and also a spur growing out from the back of each hind foot.
Unwabu reproduces by means of 10-40 eggs that are laid in a hole dug into the soil that take 10–12 months to hatch.
Nile Crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus
which grows to a length of 16 meters, and a weight of up to 500 kilograms, is the largest reptile to be encountered in the emalangeni Peat Swamp Forest where it is to be found on the shores of lake aManzimnyama as well as in the aManzimnyama river and its side streams that flow through and drain the forest into the Lake.
Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus
The Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus which is known locally in the Zulu language as Ingwenya is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, occurring mostly in the central, eastern, and southern regions of the continent, and lives in different types of aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshlands.
Greater Leaf-folding Frog, Afrixalus fornasinii
belonging to the frog family Hyperoliidae are relatively large, conspicuous frogs which are easily distinguished from the sympatric dwarf Afrixalus species, both morphologically and by its loud, distinctive call.
Greater Leaf-folding Frog, Afrixalus fornasinii belonging to the frog family Hyperoliidae in the eMalangeni peat swamp forest Kosi Bay.
The Greater Leaf-folding Frog which occurs in the eMalangeni Peat Swamp Forest has a wide distribution that extends from the coast of southern Somalia southward through East Africa to Malawi, Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe into South Africa where it occurs along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal as far south as Port Edward.
fornasinii is locally abundant, it also occurs in a number of coastal and lowland reserves such as those at Mkuze, False Bay, St Lucia and Mtunzini.
this frog gets its name because of its habit of longitudinally folding leaves up to 1 m above the water into which between 30 and 80 white eggs are deposited in which take about five days to hatch when they fall into the water. The tadpoles that are carnivorous appear to specialize on mosquito larvae they metamorphose about three months later hatching.
During the breeding season, Afrixalus fornasinii inhabits more-or-less stagnant water bodies containing large stands of saw grass Afrixalus Afrixalus and bulrushes Typha Afrixalus.
In winter they have been found sheltering in the leaf axils of arum lilies, Zantedeschia aethiopica and Strelitzia nicholai, often a considerable distance from their breeding sites.
Southern Tree Agamas, commonly known as Blue-headed lizards, Acanthocercus atricollis
The Blue-headed lizards apart from being found in the eMalangeni Peat Swamp Forest has a very large range in Africa being found in the following countries, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, D.R.C., Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa.
This magnificent lizard is called the black-necked agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) when its most striking feature is the bright blue head of the male
When breeding, the males are colourful and their vividly blue heads are most striking. Non-breeding males and females are considerably less conspicuous although their more understated scaly markings still render them handsome reptiles.
Blue-headed lizards that are ambush foragers are active during the day when they catch and eat mostly insects, particularly ants, as well as beetles and grasshoppers, at night they sleep in tree hollows or under loose bark. Agamas are unusual in that Most lizards do not eat ants because they are too acidic.
Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise, Kinixys zombensis, ufudu, Glattrand-Gelenkschildkröte
I was most amazed to find this tortoise pictured below wandering around feeding in the eMalangeni forest, I had never thought of tortoises as being forest dwellers.
Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise, Kinixys zombensis
Hinged Back Tortoises are famous and unique due to the ability to close the back part of the shell over their hind limbs, likely as protection from big cats and other powerful predators. Most species are considered at least threatened and several are very endangered. They are a significant food source in most of their range, some people using trained dogs to locate them. There is also pressure from over-collection for the pet trade and habitat loss.
They do not hibernate, but possibly aestivate or just rest in hot, dry weather.
The head and limbs are generally typical of a tortoise- elephant-like limbs with slightly flattened fore-limbs- but are longer and more slender. The limbs and shell shape give them a distinctive 'walking downhill' look. No visible toes, but five toenails on each limb. The tail has a nail-like claw on the tip. The limb coloration is usually fairly solid, ranging from tan to nearly black.
Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise, Kinixys zombensis
Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise is an omnivore, with a very varied diet consisting mainly of vegetables, twigs, roots, leaves, fruits, earthworms, snails, tadpoles and other small invertebrates.
The African striped skink (Trachylepis striata), commonly called the striped skink, is a species of lizard in the skink family (Scincidae).
The Gaboon Adder Bitis gabonica
This post is not complete I will continue in the morning
Michael Hickman
19.05.21
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