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Faerie Glen Nature Reserve
Faerie Glen Nature Reserve is a nature reserve at the western limit of the Bronberg in the east of Pretoria, South Africa. History It formerly formed a part of the farm Hartbeespoort 304 which belonged to H. W. Struben. On old aerial photographs it is apparent that the flood plain was utilized for crop fields, while the remainder was used for cattle grazing. The reserve constitutes the western part of the Bronberg conservation area, which was declared in 1980. Its highest point is Renosterkop (1,468 m) in the northern part of the reserve. Fauna and flora Animal life Though the smaller mammals like mongooses, hedgehogs, hares, porcupines, Cape clawless otters, bushbabies and small-spotted genets are difficult to observe, one may find signs of their presence. In the winter of 2014 larger game was introduced, namely 16 impala, 9 red hartebeest and 5 Burchell's zebra. During late 2014 one common duiker was released in the reserve, the first spotted eagle-owl house was installed, an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pretoria
Pretoria () is South Africa's administrative capital, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to South Africa. Pretoria straddles the Apies River and extends eastward into the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains. It has a reputation as an academic city and center of research, being home to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), the University of Pretoria (UP), the University of South Africa (UNISA), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Human Sciences Research Council. It also hosts the National Research Foundation (South Africa), National Research Foundation and the South African Bureau of Standards. Pretoria was one of the host cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Pretoria is the central part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality which was formed by the amalgamation of several former local authorities, including Bronkhorstspruit, Centurion, Gaute ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Liothrips
''Liothrips'' is a genus of thrips with almost 300 described species. They are ordered into three subgenera, ''Epiliothrips'' (2 species), ''Liothrips'' (262 species) and ''Zopyrothrips'' (25 species). The Clidemia thrips ''Liothrips urichi'' is used as a control agent to stop the spread of ''Clidemia hirta'' in Hawaii. Species Subgenus ''Epiliothrips'' Priesner, 1965 *'' Liothrips postocularis'' *'' Liothrips willcocksi'' Subgenus ''Liothrips'' Uzel, 1895 *'' Liothrips aberrans'' *'' Liothrips abstrusus'' *'' Liothrips acuminatus'' *'' Liothrips adisi'' *'' Liothrips adusticornis'' *'' Liothrips aemulans'' *'' Liothrips aequilus'' *'' Liothrips aethiops'' *'' Liothrips africanus'' *'' Liothrips amabilis'' *'' Liothrips amoenus'' *'' Liothrips ampelopsidis'' *'' Liothrips ananthakrishnani'' *'' Liothrips annulifer'' *'' Liothrips anogeissi'' *'' Liothrips anonae'' *'' Liothrips antennatus'' *'' Liothrips apicatus'' *'' Liothrips araliae'' *'' Liothrips arrogantis'' *'' Liothrip ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maccoa Duck
The Maccoa duck (''Oxyura maccoa'') is a stiff-tailed diving duck found across Eastern and Southern Africa. Description As members of the stiff-tailed duck group, Maccoas are often found wading in the water with their tail feathers cocked upwards. As diving ducks, their bodies are specialized for being agile underwater swimmers and thus have sacrificed the characteristics that allow them to move well on land. As a result, their legs are set further back on their bodies which makes them awkward when walking out of water. Male The breeding male Maccoa stands out with its cobalt blue bill extending from a completely black head and throat. The breast and back are chestnut coloured while the underparts are often greyish-brown, the rump is dark brown, and the tail and feet are black. In flight, the male's off-white underwing feathers and white axillaries can be seen. Non-breeding males closely resemble the females, except for a few points: a darker crown and hints of chestnut col ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
African Black Duck
The African black duck (''Anas sparsa'') is a species of duck of the genus ''Anas''. It is genetically closest to the mallard group, but shows some peculiarities in its behavior and (as far as they can be discerned) plumage; it is accordingly placed in the subgenus ''Melananas'' pending further research. Description The African black duck is a black duck with pronounced white marks on its back, a dark bill, and orange legs and feet. A purpish-blue speculum is often visible, especially in flight. It lives in central and southern Africa. It is also known as the black river duck, or (''A. s. leucostigma'') West African black duck or Ethiopian black duck. It is a medium-sized duck, with a length of . The male is larger than the female. Distribution The African black duck is mainly found in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan and Ethiopia with outlying populations in western equatorial Africa, in southeast Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon. Beha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Egyptian Goose
The Egyptian goose (''Alopochen aegyptiaca'') is a member of the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. It is native to Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley. Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the Ancient Egyptians, and appeared in much of their artwork. Because of their popularity chiefly as an ornamental bird, escapees are common and feral populations have become established in Western Europe, the United States, and New Zealand. Taxonomy The Egyptian goose is believed to be most closely related to the shelducks (genus ''Tadorna'') and their relatives, and is placed with them in the subfamily Tadorninae. It is the only extant member of the genus ''Alopochen'', which also contains closely related prehistoric and recently extinct species. mtDNA cytochrome ''b'' sequence data suggest that the relationships of ''Alopochen'' to ''Tadorna'' need further investigation. Etymology The generic name ''Alopochen'' (literally, ''fox-goose'') is based on Greek (''alōpós ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hadeda Ibis
The hadeda ibis (''Bostrychia hagedash'') is an ibis native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is named for its loud three to four note calls uttered in flight especially in the mornings and evenings when they fly out or return to their roost trees. Although not as dependent on water as some ibises, they are found near wetlands and often live in close proximity to humans, foraging in cultivated land and gardens. A medium-sized ibis with stout legs and a typical down-curved bill, the wing coverts are iridescent with a green or purple sheen. They are non-migratory but are known to make nomadic movements in response to rain particularly during droughts. Their ranges in southern Africa have increased with an increase in tree cover and irrigation in human-altered habitats. Taxonomy and systematics ''Tantalus hagedash'' was the scientific name proposed by John Latham in 1790 who described it from a specimen that had been collected at "Houteniquas", due north of Mossel Bay, by Anders Sparrman ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
African Sacred Ibis
The African sacred ibis (''Threskiornis aethiopicus'') is a species of ibis, a wading bird of the family Threskiornithidae. It is native to much of Africa, as well as small parts of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait. It is especially known for its role in the religion of the Ancient Egyptians, where it was linked to the god Thoth. The species is currently Local extinction, extirpated from Egypt. Taxonomy It is very closely related to the black-headed ibis and the Australian white ibis, with which it forms a Species complex, superspecies complex, so much so that the three species are considered Biological specificity#Conspecific, conspecific by some Ornithology, ornithologists. In mixed flocks these ibises often hybridise. The Australian white ibis is often called the sacred ibis colloquially. Although known to the ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome and especially Africa, ibises were unfamiliar to western Europeans from the fall of Rome until the 19th century, and mentions of this bir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hamerkop
The hamerkop (''Scopus umbretta'') is a medium-sized wading bird. It is the only living species in the genus ''Scopus'' and the family Scopidae. The species and family was long thought to sit with the Ciconiiformes but is now placed with the Pelecaniformes, and its closest relatives are thought to be the pelicans and the shoebill. The shape of its head with a long bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, which has given this species its name after the Afrikaans word for hammerhead. It is a medium-sized waterbird with brown plumage. It is found in Africa, Madagascar and Arabia, living in a wide variety of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and rocky coasts. The hamerkop is a sedentary bird that often shows local movements. The hamerkop takes a wide range of prey, mostly fish and amphibians, but shrimps, insects and rodents are taken too. Prey is usually hunted in shallow water, either by sight or touch, but the species is adaptable a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cattle Egret
The cattle egret (''Bubulcus ibis'') is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus ''Bubulcus'', although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the western cattle egret and the eastern cattle egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus ''Egretta'', it is more closely related to the herons of '' Ardea''. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world in the last century. It is a white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season. It nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Cattle egrets exploit drier and open habitats more than other heron species. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated gr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow-billed Egret
The intermediate egret, median egret, smaller egret, or yellow-billed egret (''Ardea intermedia'') is a medium-sized heron. Some taxonomists put the species in the genus ''Egretta'' or ''Mesophoyx''. It is a resident breeder from east Africa across the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia and Australia. Taxonomy Some authorities classify the intermediate egret in its own monotypic genus, ''Mesophoyx'', while others place it with the smaller egrets in ''Egretta''. There are three recognised subspecies, and these are sometimes raised in to species: * ''A. i. brachyrhyncha'' Brehm, 1854 "yellow-billed egret" - sub-Saharan Africa * ''A.i. intermedia'' Wagler, 1827 "intermediate egret" - Asia from the Russian Far East to Japan to India and the Greater Sundas * ''A. i. plumifera'' Gould, 1848 "plumed egret" - eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. ''A.i. intermedia'' differs from ''A.i. brachyrhyncha'' and ''A. i. plumifera'' by having a black bill when in breeding plumage, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black-headed Heron
The black-headed heron (''Ardea melanocephala'') is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident, but some west African birds move further north in the rainy season. This species usually breeds in the wet season in colonies in trees, reedbeds or cliffs. It builds a bulky stick nest, and lays 2–4 eggs. It often feeds in shallow water, spearing fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill. It will also hunt well away from water, taking large insects, small mammals, and birds. It will wait motionless for its prey, or slowly stalk its victim. The black-headed heron is a large bird, standing 85 cm tall, and it has a 150 cm wingspan. It is nearly as large as the grey heron, which it resembles in appearance, although it is generally darker. Its plumage is largely grey above, and paler grey below. It has a powerful dusky bill. The flight is slow, with the neck retracted. This is characteristi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-breasted Cormorant
The white-breasted cormorant (''Phalacrocorax lucidus'') is much like the widespread great cormorant and if not a regional variant of the same species, is at least very closely related. It is distinguished from other forms of the great cormorant by its white breast and by the fact that subpopulations are freshwater birds.J.A. Harrison, D.G. Allan, L.G. Underhill, M. Herremans, A.J. Tree, V. Parker, C.J. Brown (eds). The Atlas of Southern African Birds. Published by BirdLife South Africa, P.O. Box 84394, Greenside 2034, Johannesburg, South Africa 1997 ''Phalacrocorax lucidus'' is not to be confused with the smaller and very different endemic South Australian black-faced cormorant, which also is sometimes called the white-breasted cormorant. Taxonomy and description The white-breasted cormorant (''Phalacrocorax lucidus'') is a member of the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae. Its taxonomic status has been under discussion for some decadesBrooke RK, Cooper J, Shelton PA, Crawford ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
