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Karkloof Forest
The Karkloof Forest is situated in the Karkloof Nature Reserve, 22 km north of Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is a large (936ha) mistbelt forest containing yellowwoods ('' Afrocarpus falcatus'', ''Podocarpus latifolius'' and ''Podocarpus henkelii'') and stinkwood (''Ocotea bullata''). Wildlife includes Samango monkey, blue duiker and bushbuck. Crowned eagles (''Stephanoaetus coronatus'') breed here, and the endangered Cape parrot (''Poicephalus robustus robustus'') occurs here. Endemics to the area include a subspecies of crested guineafowl (''Guttera edouardi symonsi''), and a dwarf chameleon (''Bradypodion'' sp.) which is related to the Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon and the black-headed dwarf chameleon. Other birds found here include Knysna turaco (''Tauraco corythaix''), forest canary (''Crithagra scotops''), white-starred robin (''Pogonocichla stellata''), orange ground thrush (''Zoothera gurneyi''), red-throated wryneck (''Jynx ruficollis''), golden-tai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endemism
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, the Cape sugarbird is found exclusively in southwestern South Africa and is therefore said to be ''endemic'' to that particular part of the world. An endemic species can be also be referred to as an ''endemism'' or in scientific literature as an ''endemite''. For example '' Cytisus aeolicus'' is an endemite of the Italian flora. '' Adzharia renschi'' was once believed to be an endemite of the Caucasus, but it was later discovered to be a non-indigenous species from South America belonging to a different genus. The extreme opposite of an endemic species is one with a cosmopolitan distribution, having a global or widespread range. A rare alternative term for a species that is endemic is "precinctive", which applies to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Forests Of KwaZulu-Natal
Areas of forest which grow in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa mostly on south facing slopes in higher rainfall areas, and along the humid coastal areas. Different types of forest can be identified by their species composition which depends mostly on the altitude, latitude and substrate (soil and rock types) in which they grow. South facing slopes are favourable for the development of forest as they are more shaded, and therefore cooler and retain more moisture than the northern slopes. The extra moisture on the south slopes is not only favoured by forest trees, but also helps to prevent or subdue wildfires. Fires can also be blocked by cliff faces and rocks or boulders on these slopes, and by streams or rivers at the base of the slopes. The coastal regions are conducive to forest formation, because of high rainfall and humidity which are favoured by forest trees and also help to prevent or subdue fires. The rivers of the coastal areas are also broader than further inland, which may o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Martial Eagle
The martial eagle (''Polemaetus bellicosus'') is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa.Ferguson-Lees & Christie, ''Raptors of the World''. Houghton Mifflin Company (2001), . It is the only member of the genus ''Polemaetus''. A species of the booted eagle subfamily (Aquilinae), it has feathering over its tarsus. One of the largest and most powerful species of booted eagle, it is a fairly opportunistic predator that varies its prey selection between mammals, birds and reptiles. It is one of few eagle species known to hunt primarily from a high soar, by stooping on its quarry.Steyn, P. (1983). ''Birds of prey of southern Africa: Their identification and life histories''. Croom Helm, Beckenham (UK). 1983. An inhabitant of wooded belts of otherwise open savanna, this species has shown a precipitous decline in the last few centuries due to a variety of factors. The martial eagle is one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. Due to its habit of taking livestock and re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
The golden-tailed woodpecker (''Campethera abingoni'') is a species of bird in the family Picidae. Its specific name commemorates the 5th Earl of Abingdon. It belongs to a species complex that includes the Knysna woodpecker to the south of its range, and the mostly allopatric Mombasa woodpecker to the northeast, with which it perhaps hybridizes. Description The combination of barred, greenish upper part plumage, and streaked underparts is distinctive. Their golden-olive tails do not differ markedly from those of several related or sympatric woodpecker species, but their single, strident call-note is characteristic. It measures 20 to 21 cm from bill tip to tail tip. The southern races weigh about 70 g, but the northern race ''C. a. chrysura'', only about 55 g. Males are on average larger and heavier than females. The sexes are best distinguished by their head markings, as the red and brown fore-crowns of males differ unmistakably from those of females that are b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red-throated Wryneck
The red-throated wryneck (''Jynx ruficollis'') is a species of wryneck in the woodpecker family. It is also known as the rufous-necked wryneck, red-breasted wryneck, African wryneck, or rufous-throated wryneck. This species is resident in sub-Saharan Africa, grasslands, and is the nonmigratory counterpart of the Eurasian wryneck. The bird can be seen in the savannah, secondary woodlands and woodland edges. They requires trees with old woodpecker or barbet holes for nesting. It has cryptic plumage, with intricate patterning of greys and browns. The voice is a nasal, woodpecker-like call. Taxonomy and etymology Woodpeckers are an ancient bird family consisting of three subfamilies, the wrynecks, the piculets and the true woodpeckers, Picinae. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis show that the wrynecks are a sister clade to other woodpeckers including the Picinae and probably diverged early from the rest of the family.Gorman {2022) p. 3. The wryneck subfamily Jynginae ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orange Ground Thrush
The orange ground thrush (''Geokichla gurneyi'') is a species of bird in the family Turdidae. Taxonomy The orange ground thrush was described as ''Turdus gurneyi'' by Hartlaub in 1864. It is named after John Henry Gurney Sr., an English banker, politician and ornithologist. There are five subspecies: ''G. g. chuka'' found in central Kenya; ''G. g. raineyi'' found in southeastern Kenya; ''G. g. otomitra'' found in western Angola, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and northern Malawi; ''G. g. gurneyi'' found in eastern South Africa; and ''G. g. disruptans'' found in central Malawi to northeastern South Africa. Distribution and habitat Its habitat is montane forests, namely the afromontane of southeastern Africa. The size of its range is estimated at . It is found at elevations of . Description Its length is . The male weighs , and the female weighs . The upperparts are olive-brown; some parts have a grey tinge. The flight feathers are blackish-brown. There ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-starred Robin
The white-starred robin (''Pogonocichla stellata'') is a species of bird in the Old World flycatcher and chat family Muscicapidae. It is also sometimes more simply called the starred robin. It is monotypic within the genus ''Pogonocichla''. There are around twelve subspecies. The species is found in East and southern Africa. It is a forest species, occurring in montane forest in the north of its range but closer to sea level further south. This is a brightly coloured robin with a bright yellow breast and belly, a slate coloured head with spots on the eyes and throat and blueish wings. The white-starred robin gives a range of calls that vary geographically. The diet is dominated by insects, although some fruit is taken as well. It is a territorial and seasonal breeder that lays up to three eggs in a domed nest. The generic name ''Pogoncichla'' is derived from the Greek ''pogon'' for beard, a reference to the white spots on the throat and face, and ''kikhle'' for thrush. Similarly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Forest Canary
The forest canary (''Crithagra scotops'') is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in South Africa and Eswatini. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. The forest canary was formerly placed in the genus ''Serinus'' but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the forest canary were moved to the resurrected genus ''Crithagra''. References External links * Forest canary Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds forest canary Birds of Southern Africa forest canary The forest canary (''Crithagra scotops'') is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found in South Africa and Eswatini. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montan ... Taxonomy articles create ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knysna Turaco
The Knysna turaco (''Tauraco corythaix''), or, in South Africa, Knysna loerie, is a large turaco, one of a group of African musophagidae birds. It is a resident breeder in the mature evergreen forests of southern and eastern South Africa, and Swaziland. It was formerly sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the green turaco of West Africa. The Livingstone's and Schalow's turacos were once considered subspecies. This species lays two eggs in a shallow platform nest made from sticks and placed in a tree or clump of creepers. Within its range, this is an unmistakable bird, although often inconspicuous in the treetops. It is 40–42 cm long, including a long tail. The small but thick orange-red bill and a white line just under the eye contrast with the mainly green plumage. It has a tall green crest, which is tipped with white. The eye is brown and the eye-ring deep red. In flight, Knysna turaco shows conspicuous crimson primary flight feathers. Sexes are similar, but juven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black-headed Dwarf Chameleon
The black-headed dwarf chameleon (''Bradypodion melanocephalum'') is a lizard of the family Chamaeleonidae endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is also known as the KwaZulu dwarf chamaeleon and Durban dwarf chameleon. Distribution This chameleon is found in the coastal areas from north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal south and west to Mkambati Nature Reserve in the east of the Eastern Cape; it also occurs in some inland areas (KwaZulu-Natal Midlands). Taxonomy The current species may consist of several separate species. At least three regional variants are found; one in Karkloof and Gilboa Forests, one in Weza Forest, and one in the area around Ixopo and Donnybrook. ''B. melanocephalum'' and the Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon (''B. thamnobates'') might be phenotypically plastic populations of the same species. However, when juveniles of both species were raised under identical conditions, they developed into what was phenotypically expected of their original populations, in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleon
The Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon (''Bradypodion thamnobates'') is a chameleon native to woodland habitat in the inland Midlands area of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. Description Its length is , relatively small for its genus, and it has bulbous scales of varying colors scattered around the body. The head crest is yellow, with white skin on its throat. Males have a short orange stripe around the middle of their bodies and red-spotted eyelids, whereas females are brown with smaller helmet-like protrusions. They otherwise have considerable variation in their colouration. Naming Its specific name ''thamnobates'' means "bush-walker". In addition to the common name ''Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon'', it is also known under the longer common name of ''KwaZulu-Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon''. Relatives and taxonomy This is a very close relative of the black-headed dwarf chameleon ('' B. melanocephalum''), which looks very different due to adaptation to low fores ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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