Cape Town Vegetation Types 1 - original vegetation

Cape Town Vegetation Types 2 - current surviving vegetation

The Biodiversity of Cape Town is the variety and variability of life within the geographical extent of the

City of Cape Town The City of Cape Town ( af, Stad Kaapstad; xh, IsiXeko saseKapa) is the metropolitan municipality which governs the city of Cape Town, South Africa and its suburbs and exurbs. As of the 2011 census, it had a population of 3,740,026. The remo ...

metropolitan municipality, excluding the

Prince Edward Islands The Prince Edward Islands are two small uninhabited islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean that are part of South Africa. The islands are named Marion Island (named after Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, 1724–1772) and Prince Edward Island ...

. The terrestrial vegetation is particularly diverse and much of it is endemic to the city and its vicinity. Terrestrial and freshwater animal life is heavily impacted by urban development and habitat degradation. Marine life of the waters immediately adjacent to the city along the

Cape Peninsula The Cape Peninsula ( af, Kaapse Skiereiland) is a generally mountainous peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of ...

and in

False Bay False Bay (Afrikaans ''Valsbaai'') is a body of water in the Atlantic Ocean between the mountainous Cape Peninsula and the Hottentots Holland Mountains in the extreme south-west of South Africa. The mouth of the bay faces south and is demarcat ...

is also diverse, and while also impacted by human activity, the habitats are relatively intact.

Floristic region (phytochorion)

The

lies within the Cape Floristic Kingdom, by far the smallest and most diverse of the earth's six floristic kingdoms, an area of extraordinarily high diversity and

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 elsew ...

, and home to over 9,000

vascular plant Vascular plants (), also called tracheophytes () or collectively Tracheophyta (), form a large group of land plants ( accepted known species) that have lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They al ...

species, of which 69 percent are endemic. Much of this diversity is associated with the

fynbos Fynbos (; meaning fine plants) is a small belt of natural shrubland or heathland vegetation located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. This area is predominantly coastal and mountainous, with a Mediterranean clim ...

biome, a Mediterranean-type, fire-prone shrubland. The economical worth of fynbos biodiversity, based on harvests of fynbos products (e.g.

wildflower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the ...

s) and

eco-tourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide fund ...

, is estimated to be in the region of R77 million a year. Thus, it is clear that the Cape Floristic Region has both economic and intrinsic biological value as a

biodiversity hotspot A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation. Norman Myers wrote about the concept in two articles in ''The Environmentalist'' in 1988 and 1990, after which the co ...

.Odendaal L. J., Haupt T. M. & Griffiths C. L. (2008). "The alien invasive land snail ''Theba pisana'' in the West Coast National Park: Is there cause for concern?". '' Koedoe – African Protected Area Conservation and Science'' 50(1): 93-98
abstract
.

Vegetation types

Cape Town is located within a Conservation International

and is home to a total of 19 different and distinct

vegetation type Vegetation classification is the process of classifying and mapping the vegetation over an area of the earth's surface. Vegetation classification is often performed by state based agencies as part of land use, resource management, resource and envi ...

s. (This enormous variety is mainly because the city is uniquely located at the convergence point of a great many different soil types and micro-climates.) These 19 vegetation types are mostly restricted to unusually small areas, and several are completely

endemic 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 elsew ...

to the city – occurring nowhere else in the world. Vegetation types include the following. * Atlantis Sand Fynbos *

Boland Granite Fynbos Boland Granite Fynbos is a vulnerable fynbos vegetation type that occurs in the Western Cape, South Africa. Located in the Boland region of the Western Cape, to the north-east of the city of Cape Town, this fynbos has 23 known endemic spec ...

Cape Flats Dune Strandveld Cape Flats Dune Strandveld is an endangered vegetation type. This is a unique type of Cape Strandveld that is endemic to the coastal areas around Cape Town, including the Cape Flats. Habitat ''Strandveld'' means “beach scrub” in the Afrikaans ...

* Cape Flats Sand Fynbos * Cape Winelands Shale Fynbos * Hangklip Sand Fynbos *

Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos is a critically endangered vegetation type occurring in the far south of the Western Cape, South Africa. This type of mountain fynbos contains an extremely high number of threatened species and a great number of the ...

Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos is a critically endangered vegetation type that is endemic to Cape Town. Though closest to Fynbos, it has characteristics of both Fynbos and Renosterveld vegetation and is thus actually a unique hybrid vegetation type. ...

Peninsula Granite Fynbos Peninsula Granite Fynbos is an endangered Fynbos vegetation type which is endemic to the city of Cape Town and occurs nowhere else. It is a unique type of tall, dense and diverse scrubland, scattered with trees. It can be found all along the belt ...

Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos is a unique and endangered vegetation type that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town. This type of Mountain Fynbos occurs on very poor, acidic soils but is incredibly rich in biodiversity with an enormous numb ...

Peninsula Shale Renosterveld Peninsula Shale Renosterveld (PSR) is a unique vegetation type that is found only on the slopes of Signal Hill and Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa. It is critically endangered and exists nowhere else. Habitat This unique type of Renos ...

* Swartland Alluvium Fynbos * Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld * Swartland Granite Renosterveld *

Swartland Shale Renosterveld Swartland Shale Renosterveld (West Coast Renosterveld) is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa. Distribution This unique type of Renosterveld vegetation occurs over the Swartland and Boland areas, on the W ...

* Swartland Silcrete Renosterveld *

Southern Afrotemperate Forest Southern Afrotemperate Forest (the Southern Cape Forests) is a kind of tall, shady, multilayered indigenous South African forest. This is the main forest-type in the south-western part of South Africa, naturally extending from the Cape Peninsula ...

Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetland is a critically endangered vegetation type of the Western Cape, South Africa. Environment This type of riparian vegetation and its accompanying ecosystem is found in the Western Cape, South Africa, on freshwater f ...

Endemism

Table Mountain - South Africa (2418536788)

Of the thousands of plant species that are indigenous to Cape Town, 190 are known to be

to the city - occurring nowhere else in the world. In addition, there are over a hundred animal species that are also restricted to the city. Endemic plant species include the following. Anthony G. Rebelo, Patricia M. Holmes, Clifford Dorse & Julia Wood. Cape Town: Averting a Biodiversity Megadisaster? Unpublished MS. ;Cape Peninsula endemics *'' Acerentulus gracilis'' *'' Agathosma lanceolata'' (honey buchu) *'' Agathosma pulchella'' (skunk buchu) *'' Algophilus lathridoides'' (Table Mountain hairy crawling water beetle) *'' Allocotocerus mixtus'' (Table Mountain water scavenger beetle) *''

Aloiampelos commixta ''Aloiampelos commixta'' is a flowering plant in the Asphodelaceae family. It is commonly called Table Mountain aloe, and is a rare succulent plant that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. It naturally occurs only on the Table Moun ...

'' (Table Mountain aloe) *'' Anaxeton arborescens'' *'' Anisocampa munroi'' *'' Anopsobius patagonicus'' *'' Argyrobothrus velocipes'' *'' Argyrocupha (Trimenia) malagrida malagrida'' (Table Mountain copper) *''

Arion intermedius ''Arion intermedius'' is a species of land slug in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs. It is known commonly as the hedgehog slug,Aristea pauciflora'' (unistem aristea) *'' Arthroleptella lightfootii'' (Cape Peninsula moss frog) *'' Aspalathus barbata'' (bearded gorse) *'' Aspalathus borboniifolia'' (hairy-ridge gorse) *'' Aspalathus capensis'' (Cape gorse) *''

Aspalathus capitata ''Aspalathus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The yellow flowers and spiny habit of some species have suggested a resemblance to ''Ulex europaeus'', the thorny " English gorse" Accordingly, "Cape Gorse" has been proposed ...

'' (heady gorse) *''

Aspalathus chenopoda ''Aspalathus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The yellow flowers and spiny habit of some species have suggested a resemblance to ''Ulex europaeus'', the thorny " English gorse" Accordingly, "Cape Gorse" has been proposed ...

'' subsp ''chenopoda'' *'' Aspalathus incurva'' (incurved gorse) *'' Aspalathus variegata'' (Cape Flats gorse) *'' Athanasia capitata'' (unihead kanniedood) *'' Aulonogyrus'' ('' Afrogyrus'') sp. undescribed *'' Australutica normanlarseni'' *'' Austrolimnophila thornei'' *'' Austromontia capensis'' *'' Bidessus mundulus'' *'' Bobartia gladiata'' subsp ''major'' (spearleaf laces) *'' Bonaspeia cristata'' *'' Brachysiphon fucatus'' (Peninsula sissies) *'' Caffrolix cyclopia'' *'' Caffrolix petreulis'' *'' Calopsis gracilis'' (small tangle reed) *'' Capeolix picturatus'' *'' Caplopa sordida'' *'' Cephalelus ivyae'' (Peninsula restio leafhopper) *'' Ceramontia tabulae'' (Table Mountain trinon harvestman) *'' Chersastus pococki'' *'' Chersastus promontorius'' *'' Cliffortia carinata'' (crown climbers-friend) *'' Cliffortia discolor'' (summit climbers-friend) *'' Cliffortia ericifolia'' (erica-leaf climbers-friend) *'' Cliffortia theodori-friesii'' var. ''theodori-friesii'' (climbers-friend 1) *'' Colophon westwoodi'' (Peninsula stag beetle) *''

Cotula myriophylloides ''Cotula'' is a genus of flowering plant in the sunflower family. It includes plants known generally as water buttons or buttonweeds. The species within this genus can vary extensively in their habit, leaf division, involucre, receptacle and ...

'' (watergrass button) *'' Crassula capensis'' var. ''promontorii'' (cliff Cape snowdrop) *'' Crozetulus scutatus'' (cave orb-web spider) *'' Cryptadaeum capense'' *'' Cryptops stupendus'' (Peninsula cave millipede) *'' Ctenolepisma tenebrans'' (Peninsula silverfish) *'' Cthoniella cavernicola'' (Peninsula cave pseudoscorpion) *'' Cyclopia galioides'' (Peninsula honeybush) *'' Cyclopia latifolia'' (broad-leaf honeybush) *'' Cylichnogaster lawrencei'' *'' Cylindroiulus truncorum'' *'' Cytinus capensis'' (Peninsula bloodcup) *''

Diastella divaricata ''Diastella divaricata'' is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus ''Diastella'' and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape and is found on the Cape Peninsula south of the Silvermine Nature Reserve Silvermi ...

'' subsp ''divaricata'' (Peninsula silkypuff) *''

Diores capensis In Greek mythology, Diorês (Ancient Greek: Διώρης) referred to four different people. *Diorês, father of Automedon who was the charioteer of Achilles during the Trojan War. *Diorês, leader of the Elis contingent during the Trojan War. He w ...

'' *'' Diores cognatus'' *'' Diploexochus tabularis'' *'' Dipteretrum brinckae'' (Brinks Peninsula cockroach) *'' Disa ecalcarata'' (spurless disa) *'' Disa nubigena'' (cloud disa) *'' Disa obtusa'' subsp. ''obtusa'' *''

Disa uniflora ''Disa uniflora'', the red disa or pride of Table Mountain, is a South African species of orchid in the family ''Orchidaceae''. It is the type species of the genus ''Disa'', and one of its best-known members. It is occasionally referred to by it ...

'' (pride of Table Mountain) *'' Dolichopeza barnardi'' *'' Dolichopeza peringueyi'' *'' Drosanthemum stokoei'' (searock dewfig) *'' Drosera cuneifolia'' (Peninsula sundew) *'' Elegia intermedia'' (scratchy golden reed) *'' Eleocharis lepta'' (Peninsula water sedge) *'' Eodrilus arelinus'' *'' Eodrilus drygaskii'' *'' Eodrilus kirstenboschensis'' *'' Eodrilus palustris'' *'' Eodrilus purcellii'' *'' Eodrilus riebeekanus'' *'' Eodrilus simonianus'' *'' Eodrilus tormentosus'' *'' Erepsia forficata'' (rock everfig) *''

Erica abietina ''Erica abietina'' is a species of Erica (plant), erica that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula of the Western Cape, South Africa. ''E. abietina'' includes four subspecies with often highly restricted distributions and distinctive flower colours. P ...

'' subsp. ''abietina'' (red heath) *''

'' subsp. ''atrorosea'' (wine-red heath) *''

'' subsp. ''constantiana'' (Constantia heath) *''

'' subsp. ''diabolis'' (devils heath) *'' Erica amoena'' (delightful heath) *'' Erica annectens'' (cliff-hanger heath) *''

Erica baccans ''Erica baccans'', the berry heath, is a species of ''Erica'' that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is endemic to Table Mountain, usually found on the lower parts of Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos. It produces mass ...

'' (berry heath) *'' Erica capensis'' (Cape heath) *'' Erica caterviflora'' var. ''caterviflora'' (bunch heath) *'' Erica caterviflora'' var. ''glabrata'' (troop heath) *'' Erica clavisepala'' (club heath) *'' Erica cyrilliflora'' (red hill heath) *'' Erica depressa'' (dwarf heath) *'' Erica diosmifolia'' (buchu-leaf heath 2) *'' Erica eburnea'' (ivory heath) *'' Erica empetrina'' (crowberry heath) *'' Erica fairii'' (fairy heath) *'' Erica fontana'' (fountain heath) *'' Erica haematocodon'' (bloodbell heath) *'' Erica halicacaba'' (gooseberry heath) *'' Erica heleogena'' (marsh heath) *'' Erica hirtiflora'' var. ''hirtiflora'' (hairy-flower heath) *'' Erica limosa'' (mud heath) *'' Erica mammosa'' subsp ''gilva'' (Peninsula ninepin heath) *'' Erica margaritacea'' (pearl heath) *'' Erica marifolia'' (flat-leaf heath) *'' Erica mollis'' (soft heath) *'' Erica nevillei'' (rock heath) *'' Erica oxycoccifolia'' (cranberry heath) *'' Erica paludicola'' (wiry heath) *'' Erica physodes'' (bladder heath) *'' Erica pilulifera'' (fine-hair heath) *'' Erica planifolia'' (gland heath) *'' Erica pyramidalis'' (pyramid heath) *'' Erica pyxidiflora'' (box heath) *'' Erica quadrisulcata'' (four-grooved heath) *'' Erica sociorum'' (partner heath) *'' Erica subcapitata'' (pinhead heath) *'' Erica thimifolia'' (carpet heath) *''

Erica turgida ''Erica turgida'', the showy heath or Kenilworth heath, is a species of ''Erica'' that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town, South Africa, but is now classified as Extinct in the Wild. This small, delicate erica produces thin, will ...

'' (showy heath) *'' Erica urna-viridis'' (bottle-green heath) *''

Erica verticillata ''Erica verticillata'' is a species of '' Erica'' that was naturally restricted to the city of Cape Town but is now classified as extinct in the wild. Distribution It formerly grew only in certain areas of the Cape Flats on the Cape Peninsula of ...

'' (whorled heath) *'' Eupolystoma anterorchis'' (western leopard toad flatworm) *'' Eurytion brevis'' *'' Eurytion trichopus'' *'' Ficinia anceps'' (vleibiessie) *'' Ficinia fastigiata'' (vleibiessie) *'' Ficinia micrantha'' (smallflower vleibiessie) *'' Galaxias zebratus'' Southern Peninsula population *'' Geissorhiza bonaspei'' (Goodhope satinflower) *'' Geissorhiza tabularis'' (Table Mountain satinflower) *'' Gerbera wrightii'' *''

Gethyllis kaapensis ''Gethyllis'' (probably from Greek ''"gethyon"'', bulb), commonly called Kukumakranka, Koekemakranka, or Kroekemakrank, is a genus of bulbous plant in the Amaryllid family with some 33 accepted species.. It is native to the Cape Provinces, the ...

'' (Peninsula kukumakranka) *'' Gladiolus aureus'' (golden lady) *'' Gladiolus bonaspei'' (Good Hope lady) *'' Gladiolus monticola'' (mountain lady) *''

Gladiolus ornatus ''Gladiolus'' (from Latin, the diminutive of ''gladius'', a sword) is a genus of perennial cormous flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae). It is sometimes called the 'sword lily', but is usually called by its generic name (plural ''g ...

'' (ornate lady) *'' Gladiolus vigilans'' (plain painted lady) *'' Gnidia parvula'' (poor saffronbush) *'' Griswoldia ceratogyna'' *''

Harpactirella treleaveni ''Harpactirella'' is a genus of African Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described by William Frederick Purcell in 1902. Originally placed with the Barychelidae, brushed trapdoor spiders, it was transferred to the Theraphosidae, tarantulas ...

'' (Table Mountain golden baboon spider) *'' Harpethrix caeca'' (Peninsula cave millipede) *'' Hekelus episimus'' 3 *'' Heleophryne rosei'' (Table Mountain ghost frog) *'' Helichrysum fruticans'' *'' Helichrysum grandiflorum'' *'' Helictotrichon quinquesetum'' (Peninsula oats) *'' Heliophila cinerea'' *'' Heliophila promontorii'' *'' Heliophila tabularis'' (Table Mountain sporrie) *'' Hermannia micrantha'' (small-flowered dolls-rose) *'' Herophydrus capensis'' *'' Heterocerus capensis'' *'' Hoplophoropyga unicolor'' (dull Peninsula cockroach) *'' Idiognaphomyia ignava'' *'' Indigofera candolleana'' (denseleaf indigo) *'' Indigofera filiformis'' (long-stalk indigo) *'' Indigofera mauritanica'' (discolorous indigo) *''

Indigofera ''Indigofera'' is a large genus of over 750 species of flowering plants belonging to the pea family Fabaceae. They are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Description Species of ''Indigofera'' are mo ...

'' sp. nov. aff. ''gracilis'' (slender indigo) *'' Isolepis bulbifera'' (green-and-red isolepis) *'' Japyx barnardi'' var. ''relata'' *'' Japyx gilli'' *'' Julomorpha compacta'' *'' Julomorpha hilaris'' *'' Julomorpha ignava'' *'' Kaapia darwini'' *''

Lachenalia capensis ''Lachenalia'' is a genus of bulbous perennial plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, which are usually found in Namibia and South Africa. Most of them have a dormancy period, but new roots will always grow every year. ''Lache ...

'' (Cape viooltjie) *'' Lampranthus curvifolius'' (Bakoven brightfig) *'' Lampranthus multiradiatus'' (brilliant brightfig) *'' Lampranthus promontorii'' (rock brightfig) *'' Lampranthus stenus'' (narrow brightfig) *'' Lamyctopristus granulosus'' *'' Lamyctopristus validus'' *'' Larifuga capensis'' *'' Larifuga montana'' *'' Lawrencella inermis'' *'' Leielmis'' sp. undescribed *'' Lephthyphantes rimicola'' (cave sheet-web spider) *'' Lepidium capense'' (Cape pepperweed) *'' Leptocerus tabularis'' (Peninsula long-horn caddisfly) *'' Leucadendron grandiflorum'' (Wynberg conebush) *'' Leucadendron macowanii'' (acacia-leaf conebush) *'' Leucadendron strobilinum'' (Peninsula conebush) *''

Leucospermum conocarpodendron ''Leucospermum conocarpodendron'' is the largest species of the genus Leucospermum, reaching almost tree-like proportions of high with a firm trunk that is covered in a thick layer of cork that protects it from most fires. It has greyish or gree ...

'' subsp. ''conocarpodendron'' (grey tree pincushion) *'' Liparia graminifolia'' (grass mountain pea) *'' Liparia laevigata'' (tall mountain pea) *'' Liparia parva'' (small mountain dahlia) *'' Lobelia boivinii'' (creeping lobelia) *'' Lobelia eckloniana'' (Ecklons lobelia) *'' Longurio chionoides'' *'' Longurio micropteryx'' 4 *'' Machiloides leonis'' *'' Machiloides mensarius'' *'' Machiloides obsotetus'' *'' Machiloides silvestrii'' *'' Macrosteles sexnotatus'' *''

Malaika longipes Malaika is a Swahili song written by Tanzanian musician Adam Salim in 1945. This song is possibly the most famous of all Swahili love songs in Tanzania, Kenya and the entire East Africa, as well as being one of the most widely known of all Swahili ...

'' (cave hackle-mesh spider) *'' Marioniscus spatulifrons'' *'' Mesoceration capense'' *'' Mesoceration concessum'' *''Meta'' sp. nov. *''

Metalasia compacta ''Metalasia'' is a genus of African flowering plants in the tribe Gnaphalieae within the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera withi ...

'' (compact blombos) *''

Metalasia divergens ''Metalasia'' is a genus of African flowering plants in the tribe Gnaphalieae within the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera withi ...

'' subsp. ''divergens'' *''

'' subsp. ''fusca'' *'' Micradaeum rugosum'' *'' Microdon nitidus'' (silver catstailbush) *'' Mimetes fimbriifolius'' (fringed pagoda) *'' Moggeridgea teresae'' (Peninsula bagnest spider) *'' Molopopterus struthiolus'' *'' Montadaeum purcelli'' *''

Moraea aristata ''Moraea aristata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae. It is referred to by the common names blue-eyed uintjie or Blouooguintjie in Afrikaans and is a critically endangered species of plant in the genus ''Moraea'', that is ...

'' (blue-eye uintjie) *'' Morella diversifolia'' (Peninsula waxberry) *'' Muraltia acipetala'' (spiny purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia brachypetala'' (sessile purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia comptonii'' (spiny-tip purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia curvipetala'' (needle-leaf purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia demissa'' (curly-haired purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia diabolica'' (devils purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia mixta'' (roughpod purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia orbicularis'' (round-leaf purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia pageae'' (Page's purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia satureioides'' var. ''salteri'' (Karbonkelberg purple-gorse) *'' Muraltia stipulacea'' (bunch-leaf purple-gorse) *'' Nemesia micrantha'' (Peninsula snapdragon) *'' Osmitopsis dentata'' (toothed swampdaisy) *'' Pachyodontus languidus'' (Peninsula ground beetle) *'' Parachilota parvus'' *'' Parachilota schultzei'' *'' Parachilota starke'' *'' Parachilota tokaiensis'' *'' Parajapyx afer'' *'' Paralamyctes asperulus'' *'' Paramelita auricularius'' *'' Paramelita barnardi'' (Peninsula cave amphipod) *'' Paramelita capensis'' *'' Paramelita dentata'' *'' Paramelita magna'' *'' Paramelita magnicornis'' *'' Paramelita marunguis'' 5 *'' Paramelita pheronyx'' *'' Paranotoniscus capensis'' *'' Pentameris longiglumis'' subsp. ''longiglumis'' (Table Mountain longglume) *'' Peripatopsis alba'' (cave velvetworm) *'' Peripatopsis leonine'' (lion velvetworm) *'' Perisphaeria carlgreni'' (Peninsula trilobyte cockroach) *'' Petroplax caricis'' (Peninsula golden-case caddisfly) *'' Petrothrincus circularis'' *'' Philocaffrus bifalcatus'' *'' Phylica schlechteri'' (Peninsula phylica) *'' Platentomus sobrinus'' *'' Platylimnobia montana'' *'' Pneuminion balfourbrownei'' *'' Pneuminion semisulcatum'' *'' Poeciloblatta angusta'' *'' Polycarena silenoides'' (granite Cape flax) *'' Prismatocarpus nitidus'' (silver longfuit) *'' Progonogamia rehni'' *'' Prostethops megacephalus'' *'' Prostethops nitens'' *'' Protojanira leleupi'' *'' Pseudocloeon magae'' (Peninsula minnow mayfly) *'' Pseudoselago peninsulae'' (Peninsula purplepuff) *''

Psoralea glaucina ''Psoralea'' is a genus in the legume family ( Fabaceae) with over 60 closely related species native to southern Africa. In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and ...

'' (Peninsula three-leaf pea) *'' Pterostethops equestris'' *'' Pterygodium connivens'' (Peninsula bonnet) *'' Quamtana leptopholcica'' *'' Restio communis'' (fine cord reed) *'' Restio dodii'' var. ''dodii'' (Dodd's marsh cord reed) *'' Rhampsinitus levis'' *'' Roella amplexicaulis'' (rigid bell) *'' Roella decurrens'' (longbase bell) *'' Roella goodiana'' (klaver bell) *'' Roella recurvata'' (recurved bell) *'' Roella squarrosa'' (mat bell) *'' Roella triflora'' (blackeye bell) *'' Roeweria inerriiis'' *'' Rostromontia capensis'' *'' Rostromontia granulifer'' *'' Rotandrela rotanda'' *'' Ruschia promontorii'' (rock turretfig) *'' Ruschia rubricaulis'' (red-stem turretfig) *''

Scabiosa africana ''Scabiosa'' is a genus in the honeysuckle family ( Caprifoliaceae) of flowering plants. Many of the species in this genus have common names that include the word scabious, but some plants commonly known as scabious are currently classified in ...

'' (Cape scabious) *'' Senecio verbascifolius'' (Peninsula ragwort) *'' Serruria collina'' (lost spiderhead) *''

Serruria cyanoides ''Serruria cyanoides'', the Wynberg spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus ''Serruria'' and forms part of the fynbos. Background The plant is native to the Western Cape, it has always been found on the Cape Flats and C ...

'' (Wynberg spiderhead) *''

Serruria decumbens ''Serruria'', or spiderhead is a genus of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, endemic to South Africa. Names ''Serruria'' was named in honor of Joseph Serrurier, a professor of botany at the Utrecht University early in the eighteenth c ...

'' (Peninsula spiderhead) *''

Serruria foeniculacea ''Serruria'', or spiderhead is a genus of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, endemic to South Africa. Names ''Serruria'' was named in honor of Joseph Serrurier, a professor of botany at the Utrecht University early in the eighteenth ce ...

'' (Rondevlei spiderhead) *''

Serruria glomerata ''Serruria glomerata'', the cluster spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus ''Serruria'' and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, it occurs on the Cape Flats and Cape Peninsula. The shrub is ...

'' (cluster spiderhead) 6 *'' Serruria hirsuta'' (Swartkops spiderhead) *''

Serruria villosa ''Serruria villosa'', the golden spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus ''Serruria'' and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, where it occurs only on the Cape Peninsula and just south of Co ...

'' (valley spiderhead) *'' Sheldonia capsula'' *'' Solpuga grindleyi'' (Peninsula sunspider) *'' Spelaeogryphus lepidops'' (cave shrimp) *'' Speleiacris tabulae'' (cave camel cricket) *'' Speleomontia cavernicola'' (cave trinon harvestman) *'' Speleosiro argasiformis'' (cave sironid harvestman) *'' Spermophora gordimerae'' (Peninsula daddylonglegs) *'' Spermophora peninsulae'' (cave daddylonglegs) *'' Sphaerotherium ancillare'' *'' Sphaerotherium eremita'' *'' Sphaerotherium monticola'' *'' Sphaerotherium weberi'' *'' Staavia dodii'' (dolls diamondeyes) *'' Staavia glutinosa'' (sticky diamondeyes) *'' Stoebe rosea'' (rose slangbos) *'' Tetraria autumnalis'' (Sirkelsvlei mountain sedge) *'' Tetraria graminifolia'' (Peninsula mountain sedge) *'' Tetraria paludosa'' (pale mountain sedge) *'' Tetraria variabilis'' (varied mountain sedge) *'' Thamnochortus levynsiae'' (cliff dangle reed) *''

Thamnochortus nutans ''Thamnochortus'' is a group of plants in the Restionaceae described as a genus in 1767.Bergius, Peter Jonas. 1767. Descriptiones Plantarum ex Capite Bonae Spei 353 The entire genus is endemic to Cape Province in South Africa. ; Species ; forme ...

'' (cloud dangle reed) *'' Thesium pseudovirgatum'' (false-branched rootthug) *'' Thestor yildizae'' (Peninsula thestor) *'' Trachycystis cosmia'' (cosmic pinwheel) *'' Trachycystis perplicata'' (Cape pinwheel) *'' Trianoptiles solitaria'' (solitary bristle sedge) *'' Trichoniscus austro-africanus'' *'' Trichoniscus capensis'' *'' Trichoniscus tabulae'' (cave sowbug) *'' Trichostetha mimetica'' (Peninsula chafer) *'' Uroplectes insignis'' (Newlands scorpion) *'' Ursinia tenuifolia'' subsp ''tenuifolia'' *''

Villarsia goldblattiana ''Villarsia'' is a genus of aquatic flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae. The genus is named for the French botanist Dominique Villars (1745–1814). ''Villarsia'' are wetland plants with basal leaves. The inflorescence is a branched p ...

'' (Peninsula bogbean) *'' Wahlenbergia brehmeri'' *'' Wahlenbergia pyrophila'' (fire capebell) *'' Walesobius excrescens'' *'' Watsonia tabularis'' (Table Mountain watsonia) *'' Willdenowia affinis'' (Table Mountain window reed) *''

Wurmbea hiemalis ''Wurmbea'' is a genus of perennial herbs in the family Colchicaceae, native to Africa and Australia. There are about 50 species, with about half endemic to each continent. Recently the circumscription of the genus ''Wurmbea'' has been incre ...

'' (black spikelily) ;Additional species *'' Leucadendron levisanus'' (Cape Flats conebush) *'' Aspalathus variegata'' (Cape Flats gorse) (extinct) *'' Lepidochrysops methymna dicksoni'' (Dicksons dark opal) (Tygerberg) *'' Cliffortia ericifolia'' (erica-leaf climbers-friend) *'' Ixia versicolor'' (flats kollosie) *'' Liparia graminifolia'' (grass mountain pea) (extinct) *''

Serruria furcellata ''Serruria furcellata'', the Kraaifontein spiderhead, is a flower-bearing shrub that belongs to the genus ''Serruria'' and forms part of the fynbos. The plant is native to the Western Cape, it has always been found at Brackenfell, Kraaifontein an ...

'' (Kraaifontein spiderhead) *'' Lampranthus stenus'' (narrow brightfig) *'' Erica margaritacea'' (pearl heath) *'' Erica pyramidalis'' (pyramid heath) (extinct) *''

'' (Rondevlei spiderhead) *''

'' (showy heath) (extinct) *'' Trianoptiles solitaria'' (solitary bristle sedge) *'' Serruria aemula'' (strawberry spiderhead) *'' Athanasia capitata'' (unihead kanniedood) *'' Tetraria variabilis'' (varied mountain sedge) *''

'' (whorled heath) (extinct)

Species records in South African Biodiversity Database

Mammals

Mammals present in Cape Town, , including the following.http://www.biodiversity.co.za/Updated from South African Biodiversity Database (http://www.biodiversity.co.za/) as species present in Cape Town on 2011/01/06 * ''

Acomys subspinosus The Cape spiny mouse (''Acomys subspinosus'') is a murid rodent found in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. They have a dorsal covering of spiny hairs with dark grey-brown coloration, and a white underbelly. The Cape Spiny Mouse has large ...

'' (Cape spiny mouse) * ''

Amblysomus hottentotus The Hottentot golden mole (''Amblysomus hottentotus'') is a species of mammal in the golden mole family, Chrysochloridae. It is found in South Africa, Eswatini, and possibly Lesotho. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or ...

'' (Hottentot golden mole) * '' Aonyx capensis'' (Cape clawless otter) * ''

Arctocephalus pusillus The brown fur seal (''Arctocephalus pusillus''), also known as the Cape fur seal, South African fur seal and Australian fur seal, is a species of fur seal. Description The brown fur seal is the largest and most robust member of the fur seals. ...

'' (Cape fur seal) * ''

Atilax paludinosus The marsh mongoose (''Atilax paludinosus''), also known as the water mongoose or the vansire, is a medium-sized mongoose native to sub-Saharan Africa that inhabits foremost freshwater wetlands. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red ...

'' (water mongoose) * ''

Eubalaena glacialis Right whales are three species of large baleen whales of the genus ''Eubalaena'': the North Atlantic right whale (''E. glacialis''), the North Pacific right whale (''E. japonica'') and the Southern right whale (''E. australis''). They are class ...

'' (southern right whale) * '' Bathyergus suillus'' (Cape dune molerat) * '' Canis lupus familiaris'' (domestic dog) * ''

Cephalorhynchus heavisidii Heaviside's dolphin (''Cephalorhynchus heavisidii'') is one of four dolphins in the genus ''Cephalorhynchus''. The small cetacean is endemic to the Benguela ecosystem along the southwest coast of Africa. Taxonomy and evolution Nomenclature Ear ...

'' (Heaviside's dolphin) * ''

Chlorotalpa duthieae Duthie's golden mole (''Chlorotalpa duthieae'') is a species of mammal in the family Chrysochloridae. It is endemic to South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, temperate grassland, arabl ...

'' (Duthie's golden mole) * '' Connochaetes gnou'' (black wildebeest) * '' Crocidura cyanea'' (reddish-grey musk shrew) * '' Cryptomys hottentotus'' (common molerat) * '' Cynictis penicillata'' (yellow mongoose) * '' Damaliscus pygargus pygargus'' (bontebok) * ''

Delphinus delphis The common dolphin (''Delphinus delphis'') is the most abundant cetacean in the world, with a global population of about six million. Despite this fact and its vernacular name, the common dolphin is not thought of as the archetypal dolphin, with ...

'' (common dolphin) * ''

Dendromus melanotis The gray climbing mouse (''Dendromus melanotis'') is a species of rodent in the family Nesomyidae. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, ...

'' (grey climbing mouse) * '' Dendromus mesomelas'' (brant's climbing mouse) * ''

Elephantulus edwardii The Cape elephant shrew (''Elephantulus edwardii''), also known as the Cape rock elephant-shrew,Petra Wester"Sticky snack for sengis: The Cape rock elephant-shrew, ''Elephantulus edwardii'' (Macroscelidea), as a pollinator of the Pagoda lily, ''W ...

'' (Cape rock elephant-shrew) * '' Eptesicus capensis'' (Cape serotine bat) * ''

Eremitalpa granti Grant's golden mole (''Eremitalpa granti''; colloquially also: ''dune shark'') is a golden mole species. It is the only member of the genus ''Eremitalpa''. Attributes Like all other golden moles, the build of these animals is similar to the mo ...

'' (Grant's golden mole) * '' Felis caracal'' (caracal) * ''

Felis silvestris catus The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members o ...

'' (domestic cat) * '' Galerella pulverulenta'' (small grey mongoose) * '' Genetta genetta'' (smallspotted genet) * '' Genetta tigrina'' (large-spotted genet) * '' Georychus capensis'' (Cape molerat) * '' Gerbillurus paeba'' (hairyfooted gerbil) * ''

Herpestes ichneumon The Egyptian mongoose (''Herpestes ichneumon''), also known as ichneumon (), is a mongoose species native to the coastal regions along the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Turkey, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrub ...

'' (large grey mongoose) * ''

Hippopotamus amphibius The hippopotamus ( ; : hippopotamuses or hippopotami; ''Hippopotamus amphibius''), also called the hippo, common hippopotamus, or river hippopotamus, is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of only two extant ...

'' (hippopotamus) * ''

Hystrix africaeaustralis The Cape porcupine (''Hystrix africaeaustralis''), Cape crested porcupine or South African porcupine, is a species of Old World porcupine native to central and southern Africa. Description left, 180px, head Cape porcupines are the second large ...

'' (porcupine) * ''

Ictonyx striatus The striped polecat (''Ictonyx striatus''), also called the African polecat, zoril, zorille, zorilla, Cape polecat, and African skunk, is a member of the family Mustelidae that resembles a skunk (of the family Mephitidae). The name "zorilla" co ...

'' (striped polecat) * '' Kogia simus'' (dwarf sperm whale) * '' Lagenodelphis hosei'' (Fraser's dolphin) * '' Lagenorhynchus obscurus'' (dusky dolphin) * ''

Lepus capensis The Cape hare (''Lepus capensis''), also called the brown hare and the desert hare, is a hare native to Africa and Arabia extending into India. Taxonomy The Cape hare was one of the many mammal species originally described by Carl Linnaeus i ...

'' (Cape hare) * '' Lepus saxatilis'' (scrub hare) * ''

Myomyscus verreauxii Verreaux's mouse or Verreaux's white-footed rat (''Myomyscus verreauxii'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only member of the genus ''Myomyscus''. Other species that had been previously assigned to ''Myomyscus'' are now con ...

'', syn. ''Mastomys verreauxii'' (Verreaux's mouse) * ''

Mellivora capensis The honey badger (''Mellivora capensis''), also known as the ratel ( or ), is a mammal widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Because of its wide range and occurrence in a variety of habitats, it is listed ...

'' (honey badger) * ''

Mirounga leonina The southern elephant seal (''Mirounga leonina'') is one of two species of elephant seals. It is the largest member of the clade Pinnipedia and the order Carnivora, as well as the largest extant marine mammal that is not a cetacean. It gets ...

'' (southern elephant seal) * '' Mus minutoides'' (African pygmy mouse) * ''

Mus musculus Mus or MUS may refer to: Abbreviations * MUS, the NATO country code for Mauritius * MUS, the IATA airport code for Minami Torishima Airport * MUS, abbreviation for the Centre for Modern Urban Studies on Campus The Hague, Leiden University, Neth ...

'' (house mouse) * '' Myosorex varius'' (forest shrew) * '' Mystromys albicaudatus'' (whitetailed mouse) * ''

Orcinus orca The orca or killer whale (''Orcinus orca'') is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. It is the only extant species in the genus ''Orcinus'' and is recognizable by its black-and-white pat ...

'' (killer whale) * '' Oreotragus oreotragus'' (klipspringer) * '' Orycteropus afer'' (aardvark) * '' Otocyon megalotis'' (bat-eared fox) * '' Otomys irroratus'' (vlei rat) * '' Otomys unisulcatus'' (bush Karoo rat) * ''

Panthera pardus The leopard (''Panthera pardus'') is one of the five extant species in the genus ''Panthera'', a member of the cat family, Felidae. It occurs in a wide range in sub-Saharan Africa, in some parts of Western and Central Asia, Southern Russia, an ...

'' (leopard) * '' Papio ursinus'' (chacma baboon) * '' Pelea capreolus'' (grey rhebok) * '' Poecilogale albinucha'' (striped weasel) * ''

Procavia capensis The rock hyrax (; ''Procavia capensis''), also called dassie, Cape hyrax, rock rabbit, and (in the King James Bible) coney, is a medium-sized terrestrial mammal native to Africa and the Middle East. Commonly referred to in South Africa as the das ...

'' (rock dassie) * ''

Pronolagus rupestris Smith's red rockhare, Smith's red rock hare or Smith's red rock rabbit (''Pronolagus rupestris'') is a species of mammal in the family Leporidae (rabbits and hares), and is the smallest member of the genus ''Pronolagus''. The upperparts and gula ...

'' (Smith's red rock rabbit) * '' Pseudorca crassidens'' (false killer whale) * '' Raphicerus campestris'' (steenbok) * '' Raphicerus melanotis'' (Cape grysbok) * ''

Rattus norvegicus ''Rattus'' is a genus of muroid rodents, all typically called rats. However, the term rat can also be applied to rodent species outside of this genus. Species and description The best-known ''Rattus'' species are the black rat (''R. rattus'') ...

'' (brown rat) * ''

Rattus rattus The black rat (''Rattus rattus''), also known as the roof rat, ship rat, or house rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the stereotypical rat genus ''Rattus'', in the subfamily Murinae. It likely originated in the Indian subcontinent, but is n ...

'' (house rat) * ''

Rhabdomys pumilio The four-striped grass mouse (''Rhabdomys pumilio'') or four-striped grass rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found throughout the southern half of Africa up to above sea level, extending as far north as the Democratic Rep ...

'' (striped mouse, striped field mouse) * ''

Rousettus aegyptiacus The Egyptian fruit bat or Egyptian rousette (''Rousettus aegyptiacus'') is a species of megabat that is found in Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the Indian subcontinent. It is one of three ''Rousettus'' species with an African-Ma ...

'' (Egyptian fruit bat) * ''

Sciurus carolinensis The eastern gray squirrel (''Sciurus carolinensis''), also known, particularly outside of North America, as simply the grey squirrel, is a tree squirrel in the genus ''Sciurus''. It is native to eastern North America, where it is the most prodi ...

'' (eastern gray squirrel, grey squirrel) * '' Suncus varilla'' (lesser dwarf shrew) * ''

Sylvicapra grimmia The common duiker (''Sylvicapra grimmia''), also known as the grey or bush duiker, is a small antelope and the monotypic taxon, only member of the genus ''Sylvicapra''. This species is found everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the ...

'' (common duiker) * '' Tatera afra'' (Cape gerbil) * ''

Vulpes chama The Cape fox (''Vulpes chama''), also called the asse, cama fox or the silver-backed fox, is a small species of fox, native to southern Africa. It is also called a South African version of a fennec fox due to its similarly big ears. It is the ...

'' (Cape fox) * '' Ziphius cavirostris'' (Cuvier's beaked whale)

Fish

Fish present in Cape Town, , including the following. * '' Amblyrhynchotes honkenii'' (evil-eyed blaasop) * ''

Anguilla mossambica The African longfin eel (''Anguilla mossambica''), also known simply as the longfin eel, is an eel in the family Anguillidae.

steinitzi'' (longfin eel) * ''

Atherina breviceps The Cape silverside (''Atherina breviceps'') is a species of marine fish of the family Atherinidae. It is a brackish, freshwater, pelagic-neritic subtropical fish up to 11.0 cm maximal length. It is widespread in the southeastern Atlantic fr ...

'' (Cape silverside) * '' Caffrogobius multifasciatus'' (prison goby) * '' Caffrogobius nudiceps'' (barehead goby) * ''

Clarias gariepinus ''Clarias gariepinus'' or African sharptooth catfish is a species of catfish of the family Clariidae, the airbreathing catfishes. Distribution They are found throughout Africa and the Middle East, and live in freshwater lakes, rivers, and sw ...

'' (sharp-tooth catfish) * ''

Cyprinus carpio The Eurasian carp or European carp (''Cyprinus carpio''), widely known as the common carp, is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia.Fishbase''Cyprinus carpio'' Linnaeus, 1758/ref>Arkive The ...

'' (carp) * '' Galaxias zebratus'' (Cape galaxias) * ''

Gambusia affinis The western Mosquitofish (''Gambusia affinis'') is a North American freshwater fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply Mosquitofish or by its generic name, ''Gambusia'', or by the common name gambezi. Its sister species, the easte ...

'' (mosquito fish) * '' Gilchristella aestuarius'' (estuarine round-herring) * '' Heteromycteris capensis'' (Cape sole) * ''

Lichia amia The leerfish or garrick (''Lichia amia'') is a species of marine fish in the family Carangidae, and is native to the Mediterranean and the coastal waters of western Africa to the coastal waters of eastern South Africa.Van Der Elst, R. (1993). '' ...

'' (garrick) * '' Lithognathus lithognathus'' (white steenbras) * '' Liza dumerilii'' (groovy mullet) * '' Liza richardsonii'' (southern mullet) * ''

Micropterus salmoides The largemouth bass (''Micropterus salmoides'') is a carnivorous freshwater gamefish in the Centrarchidae ( sunfish) family, a species of black bass native to the eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico, but ...

'' (largemouth bass) * ''

Mugil cephalus The flathead grey mullet (''Mugil cephalus'') is an important food fish species in the mullet family Mugilidae. It is found in coastal tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Its length is typically . It is known with numerous English names ...

'' (flathead mullet) * ''

Oreochromis mossambicus ''Oreochromis'' is a large genus of oreochromine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range and are important in aquaculture. Many others have ver ...

'' (Mozambique tilapia) * '' Pomatomus saltatrix'' (elf) * '' Psammogobius knysnaensis'' (Knysna goby) * ''

Rhabdosargus globiceps ''Rhabdosargus globiceps'', the white stumpnose, is an endemic fish found on the southern African coast, from Angola to the Qora River just south of Port St Johns. In Afrikaans it is known as . Description The fish is silver in color with 5 - ...

'' (white stumpnose) * ''

Rhabdosargus holubi ''Rhabdosargus holubi'', the Cape stumpnose, is a species of fish in the seabream family, Sparidae. It is native to southern Africa, where it can be found mainly along the eastern coast of South Africa.Blaber, S.J.M. (1974)The ecology of juvenil ...

'' (Cape stumpnose) * '' Solea bleekeri'' (blackhand sole) * '' Leptonotus norae'' (longsnout pipefish) * ''

Tilapia sparrmanii ''Tilapia sparrmanii'', the banded tilapia, or vlei kurper, is a widespread and adaptable cichlid fish that is found in warmer freshwater habitats of southern Africa. They prefer water with ample plant cover, and occur naturally as far north as D ...

'' (banded tilapia)

Reptiles

Reptiles present in Cape Town, , including the following. * ''

Acontias meleagris ''Acontias meleagris'', the Cape legless skink, is a species of skink found in the southern Cape of South Africa. It has no limbs, like most members of the subfamily Acontinae. Its slender, tube-shaped body is golden-brown with tiny black spots. ...

'' (Cape legless skink) * '' Acontias meleagris meleagris'' (Cape legless skink) * '' Acontias meleagris orientalis'' (Cape legless skink) * '' Afrogecko porphyreus'' (marbled leaf-toed gecko, marbled leaftoed gecko) * '' Agama atra'' (southern rock agama) * ''

Aspidelaps lubricus ''Aspidelaps lubricus'', commonly known as the Cape coral snake or the Cape coral cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa. Geographic range and habitat ''A. lubricus'' is found in r ...

lubricus'' (coral snake) * ''

Bitis arietans The puff adder (''Bitis arietans'') is a viper species found in savannahs and grasslands from Morocco and western Arabia throughout Africa except for the Sahara and rainforest regions.U.S. Navy. 1991. ''Venomous Snakes of the World''. US Govt. ...

'' (puff adder, puffadder) * ''

Bitis atropos The berg adder (''Bitis atropos'') is a venomous viper species endemic to mountainous regions in southern Africa. No subspecies are currently recognized. Taxonomy The specific name, ''atropos'', refers to the Greek mythological goddess Atrop ...

'' (berg adder) * '' Bradypodion pumilum'' (Cape dwarf chameleon) * ''

Chamaesaura anguina The Cape grass lizard (''Chamaesaura anguina''), also known as the Cape snake lizard or the highland grass lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus Chamaesaura. It widely found in southern Africa, inhabiting grasslands. In one of the countrie ...

'' (Cape grass lizard) * ''

Chersina angulata The angulate tortoise (''Chersina angulata'') is a species of tortoise found in dry areas and coastal scrub vegetation in South Africa. This tortoise is the only known member of the genus ''Chersina''. Name and taxonomy This species is highly ...

'' (angulate tortoise) * '' Cordylus cordylus'' (Cape girdled lizard) * ''

Cordylus niger ''Cordylus niger'', the black girdled lizard, is a medium-sized lizard restricted to Table Mountain on the Cape Peninsula and a second, isolated population near Langebaan. Black girdled lizards inhabit rocky outcrops on Table Mountain, South Afr ...

'' (black girdled lizard) * '' Cordylus polyzonus'' (Karoo girdled lizard) * '' Dasypeltis scabra'' (common eggeater) * '' Dispholidus typus'' (boomslang) * ''

Duberria lutrix ''Duberria lutrix'', or the common slug eater, is a small, ovoviviparous, molluscivorous, non-venomous snake, which is endemic to Africa. Description Adults can be up to thirty to forty cm (approximately twelve to sixteen inches). The com ...

'' (common slug eater) * '' Duberria lutrix lutrix'' (common slugeater) * '' Geochelone pardalis'' (leopard tortoise) * '' Goggia lineata'' (striped dwarf leaf-toed gecko, striped dwarf leaftoed gecko) * '' Hemachatus haemachatus'' (rinkhals) * ''

Homopus areolatus ''Homopus areolatus'', commonly known as the common padloper or parrot-beaked tortoise, is a tiny species of tortoise of the genus ''Homopus'', indigenous to the southern part of South Africa. Naming ''Homopus areolatus'' is known by a wide ran ...

'' (parrot-beaked tortoise, parrotbeaked tortoise) * ''

Homoroselaps lacteus ''Homoroselaps lacteus'', also known as the spotted harlequin snake, is a species of atracaspidid snake. It is found in South Africa and Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ...

'' (spotted harlequin snake) * ''

Lamprophis aurora The Aurora house snake, Aurora snake, or night snake (''Lamprophis aurora'') is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is endemic to Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana). Distribution This species is widespread in ...

'' (Aurora house snake) * '' Lamprophis capensis'' (brown house snake) * '' Lamprophis guttatus'' (spotted house snake) * '' Lamprophis inornatus'' (olive house snake) * '' Leptotyphlops longicaudus'' (long-tailed thread snake, longtailed thread snake) * ''

Lycodonomorphus rufulus ''Lycodonomorphus'' is a genus of snakes commonly referred to as African water snakes. They are small, nonvenomous snakes, with all members being endemic to Africa, especially Tanzania. Species The following nine species are recognized as being ...

'' (common brown water snake) * ''

Meroles knoxii ''Meroles knoxii'', Knox's ocellated sand lizard or Knox's desert lizard, is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. It occurs in Namibia and South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), i ...

'' (Knox's desert lizard) * ''

Naja nivea The Cape cobra (''Naja nivea''), also called the yellow cobra, is a moderate-sized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa including arid savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert and semi-desert re ...

'' (Cape cobra) * '' Pachydactylus austeni'' (Austen's thick-toed gecko, Austen's thicktoed gecko) * '' Pachydactylus geitje'' (ocellated thick-toed gecko, ocellated thicktoed gecko) * '' Pachydactylus labialis'' (Western Cape thick-toed gecko, Western Cape thicktoed gecko) * '' Pedioplanis lineoocellata'' (spotted sand lizard) * '' Pelomedusa subrufa'' (marsh terrapin) * '' Psammophis crucifer'' (cross-marked grass snake, crossmarked grass snake) * '' Psammophis leightoni'' (Cape sand snake) * '' Psammophis notostictus'' (Karoo sand snake) * '' Psammophylax rhombeatus'' (rhombic skaapsteker) * ''

Pseudaspis cana The mole snake (''Pseudaspis cana'') is a species of snake. It has been placed in the family Lamprophiidae, and more recently in the family Pseudaspididae, along with the genus ''Pythonodipsas''. It is native to much of southern Africa, and is ...

'' (mole snake) * '' Pseudocordylus microlepidotus'' (Cape crag lizard) * ''

Ramphotyphlops braminus ''Indotyphlops braminus'', commonly known as the brahminy blind snake and other names, is a non-venomous blind snake species found mostly in Africa and Asia, but has been introduced in many other parts of the world. They are completely fossori ...

'' (flower-pot snake, flowerpot snake) * '' Rhinotyphlops lalandei'' (Delalande's beaked blind snake, Delalande's blind snake) * '' Scelotes bipes'' (silvery dwarf burrowing skink) * ''

Scelotes montispectus ''Scelotes montispectus'', the Bloubergstrand dwarf burrowing skink, is a species of lizard which is endemic to South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bound ...

'' (Blaauwberg dwarf burrowing skink) * ''

Tetradactylus seps ''Tetradactylus seps'', commonly known as the short-legged seps or five-toed whip lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Gerrhosauridae. The species is found in South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RS ...

'' (short-legged seps, shortlegged seps) * '' Tetradactylus tetradactylus'' (common long-tailed seps, common longtailed seps) * '' Trachylepis capensis'' (Cape skink) * '' Trachylepis homalocephala'' (red-sided skink, redsided skink) * '' Typhlosaurus aurantiacus'' (golden blind legless skink) * '' Typhlosaurus caecus'' (Cuvier's blind legless skink)

Amphibians

Amphibians present in Cape Town, , including the following. * ''

Amietia fuscigula The Cape river frog (''Amietia fuscigula'') is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae named for the Cape of Good Hope. Formerly, it was placed in the family Ranidae. It occurs widely in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces of So ...

'' (Cape river frog) * '' Amietophrynus pantherinus'' (western leopard toad) * '' Amietophrynus rangeri'' (raucous toad) * '' Arthroleptella landdrosia'' (landroskop moss frog) * '' Arthroleptella villiersi'' (Villiersdorp moss frog) * ''

Breviceps gibbosus The cape rain frog or giant rain frog (''Breviceps gibbosus'') is a species of frog in the family Brevicipitidae. Adults grow up to 45 mm in length. It was the first African frog species to be scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 175 ...

'' (Cape rain frog) * '' Breviceps montanus'' (Cape mountain rin frog) * '' Breviceps namaquensis'' (Namaqua rain frog) * ''

Breviceps rosei Rose's rain frog or Rose's rainfrog (''Breviceps rosei'') is a species of frog in the family Brevicipitidae. It is endemic to the sandveld of south-western coastal South Africa.Frost, DarrelBreviceps rosei Amphibian Species of the World 5.0, The ...

'' (sand rain frog) * '' Cacosternum boettgeri'' (common caco) * '' Cacosternum platys'' (flat caco) * '' Heleophryne rosei'' (Table Mountain ghost frog) * ''

Hyperolius horstockii The arum frog, Horstock's arum-frog, arum lily frog, or Horstock's reed frog (''Hyperolius horstockii'') is a species of frog in the family Hyperoliidae. It is endemic to South Africa. Identification Adults grow to 40 mm in length. They ha ...

'' (arum lily frog, arum lily reed frog) * '' Hyperolius marmoratus'' (painted reed frog) * '' Microbatrachella capense'' (micro frog) * '' Strongylopus bonaspei'' (banded stream frog) * ''

Strongylopus grayii Gray's stream frog (''Strongylopus grayii'') is a fairly small species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae.Du Preez, L. H.; Carruthers, Vincent. ''A Complete Guide to the Frogs of Southern Africa''. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Nature. 2009C ...

'' (clicking stream frog) * '' Strongylopus grayii grayii'' (clicking stream frog) * '' Tomopterna delalandii'' (Cape sand frog) * '' Vandijkophrynus angusticeps'' (sand toad) * ''

Xenopus laevis The African clawed frog (''Xenopus laevis'', also known as the xenopus, African clawed toad, African claw-toed frog or the ''platanna'') is a species of African aquatic frog of the family Pipidae. Its name is derived from the three short claws ...

'' (common platanna)

Insects

Insects present in Cape Town, , including the following. * ''

Acraea horta ''Acraea horta'' or the garden acraea is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Description ''A. horta'' L. (53 e, f) is one of the longest known and commonest Acraeids of the Cape, but it is also nati ...

'' (garden acraea) * ''

Anax imperator The emperor dragonfly or blue emperor (''Anax imperator'') is a large species of hawker dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, averaging in length. The generic name ''Anax'' is from the ancient Greek , "lord"; the specific epithet ''imperator'' is t ...

'' (blue emperor) * ''

Apis mellifera capensis The Cape honey bee or Cape bee (''Apis mellifera capensis'') is a southern South African subspecies of the western honey bee. They play a major role in South African agriculture and the economy of the Western Cape by pollinating crops and produc ...

'' (Cape honeybee) * '' Cacyreus marshalli'' (common geranium bronze) * '' Chrysoritis pyroeis pyroeis'' (sand-dune opal) * '' Colias electo electo'' (African clouded yellow) * ''

Crocothemis erythraea The scarlet dragonfly (''Crocothemis erythraea'') is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, and scarlet darter. Status and distribution The scarlet dragonfly is a common ...

'' (broad scarlet) * '' Danaus chrysippus aegyptius'' (African monarch) * '' Dira clytus clytus'' (Cape autumn widow) * '' Eichochrysops messapus messapus'' (cupreous blue) * '' Gegenis niso niso'' (common Hottentot) * '' Ischnura senegalensis'' (common bluetail) * ''

Lampides boeticus ''Lampides boeticus'', the pea blue, or long-tailed blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or gossamer-winged family. Etymology The Latin species name ''boeticus'' refers to Baetica, a province of the Roman Empire in the Iber ...

'' (lucerne blue) * '' Leptotes brevidentatus'' (short-toothed blue) * '' Leptotes pirithous'' (common pea blue) * '' Macroglossum trochilus'' (African humming bird moth) * '' Metisella metis metis'' (golden-spotted sylph) * '' Orthetrum caffrum'' (two-striped skimmer) * '' Orthetrum julia'' (Julia skimmer) * '' Papilio demodocus demodocus'' (citrus swallowtail) * ''

Pieris brassicae ''Pieris brassicae'', the large white, also called cabbage butterfly, cabbage white, cabbage moth (erroneously), or in India the large cabbage white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is a close relative of the small white, ''Pieris ra ...

'' (cabbage white) * '' Pontia helice helice'' (meadow white) * '' Pseudonympha magus'' (silver-bottom brown, silver bottomed brown) * '' Tarucus thespis'' (vivid blue) * ''

Tramea limbata ''Tramea limbata'' is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include black marsh trotter, ferruginous glider and voyaging glider. Distribution This migrant is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar ...

'' (ferruginous glider) * ''

Vanessa cardui ''Vanessa cardui'' is the most widespread of all butterfly species. It is commonly called the painted lady, or formerly in North America the cosmopolitan. Description File:Vanessa cardui MHNT CUT 2013 3 14 Pontfaverger-Moronvilliers Dos. ...

'' (painted lady) * '' Zophopetes dysmephila'' (palm-tree nightfighter) * '' Zyzeeria knysna'' (sooty blue)

Fungi

Fungi present in Cape Town, , including the following. * ''

Agaricus bisporus ''Agaricus bisporus'' is an edible basidiomycete mushroom native to grasslands in Eurasia and North America. It has two color states while immature – white and brown – both of which have various names, with additional names for the mature ...

'' (cultivated mushroom) * ''

Agaricus campestris ''Agaricus campestris'' is a widely eaten gilled mushroom closely related to the cultivated button mushroom ''Agaricus bisporus''. It is commonly known as the field mushroom or, in North America, meadow mushroom. Taxonomy This species was ori ...

'' (field mushroom) * ''

Agaricus xanthodermus ''Agaricus xanthodermus'', commonly known as the yellow-staining mushroom or simply the yellow-stainer, is a mushroom of the genus ''Agaricus'', which displays a strong yellow colouration at the base of the stem when cut. It is poisonous for mos ...

'' (yellow-staining mushroom) * ''

Amanita muscaria ''Amanita muscaria'', commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus ''Amanita''. It is also a muscimol mushroom. Native throughout the temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, ''Amanita muscar ...

'' (fly agaric) * '' Coprinus comatus'' (shaggy ink cap) * '' Coprinus micaceus'' (glistening ink cap) * '' Favolaschia thwaitesii'' * ''

Gymnopilus junonius ''Gymnopilus junonius'' is a species of mushroom-forming fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. Commonly known as the spectacular rustgill, this large orange mushroom is typically found growing on tree stumps, logs, or tree bases. Some subspecie ...

'' (orange tuft) * '' Gymnopilus penetrans'' (small pine cap) * ''

Laccaria laccata ''Laccaria laccata'', commonly known as the deceiver, or waxy laccaria, is a white-spored species of small edible mushroom found throughout North America and Europe. It is a highly variable mushroom (hence 'deceiver'), and can look quite washed o ...

'' (the deceiver) * ''

Lactarius deliciosus ''Lactarius deliciosus'', commonly known as the saffron milk cap and red pine mushroom, is one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus '' Lactarius'' in the order Russulales. It is native to Europe, but has been accidentally introd ...

'' (pine ring) * ''

Lactarius vietus ''Lactarius vietus'' (commonly known as the grey milkcap) is a species of fungus in the family Russulaceae, first described by Elias Magnus Fries. It produces moderately sized and brittle mushrooms, which grow on the forest floor or on rotti ...

'' (gray milk cap) * '' Laschia thwaitesii'' * '' Lepiota felina'' (cat parasol) * '' Macrolepiota zeyheri'' (white parasol) * ''

Mycena leptocephala ''Mycena leptocephala'', commonly known as the nitrous bonnet, is a species of fungus in the family Mycenaceae. The mushrooms have conical grayish caps that reach up to in diameter, and thin fragile stems up to long. The gills are gray and ...

'' (thin-capped mycena) * '' Pycnoporus sanguineus'' (orange polypore) * '' Russula capensis'' (Cape russula) * ''

Russula sardonia ''Russula sardonia'', commonly known as the primrose brittlegill, is a mushroom of the genus ''Russula'', which are commonly known as brittlegills. The fruiting body, or mushroom, is a reddish-purple, the colour of blackberry juice, and is found ...

'' (purple stemmed russula) * ''

Stereum hirsutum ''Stereum hirsutum'', also called false turkey tail and hairy curtain crust, is a fungus typically forming multiple brackets on dead wood. It is also a plant pathogen infecting peach trees. ''S. hirsutum'' is in turn parasitised by certain other ...

'' (the hairy stereum) * '' Suillus bellinii'' (pine bolete) * ''

Tricholoma albobrunneum ''Tricholoma'' is a genus of fungus that contains many fairly fleshy white-spored gilled mushrooms which are found worldwide generally growing in woodlands. These are ectomycorrhizal fungi, existing in a symbiotic relationship with various spec ...

'' (brown knightly mushroom) * '' Vascellum praetense'' (common puffball) * '' Volvariella speciosa'' (rose-gilled grisette)

References

{{Biodiversity Worldwide Biota of South Africa Cape Town Geography of Cape Town Tourist attractions in Cape Town