Common names: Black-backed jackal, rooijakkals Derivation of name Canis is the Latin translation of dog or hound. Black-backed refers to […]
Continue readingAngulate Tortoise
Derivation of scientific name The genus name Chersina is derived from the Greek word “chersinos” meaning land tortoise. The specific […]
Continue readingTransvaal fat-tailed scorpion
Common names: Phepeng (Sepedi), fezela (isiZulu), xipamu (Xitsonga) Parabuthus transvaalicus is one of the biggest scorpions in the family Buthidae, […]
Continue readingLeaproach
Common name: Leaproach Derivation of scientific name Saltoblattella is the Latin translation of “jumping small cockroach” and montistabularis is […]
Continue readingChacma baboon
Derivation of common name: The word “chacma” is derived from the Hottentot (Khoikhoi) name for baboon, viz choachamma or choa […]
Continue readingBlack Harrier
Derivation of scientific name: Circus – hawks that circle. Maurus – black Common names: Witkruispaddavreter, Witkruisvleivalk (Afrikaans) The Black Harrier […]
Continue readingDwarf Mongoose
Scientific name: Helogale parvula Common names: Hovo (Shona), Kgano (Tswana), Uchakide (Zulu), Matswi (Venda), iduha (Ndebele), motswitswane (Sotho), Dwergmuishond (Afrikaans), […]
Continue readingBlue-footed baboon spider
Other names: Bobbejaanspinnekop (Afrikaans), segokgo (Sepedi), puma (Xitsonga). The endemic South African spider Idiothele mira received its name from the […]
Continue readingOtjikoto Tilapia
Derivation of scientific name: The genus name Tilapia is derived from the Sotho word for a fish “Thlape”. The specific […]
Continue readingAfrican Silk Moth
Derivation of scientific name – It is not known what the genus and species names refer to. Common names: Brandwurm […]
Continue readingCape honeybee
Derivation of scientific name Carolus Linneaus named the honeybee in 1758. Apis is the Latin word for “bee” and mellifera […]
Continue readingSpotted sand lizard
Derivation of scientific name Pedioplanis: “ped” is the Latin prefix referring to foot, and “planus” is the Latin word for […]
Continue readingMonkey beetle
Derivation of scientific name The species name is derived from the type locality, which is the Glenlyon Farm in Nieuwoudtville, […]
Continue readingDassie
Common Name rock hyrax (English); iMbila (isiZulu), klipdassie, dassie (Afrikaans). Other names The name, dassie, is derived from the Dutch […]
Continue readingJapanese skeleton shrimp
These omnivorous caprellids are usually found in dense colonies attached to submerged man-made structures, floating seaweed, and…
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