Animal of the week

Common names: Black-backed jackal, rooijakkals Derivation of name Canis is the Latin translation of dog or hound. Black-backed refers to […]

Derivation of scientific name The genus name Chersina is derived from the Greek word “chersinos” meaning land tortoise. The specific […]

Common names: Phepeng (Sepedi), fezela (isiZulu), xipamu (Xitsonga) Parabuthus transvaalicus is one of the biggest scorpions in the family Buthidae, […]

Common name: Leaproach    Derivation of scientific name Saltoblattella is the Latin translation of “jumping small cockroach” and montistabularis is […]

Derivation of common name: The word “chacma” is derived from the Hottentot (Khoikhoi) name for baboon, viz choachamma or choa […]

Derivation of scientific name: Circus – hawks that circle. Maurus – black Common names: Witkruispaddavreter, Witkruisvleivalk (Afrikaans) The Black Harrier […]

Scientific name: Helogale parvula Common names: Hovo (Shona), Kgano (Tswana), Uchakide (Zulu),  Matswi (Venda), iduha (Ndebele), motswitswane (Sotho), Dwergmuishond (Afrikaans), […]

Other names: Bobbejaanspinnekop (Afrikaans), segokgo (Sepedi), puma (Xitsonga). The endemic South African spider Idiothele mira received its name from the […]

Derivation of scientific name: The genus name Tilapia is derived from the Sotho word for a fish “Thlape”. The specific […]

Derivation of scientific name – It is not known what the genus and species names refer to. Common names: Brandwurm […]

Derivation of scientific name Carolus Linneaus named the honeybee in 1758. Apis is the Latin word for “bee” and mellifera […]

Derivation of scientific name Pedioplanis: “ped” is the Latin prefix referring to foot, and “planus” is the Latin word for […]

Derivation of scientific name The species name is derived from the type locality, which is the Glenlyon Farm in Nieuwoudtville, […]

Common Name rock hyrax (English); iMbila (isiZulu), klipdassie, dassie (Afrikaans). Other names The name, dassie, is derived from the Dutch […]

These omnivorous caprellids are usually found in dense colonies attached to submerged man-made structures, floating seaweed, and…