Animal of the week

Images: Rob C. H. M. Oudejane Common names: Cockroach-hunting wasp, cockroach wasp (Eng.); kakkerlakwespe (Afr.). Ampulex is a genus of […]

Images: Alan Manson Common names: African harvester termite (Eng.); grasdraertermiet (Afr.); moloto (Sepedi); Imvungu (isiZulu); iphondondo (Tshivenda). Harvester termites are […]

Common names: Furry marsh crab, marsh crab (Eng.); moeraskrap (Afr.) One of the most fascinating creatures in the mangrove ecosystem […]

Derivation of scientific name: The name ‘caracal’ originates from a Turkish word ‘karakulak’, which means ‘black eared’. Common names: African caracal, […]

Images: Andrew Hankey Bushbucks are a species of antelope found in Sub-Saharan Africa, belonging to the family Bovidae. They are […]

The Knysna seahorse, Hippocampus capensis, is an endemic fish species in South Africa belonging to the fascinating group of teleost […]

Images: David Guarnieri & Gerhard Theron Description/How to recognize The Red-billed Buffalo Weaver is the largest weaver in South Africa […]

Official Common Name: Ixodes rubicundus Description/How to recognise a Karoo paralysis tick  The Karoo paralysis tick is a shiny, eyeless, […]

Common names: Martial Eagle (Eng.); Breëkoparend (Afr.); Ukhozi (generic for ‘eagle’; isiXhosa); uKhozi (generic term for ‘eagle’; isiZulu); Gama (Xitsonga). […]

Images: Peter Southwood Introduction The root-mouthed jellyfish (Eupilema inexpectata) is one of the few true jellyfish species that occur in […]

Nuttalliella namaqua is the sole tick species of the monotypic genus and family Nuttalliella and Nuttalliellidae respectively, and it is […]

Common names: oil-collecting bee, oil-bee (Eng.). Derivation of scientific name: This species of Rediviva was named after the late Charles […]

Official name: Breede River Redfin Derivation of the scientific name: Its scientific name comes from the Ancient Greek pseudos meaning […]

Official common name: Black-footed cat Scientific name and classification: Animalia Chordata- Mammalia-Carnivora-Felidae-Felis-nigripes (Felis nigripes, Burchell 1824). Common names: English: Black-footed […]

Common names: Bavhuri (Tshivenda); Baburi (Sepedi); Bavuri (Xitsonga) Description/How to recognise a Silver butter catfish   Schilbe intermedius, also known […]