WhatSpeciesConnect with Nature
African Dusky Flycatcher
Muscicapa adusta
Forages by flying short distance into open space and then returning to the same or nearby perch. One can hear the snapping of the bill when it catches insects in flight. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
The honey badger is notorious for its strength, ferocity and toughness. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Rock Martin
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Two Rock Martins on the lookout in the Tankwa Karoo. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Cape Weaver
Ploceus capensis
Cape Weaver at the Abrahamskraal bird hide, West Coast National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
Juvenile (left) and adult (right) African Harrier-Hawks soaring above our house. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Yellow Canary
Crithagra flaviventris
Yellow Canary among the reeds at the West Coast National Park ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Cape Canary
Serinus canicollis
First time I have spotted Cape Canary in our garden! They made a meal of the dead lavender flowerheads. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Olive Thrush
Turdus olivaceus
I usually see the Olive Thrush on the ground among the shrubs. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Klaas’ Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx klaas
All day long we heard the Klaas' Cuckoo call. Finally spotted it in the oak tree. Extremely well camouflaged. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Jackal Buzzard
Buteo rufofuscus
Very excited to spot a Jackal Buzzard above our house. ...
WhatSpecies Team 4 months ago
Orange Tufts
Gymnopilus junonius
This clusters' substrate was the left-over hidden chopped-off underground tree stump. ...
Adventurer 8 months ago
Lizzie suggested a new ID:
Common name: Orange Tuft, Pragbondelswam
Scientific name: Gymnopilus junonius
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
It was on my outside wall amd not the 1st one this one is smaller than others ? ...
Fledgling 8 months ago
Emerald Moth
Prasinocyma pictifimbria
Small, beautiful moth with pale teal coloured wings ...
WhatSpecies Team 9 months ago
Sub Antarctic Skua
Catharacta antarctica
Marié commented:
What a wonderful find! Thank you for sharing with us.
Slangkop
Ornithogalum xanthochlorum
Spotted alongside the N7 road, north of Kamieskroon. ...
Observer 9 months ago
Kaapsewolwekos
Mystropetalon thomii
Seen on the Boesmanskloof Hiking Trail in the mountains between Greyton & McGregor. ...
Observer 9 months ago
Rietpypie
Tritoniopsis lata
Seen on the Boesmanskloof Hiking Trail in the mountains between Greyton & McGregor. ...
Observer 9 months ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Rietpypie
Scientific name: Tritoniopsis lata
Cluster Disa
Disa ferruginea
Seen on Table Mountain, in the De Villiers Dam area. ...
Observer 9 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Bright orange organism spotted in a rock crevice during low tide. Could it be some kind of nudibranch? ...
Observer 11 months ago
Spotted African Slug-caterpillar Moth
Chrysopoloma pallens
Medium-sized moth with white spot on wings. Comb-like antennae ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa capitata
Large, black, hairy carpenter bee. Probably male. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Spotted Tortoise Beetle
Conchyloctenia punctata
Medium-sized beetle with head hidden below pronotum. Oval-shaped, pinkish-red with several black spots. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Stone Grasshopper
Trachypetrella sp.
Amazing little creature, blending in perfectly with its surroundings. A stone Grasshopper living in the Namib Desert. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Burrowing Scorpion
Opistophthalmus sp.
Large scorpion with yellow pincers and legs, and dark back, tail and stinger. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Crustose Lichen
Caloplaca namibensis
Bright orange lichen growing in the Namib desert. Fog in the coastal parts of the desert provides the necessary moisture for the lichens' survival. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
White Darkling Beetle
Cauricara eburnea
White Darkling Beetle spotted in the Namib Desert. Their white wing covers regulate temperature by reflecting the hot sunlight. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Monteiro’s Hornbill
Tockus monteiri
Occurs in the driest habitat of any hornbill in the world. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Black Wildebeest
Connochaetes gnou
The Black Wildebeest is more dark brown than black, but does look black from a distance. It has a long, white, horse-like tail which contrasts with the body's colour. Brought to the brink of extinction in the 19th century. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Lappet-faced Vulture
Torgos tracheliotos
The Lappet-faced Vulture can easily be identified by its pinkish naked head and neck, and the ear-like lappets on the sides of its face. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Cape Owlfly
Proctarrelabis capensis
Beautiful medium-sized owlfly. Wingspan is approximately 55mm. The body is grey, mottled in cream and brown. The thorax is covered in dense, white hairs. The antennae are clubbed and banded in black and grey. When it rests, it holds its abdomen ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Black-ringed Ladybeetle
Oenopia cinctella
Small, smooth, orange-yellow ladybird with black margins. The head is black with pale yellow markings. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Striped Ladybeetle
Cheilomenes propinqua
Small, smooth ladybird. Head and pronotum black with pale yellow markings. The elytra is orange-yellow with 6 black stripes. The adults and larvae are important in biological pest control. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Harlequin Ladybird
Harmonia axyridis
Harlequin beetle spotted on the same tree as a number of other ladybird species. The Harlequin ladybird originates from Asia and has spread rapidly across the country. It can easily be identified by an “M” or “W” on their heads. These predatory ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Longhorn Beetle
Erioderus hirtus
Large brown longhorn beetle chasing after bright light at night. Furry underside and pronotum. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Cape Creeper Scorpion
Opisthacanthus capensis
Cape creeper scorpion spotted in Nature’s Valley where they are very common. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Giant Forest Cicada
Pycna seniclara
Large cicada with green head and thorax and black markings. Very loud, continuous call. ...
Observer 11 months ago
Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko
Afrogecko porphyreus
I rescued this small gecko from our swimming pool (Cape Town). ...
Observer 11 months ago
Cape Spittlebug
Rhinaulax analis
Small yellow and red insect with black head and markings at wing tips. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Spotted Sugar Ant
Camponotus maculatus
Yellow to reddish-brown with slender head and thorax. Abdomen is darker. Apparently they forage at night and sometimes enter houses... like this one. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Black-winged Rotting Fly
Suillia picta
Black body, brown-red eyes, black wings with whitish wing tips. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Lizzie suggested a new ID:
Common name: Scaly Mushroom
Scientific name: Pholiota
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
I found this quite extraordinary. Minute fungi growing on a dead leaf. Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Campanella capensis
Campanella capensis
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Fluted Bird’s Nest Fungus
Cyathus striatus
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Lizzie suggested a new ID:
Common name: Ridged Bracket
Scientific name: Cymatoderma elegans
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Lizzie suggested a new ID:
Common name: False Turkey Tail
Scientific name: Stereum ostrea
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted on the Kalander Hiking Trail in Nature's Valley ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted on the Kalander Hiking Trail in Nature's Valley ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted on the Kalander Hiking Trail in Nature's Valley. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Lizzie suggested a new ID:
Common name: False Turkey Tail
Scientific name: Stereum ostrea
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted on the Kalander Hiking Trail, Nature’s Valley ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Crab Spider
Synema sp.
Green carapace while abdomen appears to be white or yellow with brown markings. Lower parts of legs appear to be more yellowish. Perhaps Synema langheldi. ...
Observer 11 months ago
Water Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus
Water Thick-knee spotted at the edge of the Grootrivier estuary in Nature’s Valley. ...
WhatSpecies Team 11 months ago
Citrus Swallow tail
Papilio demodocus demodocus
Spotted at the butterfly garden near the Sudwala Caves. ...
Adventurer 1 year ago
Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus larvatus
Black head and neck, bright yellow body, red eyes and red bill. ...
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Pretzel slime mold
Willkommlangea reticulata
This slime mold species from the order Physarida and the only species of the genus Willkommlangea. ...
Adventurer 1 year ago
Elegant bracket
Trametes elegans
Large, tough bracket fungus with radiating elongated pores. ...
Adventurer 1 year ago
Leathery goblet
Cymatoderma elegans
Recognised by its distinctive wine goblet shape and warty underside. ...
Adventurer 1 year ago
Burn site ochre cup
Anthracobia melaloma
Cup fungi that occurs only after a veld fire on burnt wooden substrate in the ground. ...
Adventurer 1 year ago
Marié commented:
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing. 😀
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Halcyon albiventris
A small, beautiful Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris) spotted in Nature’s Valley. I think it is a juvenile. The bird was very quiet, sitting on a fence, seemingly looking to catch an insect on the lawn. ...
Observer 2 years ago
Katoenbos
Gomphocarpus cancellatus
Found it along the lower contour path on Devil’s Peak ...
Observer 2 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Katoenbos
Scientific name: Gomphocarpus cancellatus
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Spotted it in Kruger National Park on a game drive ...
Observer 2 years ago
Blue Emperor
Anax imperator
Found it on the wall of a house in Table View, South Africa ...
Observer 2 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Blue Emperor
Scientific name: Anax imperator
Erica
Erica sp.
Found it next to the path of the Cape Hangklip Trail near Pringle Bay. ...
Observer 2 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Erica
Scientific name: Erica hirtiflora
Notes: Could be Erica hirtiflora which has needle-like leaves and hairy, mauve-pink flowers.
Grootrietpypie
Tritoniopsis lata lata
Found it next to the path of the Cape Hangklip Trail near Pringle Bay. ...
Observer 2 years ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Found it next to the path of the Cape Hangklip Trail near Pringle Bay. ...
Observer 2 years ago
Erica
Erica sp.
Found it next to the path of the Cape Hangklip Trail near Pringle Bay. ...
Observer 2 years ago
Rooipypie
Gladiolus priorii
Found it next to the path of the Cape Hangklip Trail near Pringle Bay. ...
Observer 2 years ago
Marié suggested a new ID:
Common name: Rooipypie | Red Afrikaner
Scientific name: Gladiolus priorii
Cape Ground Squirrel
Xerus inauris
South African Ground Squirrel lives mainly in the arid regions. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Yellow Mongoose
Cynictis penicillata
Yellow mongooses has a yellowish fur and bushy tail. They live in colonies of 20-40 members. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Bonthoutkapper
Tricholaema leucomelas
Pied Barbet with black-and-white striped head. Black mantle and thick black eye stripe. Red patch on forehead. Yellow wing feather tips. Also yellow above eye. ...
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Palm-tree Night-fighter
Zophopetes dysmephila
What Species is This?