WhatSpeciesConnect with Nature
Spotted African Slug-caterpillar Moth
Chrysopoloma pallens
Medium-sized moth with white spot on wings. Comb-like antennae
WhatSpecies Team 5 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 5 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 5 months ago
Burrowing Scorpion
Opistophthalmus sp.
Large scorpion with yellow pincers and legs, and dark back, tail and stinger.
WhatSpecies Team 5 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 5 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 5 months ago
Monteiro’s Hornbill
Tockus monteiri
Occurs in the driest habitat of any hornbill in the world.
WhatSpecies Team 5 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 5 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 5 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...read more
WhatSpecies Team 5 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 5 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 5 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....read more
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Longhorn Beetle
Erioderus hirtus
Large brown longhorn beetle chasing after bright light at night. Furry underside and pronotum.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Cape Creeper Scorpion
Opisthacanthus capensis
Cape creeper scorpion spotted in Nature’s Valley where they are very common.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Cape Spittlebug
Rhinaulax analis
Small yellow and red insect with black head and markings at wing tips.
WhatSpecies Team 5 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 5 months ago
Black-winged Rotting Fly
Suillia picta
Black body, brown-red eyes, black wings with whitish wing tips.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Common: Scaly Mushroom
Scientific: 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 5 months ago
Campanella capensis
Campanella capensis
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Fluted Bird’s Nest Fungus
Cyathus striatus
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Common: Ridged Bracket
Scientific: Cymatoderma elegans
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted while hiking in the Tsitsikamma National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Common: False Turkey Tail
Scientific: 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 5 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 5 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 5 months ago
Common: False Turkey Tail
Scientific: Stereum ostrea
Water Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus
Water Thick-knee spotted at the edge of the Grootrivier estuary in Nature’s Valley.
WhatSpecies Team 5 months ago
Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus larvatus
Black head and neck, bright yellow body, red eyes and red bill.
WhatSpecies Team 7 months ago
Cape Ground Squirrel
Xerus inauris
South African Ground Squirrel lives mainly in the arid regions.
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Yellow Mongoose
Cynictis penicillata
Yellow mongooses has a yellowish fur and bushy tail. They live in colonies of 20-40 members.
WhatSpecies Team 1 year 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 1 year ago
Palm-tree Night-fighter
Zophopetes dysmephila
Beautiful little butterfly with white streak along length of vein on wing. Antennae is white only at the club. Fly at dusk or in dull, cloudy weather.
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Brown Spot Temnora
Temnora plagiata plagiata
Large hawk moth with distinctive wing shape. Forewing upperside has a conspicuous strongly curved brown antemedian band, a discal spot and a dark brown ring with a pale centre.
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Creeper Scorpion
Opisthacanthus capensis
Very docile scorpion minding its business in an outside basin.
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Eight-spot Tussock Moth
Laelia octophora octophora
Medium-sized moth. Wings white with black crescent markings.
WhatSpecies Team 1 year ago
Rain Spider Wasp
Tachypompilus (Afropompilus) ignitus
Spider-hunting wasp with large, black body, red antennae and red legs. Wings also red with dark tip and black base. Spotted it running across the lawn.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Crab Spider
Thomisus sp.
Beautiful white crab spider lying in waiting on an iris.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Slender Mongoose
Galerella sanguinea
Slender body and distinguished by black-tipped tail. Looking for termites. They eat insects and other small invertebrates, reptiles, small rodents, amphibians, birds and also wild fruits.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra
Equus zebra hartmannae
We literally spotted this Hartmann's Mountain Zebra on a mountain in the Moon Landscape in Namibia. it can be distinguished from the Plains Zebra by the lack of shadow stripes, and its legs being striped to the hoofs.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Greater Kestrel
Falco rupicoloides
Beautiful Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) spotted at Sossusvlei, Namibia. Hard to believe that a bird can survice here. It’s Afrikaans name is Grootrooivalk.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser mahali
Distinctive broad, white brow. Rather vocal, calling frequently.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Six-eyed Sand Spider
Sicarius hahni
Spotted this Six-eyed sand spider by chance. Almost perfectly camouflaged against the sandy backdrop. My first sighting of Sicarius hahni.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Common Opal
Chrysoritis thysbe
Opal butterfly with variegated hind wing. Spotted in the Cederberg Wilderness Area.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Karoo Girdled Lizard
Cordylus polyzonus
Karoo Girdled Lizard? Spotted in Algeria in the Cederberg Wilderness Area.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Thanks to Tyrone Ping for the ID.
Swift Tern
Thalasseus bergii
Swift Tern with distinctive yellow bill and a black crown.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Black Girdled Lizard
Cordylus niger
Medium-sized black lizard, restricted to Table Mountain and an isolated population near Langebaan.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Silver-bottom Brown
Pseudonympha magus
Silver-bottom Brown with rather tattered wings. Pale silver-grey hind wings, with eyespot above brown band. Flies lazily, settling frequently on flowers or grass.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Dotted Border
Mylothris sp.
Beautiful butterfly with black spots on wing edges. Perhaps a Common Dotted Border (Mylothris agathina agathina).
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
Beautiful, stately visitor in our garden this morning. African Harrier-Hawk (Kaalwangvalk). Table Mountain as backdrop. It "hopped" from tree to tree, seemingly looking for prey by perching in the top of the canopy, looking down through the branches. Wonderful experience...read more
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Zig-zag Emperor Moth
Imbrasia tyrrhea tyrrhea
Beautiful, large Emperor moth. Wingspan about 120mm. Large eyespots surrounded by two zig-zag bands. Pinkish hind wings.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Tree Velvet Spider
Gandanameno sp.
Beautiful little spider spotted on the bark of a blue gum tree. Dark carapace with white spots on abdomen. Unsure of exact species.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Common Lesser Thicktail scorpion
Uroplectes lineatus
Small scorpion, brownish, body length about 1.5 – 2 cm. Not sure about species. Left it where I found it.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Thanks to Paul Bester for the ID.
Beach Hopper
Talorchestia capensis
Tiny amphipod spotted on the beach. It got my attention hopping across the sand, looking rather clumsy. The video shows how it falls about in search of fresh seaweeds.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Beautiful octopus hunting for crab in a tidal pool. Watch the short video to witness its cool disappearing act.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Knobbly Dogwhelk
Mancinella capensis
Greyish-brown shell with 3-4 spiral rows of paler tubercles.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Oblique Ark Shell
Barbatia obliquata
Shell has fine radiating ridges, partly covered with soft black fur.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
