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 2 years ago
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
The honey badger is notorious for its strength, ferocity and toughness.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Cape Weaver
Ploceus capensis
Cape Weaver at the Abrahamskraal bird hide, West Coast National Park.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
Juvenile (left) and adult (right) African Harrier-Hawks soaring above our house.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years ago
Yellow Canary
Crithagra flaviventris
Yellow Canary among the reeds at the West Coast National Park
WhatSpecies Team 2 years 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 2 years ago
Olive Thrush
Turdus olivaceus
I usually see the Olive Thrush on the ground among the shrubs.
WhatSpecies Team 2 years 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 2 years ago
Spotted African Slug-caterpillar Moth
Chrysopoloma pallens
Medium-sized moth with white spot on wings. Comb-like antennae
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Spotted Tortoise Beetle
Conchyloctenia punctata
Medium-sized beetle with head hidden below pronotum. Oval-shaped, pinkish-red with several black spots.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Stone Grasshopper
Trachypetrella sp.
Amazing little creature, blending in perfectly with its surroundings. A stone Grasshopper living in the Namib Desert.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Burrowing Scorpion
Opistophthalmus sp.
Large scorpion with yellow pincers and legs, and dark back, tail and stinger.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years ago
Monteiro’s Hornbill
Tockus monteiri
Occurs in the driest habitat of any hornbill in the world.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years ago
Black-ringed Ladybeetle
Oenopia cinctella
Small, smooth, orange-yellow ladybird with black margins. The head is black with pale yellow markings.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years ago
Longhorn Beetle
Erioderus hirtus
Large brown longhorn beetle chasing after bright light at night. Furry underside and pronotum.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Cape Creeper Scorpion
Opisthacanthus capensis
Cape creeper scorpion spotted in Nature’s Valley where they are very common.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Cape Spittlebug
Rhinaulax analis
Small yellow and red insect with black head and markings at wing tips.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years 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 3 years ago
Black-winged Rotting Fly
Suillia picta
Black body, brown-red eyes, black wings with whitish wing tips.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
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 3 years ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Common: Ridged Bracket
Scientific: Cymatoderma elegans
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
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 3 years ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted on the Kalander Hiking Trail in Nature's Valley
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
What Species is This?
This specimen still needs to be identified
Spotted on the Kalander Hiking Trail in Nature's Valley.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years 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 3 years ago
Black-headed Oriole
Oriolus larvatus
Black head and neck, bright yellow body, red eyes and red bill.
WhatSpecies Team 3 years ago
Cape Ground Squirrel
Xerus inauris
South African Ground Squirrel lives mainly in the arid regions.
WhatSpecies Team 4 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 4 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 4 years 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 4 years 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 4 years ago
Creeper Scorpion
Opisthacanthus capensis
Very docile scorpion minding its business in an outside basin.
WhatSpecies Team 4 years ago
Eight-spot Tussock Moth
Laelia octophora octophora
Medium-sized moth. Wings white with black crescent markings.
WhatSpecies Team 4 years 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 4 years ago
Crab Spider
Thomisus sp.
Beautiful white crab spider lying in waiting on an iris.
WhatSpecies Team 4 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 4 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 4 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 4 years ago
Sociable Weaver
Philetairus socius