Animals close to the sea shore

Bushbuck Caracal Medium sized antelope Larger in size in this area go down to the beach at due to minimal compe- night to feed. tition for food. They are solitary animals and highly territorial. Black and white markings on face.

Dassie Duiker and Grysbok

Closely related to ele- Often go into the water phants, due to their toe for salt and to rid structures. Frequently themselves of ticks. seen on rocks and cliffs. Eat seeds and fruit.

Grey Mongoose Large spotted Genet

Lesser and Grey mon- Slim, short-legged carni- goose have long bushy vore with spotted coat and tails, their legs and feet long bushy tail. Preys on a are black. They are active wide variety of creatures by day. from insect to nestling birds. Porcupine Striped Mouse

Nocturnal rodents, usually Four distinct stripes solitary but can occur in running down its back. pairs. Charge backwards They are active by day. with quills erect when threatened.

birds close to the sea shore

African Darter African Hoopoe

A spear feeder, they can The long curved bill is used be seen diving for fish for probing the ground for along the coast. worms and insects.

African Penguins Black Harrier

Now declared endangered The rarest species of species. harrier in the world. They soar low over the ground to catch their prey. birds close to the sea shore

Black Oystercatcher Blue Crane Highly endangered. Eating National bird of South mainly shellfish. They nest Africa, over 1m high and in hollow sand. Found in occur in flocks when they pairs or small groups. are not mating.

Bokmakierie Cape Bulbul

The loud, ringing duet, Usually seen in gardens. ‘bok-bok-cheet’ probably Their diet includes fruit gives the bird its name. and insects.

Cape Francolin Cape Gannet

Occurs in pairs or family Large flocks may assemble groups which keep to at fish shoals. Most follow dense cover most of the the ‘sardine run’ to KZN in time. winter. birds close to the sea shore

Cape Gulls Cape Robin Scavenges on shells, dead Worms and insects are fish, bait and eggs. Gulls captured on lawns and often drop mussels onto among leaf litter. rocks to split them open.

Cape Wagtail Crowned Lapwing

Gets its name from the Occurs in short grassland. manner in which it wags They may feign injury in its tail when walking. Com- order to distract predators mon in gardens and built from their nests. up areas.

Double Collared Sunbird Fiscal Shrike

The lesser and the greater Spears victims onto thorns both occur here. They or barbed wire to be get their name from collected later. their bright red collars. Commonly seen feeding in aloes. birds close to the sea shore

Fish Eagle Grey Heron Sometimes feed on It preys on frogs and fish. mullet in the bay. Have Nest is platform of reeds a magnificent call. They and sticks, built in a tree build their nests in trees. or reed bed.

Helmeted Guinea-fowl Jackal Buzzard

Feeds on insects and Gets its name from the seeds. Eggs are laid on jackal-like call it makes. the ground among dense vegetation.

Pied Kingfishers Sanderling

Black and white birds Birds in flocks run in usually found in pairs. clockwork-fashion along Often seen hovering above beaches, following wave the water looking for fish. backwash to capture small They also eat shellfish. molluscs. birds close to the sea shore

Speckled Mouse-bird Spotted Eagle Owl

Berries and soft fruit make Feeds on small creatures up their diet. including winged termites.

Spur Winged Goose White Breasted Cormorant

Males are considerably Occurs in both marine and larger than the females. freshwater habitats. They catch fish under water.

White-necked Raven White-fronted Plover

Feeds mostly on eggs of Camouflaged eggs laid on other birds and carrion upper beach among plants picked up on roads. May or washed-up flotsam. forage on beaches at low tide. reptiles on the sea shore

Angulate Tortoise Leopard Tortoise

Males have a shelf under Large tortoise with dull, their chin to use in combat dome shaped shell. with other males. Common in gardens and built areas.

Brown House Snake Mole Snake

The squared-off snout and Adults are black. Active by two pale lines on either day. Non venomous but side of the pales eyes are able to inflict severe bites characteristic. in self defence.

Puff Adder Rinkhals

The venom is cytotoxic Feeds mostly on toads but meaning it affects your will also take rodents and tissue. They are ambush even other snakes. hunters and rely on their camouflaged colouring to remain undetected. Cape Cobra Cape Dwarf Gecko The venom is neurotoxic Throat is stippled with meaning it affects the grey brown while the belly nervous system. The most is cream coloured. The venomous snake in South back is grey-brown with Africa. Spreads its hood dark streak from snout to when threatened. shoulder or beyond.

Marine organisms

Alikreukel (Giant Periwinkle) Black Mussel

Edible sea mollusc. You will Found on rocky shores, they most likely find empty shells anchor themselves to rocks or trap doors in the rocks. to avoid being washed off by Permits only allow 5 per waves. Edible but must be person per day. prepared properly.

Blue Bottle Blue Stingray (Portuguese Man of War) The whip-like tail is armed Gets blown by the East with a toxin-bearing spine. winds onto beaches. Ten- Found in shallow sandy tacles up to 3m long and bays where it is extremely very poisonous. well camouflaged. Marine organisms

Bottle Nose Dolphin Cape Urchin Regularly seen from shore Round echinoderm where they surf and hunt. covered in pointed spines. Lives in rock pools where it feeds on algae. Pale green shells are often washed out on shore.

Chokka (Calamari) Common Dolphin

Internal chalky plate, Long snout. May gather which gives the cuttle fish in large hunting schools buoyancy. Used as beak of hundreds. They often sharpener for cage birds launch themselves out of such as canaries. the water.

Duckfoot Limpet Elf

Very flat surface to Also known as Shad. minimize damage from On this coast known as waves. Also a filter feeder. blue shad. Marine organisms

Ghost Crab Goose Barnacle

Digs deep holes high on Filter feeder. Fixed to sandy beaches. rocks in clutches.

Humpback Whale Jelly Fish

Not often seen from Normally no stinging shore. tentacles. Fed on at sea Normally moves quite fast. by turtles. When washed up plough snails feed on them.

Mermaids Purse Octopus

Shark or Ray eggs. Normally only lives for Tentacles attach to 12 months from birth to seaweed while embryos death. Found on rocky develop. shores. Marine organisms

Oyster Pansy Shell Edible organism that is Biscuit like shells of dead notoriously hard to open. sea urchins. Also known as They filter the sea water sand dollar. to obtain nutrients.

Paper Nautilus Pink Coral

The internal organisms of A bright fuchsia coral small squid like animals. found in rocky shores. One of the most beautiful Stains fingers when and delicate shells. touched.

Plough Snail Pygmy Sperm Whale

Occurs on sandy, wave- Sometimes beaches itself exposed beaches where between Dana Bay and it scavenges on carrion Boggoms Bay for reasons located by scent. unknown. Marine organisms

Seals Siffie (Venus Ear) Often come out and lie The inside is a beautiful on the beaches, due to ‘mother-of-pearl’ colour. either sickness or when moulting. Do not disturb them, as they can be very dangerous.

Southern Mullet Southern Right Whale

Caught commercially in Visits our shores between nets. It is a delicacy when June and November. Can smoked. be seen and heard whilst walking on the beach.

Swimming Crabs White Mussels

Back legs are paddle Two siphons; one sucks shaped. Can nip your in water for feeding, the toes. Sandy coloured with other expels wastewater. red spots. They feed on Main source of food of the plough snails. Oystercatcher. BIRDS (continued)

Common names Scientific names Afrikaans names African Hoopoe Upupa epops Hoephoep Pied barbet Lybius leucomelas Bonthoukapper Cape Clapper lark Mirafra apiata Hoëveldklappertjie Greater striped swallow Hirundo cucullata Grootstreepswael Eurasian swallow Hirundo rustica Europese swael Black saw-wing swallow Psalidoprocne holomelaena Swartsaagvlerkswael Brown-throuted martin Riparia paludicola Afrikaanse oewerswael Rock martin Hirundo fuligula Kransswael Fork-tailed drongo Dicrurus adsimilisi Miksterbyvanger Pied crow Corvus albus Witborskraai Black crow Corvus capensis Swartkraai Capebulbul Pycnonotuscapensis Kaapsetiptol Olivethrush Turdusolivaceus Olyfster Cape rock-thrush Monicola rupestris Kaapse kliplyster Familiar chat Cerocomela familiars Kaapse kliplyster Cape robin Cossypha caffra Gewone janfrederik Karoo robin Erythruppygia coyphoeus Slangverklikker Willow warbler Phulloscopus trochilus Hofsanger Bar-throuted apalis Apalis thoracica Bandkeelkleinjantjie Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapillus Neddikkie Spotted prinia Prinia maculosa Karoolangstertjie Fiscal flycatcher Sigelus silens Fiskaalvlieëvanger Cape white-eye Zosterops pallidus Kaapse glasogie Cape wagtail Motacilla capensis Gewone kwikkie Cape rockjumper Chaetops frenatus Kaapse berglyster Grassveld pipet Anthus cinnamomeus Gewone koester Orangethrouted Longclaw Macronyx capensis Oranjekeelkalkoentjie Fiscal shrike Lanius collaris Fiskallaksman Southern tchaga Tchagra tchagra Grysborslaksman Bokmakierie Telephorus zeylonus Bokmakierie Red-winged starling Onychognathus morio Rooivlerkspreeu Eurasian starling Stumus vulgaris Europese spreeu Wattled starling Creatophora cinerea Lelspreeu Pied starling Spreo bicolour Witgatspreeu Cape sugarbird Promerops cafer Kaapse Suikervoël Malachite sunbird Nectarine famosa Kaapse Suikervoël Orange-breasted sunbird Nectorinia violacea Oranjebossuikerbekkie Black sunbird Nectarinia amethystine Swartsuikerbekkie Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis Veereier Great double-collared sunbird Nectarine afra Groot-rooiborssuikerbekkie Lesser double-collared sunbird Nectarine chalbea Klein-rooiborssuikerbekkie House sparrow Passer domesticus Huismossie Cape sparrow Passer melanurus Gewone mossie Masked weaver Ploceus velatus Swartkeelgeelvink Cape weaver Ploceus capensis Kaapse wewer Red bishop Euplectes orix Rooivink Yellow rumped widow Euplextes capensis Kaapse flap Pintailed whydah Bidua macroura Koningrooibekkie Common waxbill Estrilda astild Rooibeksysie Yellow canary Serinus flaviventris Geelkanarie Bully canary Serinus canicollis Dikbekkanarie Forest canary Serninus scotops Gestreepte kanarie Cape canary Serinus canicollis Kaapse kanarie White-throuted canary Serinus albogularis Witkeelkanarie Streaky-headed canary Serinus gularis Streepkopkanarie Common names Scientific names Afrikaans names Cape bunting Emberiza capensis Rooivlekstreepkoppie African Darter Anninga rupa Slanghalsvoël Black Harrier Circus maurus Witkruisvleivalk Cape gull Larus vetula Swartvlerk seemeeu Cape crowned plover Vaneilus Coronatus Kaapse kroonkiewiet Cape gannet Morus capensis Kaapse visvanger Fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer Visarend Grey heron Ardea purpurea Grys reier Jackal buzzard Buteo rufofuscus Jakkals dief African Penguin Spheniscus demersus Pikkewyn Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Bontvisvanger Sanderling Calidris alba Strandloper Spur winged goose Plectropterus gambensis Gevleulde gans White breasted cormorant Phalacrocorax Iucidus Wit bors visvanger White necked raven Corvus albicollis Wit hals kraai

INVERTEBRATES Praying mantis Agentine ant Cocktail ant Honey bees

MAMMALS Striped polecat Ictonyx striatus Stinkmuishond Scrub hare Lepus saxatilis Kolhaas Common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia Gewone (grys) duiker Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus Bosbok Small-spotted genet Genetta genetta Kleinkolmuskeljaatkat Striped mouse Thabdomus pumilio Streepmuis Cape Serotine Bat Eptisecus capensis Kaapse dakvlermuis Porcupine Hystric africaeustralis Ystervark Bat-eared fox Otocyon meglotis Bakoorvos Caracal Felis caracal Rooikat Cape dune mole-rat Bathyergus suillus Kaapse duinmol Bottle nose dolphin Tursiops truncates Stompneusdolfyn Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Gollwalvis Southern Right whale Eubalaena australis Suidelike noordkaper Common dolphin Delphinus delphis Gewone dolfyn Grey mongoose Herpestes ichneumon Grys muishond Large spotted genet Genetta tigrina Gevlekte muskeljaatkat Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus Rob

MARINE ORGANISMS Giant periwinkle Alikreukel Black mussel Swart mossel Blue bottle Blou blasie Blue stingray Pylstert Cape urchin Pampoentjie Chokka Tjokka Duckfoot limpet Seeslak Goose barnacle Jelly fish Jellie vis Mermaids purse Haai eier Octopus Seekat Plough snail Common names Scientific names Afrikaans names Shad Elf Southern Mullet Harder Venus ear Siffie White mussel Witmossel

REPTILES Cape cobra Naja nivea Kaapse geelslang (kobra) Southern rock agama Agama atra Klip koggelmander Puff adder Bitis arietans Pofadder Cape skink Mabuya capensis Kaapse gladde akkedis Tree snake/Boomslang Dispholidus typus Boomslang Mole snake Pseudaspis cana Molslang Karoo dwarf chameleon Bradypodion karroicum Dwerg-verkleurmannetjie Parrot-beaked tortoise Homopus areolatus Gewone padloper Leopard tortoise Geochelone pardalis Bergskilpad Angulate tortoise Chersina angulata Rooipens Rinkhals Hemachatus Rinkhals Brown House Snake Lamprophis Bruin huis slang Cape Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus capen Kaapse dwerg geitjie

VEGETATION White Milkwood Sideroxylon inerme Witmelkhout Karoo Boer-bean Schotia afra Karooboerboon Bushtick-berry Chrysanthemoides monilifra Bietou Cabbage Tree Cussonia spicata Kiepersol September bush Polygala myrtifolia Bloukappie Krantz Aloe Aloe arborescens Krantzaalwyn Wild Olive Olea europaea Olienhout Carpubrotus edulus Suurvygie

SA RED DATA BOOK ENTRY *Vulnerable #Near threatened

RAINFALL 350mm per annum With almost 300 sunny days a year in the Mossel Bay and surrounding areas, it is the perfect all-year holiday destination.