NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 AHN

AFRICAN HERP NEWS

NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 1 AHN FORWARD

FOUNDED 1965 The HAA is dedicated to the study and con- COMMITTEE OF THE HAA servation of African and amphib- CHAIRPERSON LETTER FROM THE CHAIRPERSON ians. Membership is open to anyone with Krystal Tolley, South African National Biodi- an interest in the African herpetofauna. versity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Members receive the Association’s journal, Cape Town, . On behalf of the new HAA committee, I would like to thank the members for giving us the Email: [email protected] African Journal of Herpetology (which opportunity to promote and foster African herpetology for both the established and the publishes review papers, research articles, SECRETARY next generation of herpetologists. The new committee has met several times since its for- and short communications – subject to Buyi Makhubo, Department of Herpetology, mation as there were a number of outstanding issues, as well as new initiatives to discuss. peer review) and African Herp News, the National Museum, P. O. Box 266, Bloemfontein We would like to share these with the members. Firstly, our membership has decreased Newsletter (which includes short com- 9300, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] substantially over recent years. We now have less than 150 members. Most of the loss munications, natural history notes, book has been from overseas members, most likely due to the lack of a mechanism to make reviews, bibliographies, husbandry hints, TREASURER payments to the society. We are looking into new methods, such as PayPal. While ease announcements and news items). Jens Reissig, P.O.Box 62, Kelvin, Sandton 2054, of payment might boost our membership, the committee also discussed why one would South Africa want to be a member. What is the advantage and why should we value membership in the NEWSLETTER EDITOR’S NOTE Email: [email protected] Articles shall be considered for publication HAA? We tossed around some ideas such as access to the journal, receiving the newsletter and cheaper conference fees. But ultimately, the group agreed that we really are members provided that they are original and have JOURNAL EDITOR not been published elsewhere. Articles will Ché Weldon, Unit for Environmental Sciences and because it gives us a sense of belonging. We are a community, we have common ground, be submitted for peer review at the Edi- Management, North-West University, Potchefst- and we want to encourage others to participate so that herpetology in Africa grows. Thus, room 2522, South Africa. tor’s discretion. Authors are requested to Email: [email protected] our goal for the next 2 years is to support scientific endeavors, to recognize excellence submit manuscripts by e-mail in MS Word within our community and foster young researchers. Our first obvious step is to update the ‘.doc’ or ‘.docx’ format. NEWSLETTER EDITOR website and to step things up with social media on the FaceBook page. There will be fre- COPYRIGHT Jessica da Silva, South African National Biodi- quent postings regarding the journal content and other activities. The FaceBook page will : Articles published in versity Institute. Kirstenbosch Research Centre, also become a more active student forum, where students can post questions and we will the Newsletter are copyright of the Herpe- Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] encourage our more seasoned members to engage with the students and provide advice. tological Association of Africa and may not This is just the beginning of our work and the committee will be meeting fairly regularly so be reproduced without permission of the WEBPAGE/SOCIAL MEDIA Editor. The views and opinions expressed Bryan Maritz, Department of Biodiversity and if members have comments or recommendations, please contact us at our new committee in articles are not necessarily those of the Conservation at the University of the Western email address: [email protected]. Cape. Editor. E-mail: [email protected]

Committee of the haa STUDENT SUPPORT COVER PHOTOGRAPH Hanlie Engelbrecht, School of , Plant Krystal Tolley : Python and Environmental Sciences, University of the natalensis Photograph by: Graham Witwatersrand, South Africa. HAA Chairperson E-mail: [email protected] Alexander

2 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 3 6 EDITORIAL 34 M. PETFORD & R. VAN HUYSSTEEN. Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia (Günther, 1864). Hunting strategy. CORRECTIONS 7 CORRECTION TO ISSUE 66, PAGE 28 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIONS 37 M. P. HEINICKE & A. M. BAUER. Goggia essexi (Hewitt, 1925) and SURVEYS Lygodactylus capensis (Smith, 1849). 8 B. HUGHS. THE OF DODOMA 41 W. CONRADIE & T. BUSSCHAU. Macrelaps microlepidotus (Günther, 1860). ARTICLES 43 D. W. PIETERSEN, J. P. DAVIES & L. J. THOMPSON. Lygodactylus 12 R. C. BOYCOTT. EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON HATCHING SUCCESS chobiensis - FitzSimons, 1932. 45 D. W. PIETERSEN, J. P. DAVIES & L. J. THOMPSON. Chamaeleo NATURAL HISTORY NOTES anchietae - Bocage 1872 19 M. F. BATES & D. BOSHOFF. Psammophis crucifer (Daudin, 1803). 48 INSTRUCTION TO AUTHORS Death-feigning. 20 E. HESTER, A. SCHAEFER & A. M. BAUER. Afrogecko prophyreus 51 HAA MEMBERSHIP FEES (Daudin, 1802). Reproduction. 21 S. KIRCHHOF, L. B. LOSOGO, C. S. GOOSH, K. SAITOTI & P. K. MALONZA. Latastia longicaudata (Reuss, 1934). Diet. 25 F. H.A. VAN LOON. Homopus signatus - Gmelin, 1789. Two-egg clutching. 26 R. VAN HUYSSTEEN & M. PETFORD. Lamprophis guttatus (A. Smith, 1844). Diet. 27 P. R. JORDAAN. Varanus albigularis albigularis - Daudin, 1802. Severe facial myiasis. 30 P. R. JORDAAN & X. COMBRINK. Crocodylus niloticus(Laurenti, 1802). Hunting behaviour. 32 P. CUNNINGHAM. occidentalis (Peters, 1867). Avian preda tion.

4 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 5 . NATURAL HISTORY Notes...>>>>>>>> ..>>>>>>>> NATURAL HISTORY Notes

after several minutes. All three hunting -at Herpetology. 42 (2): 361-368. Clauss (2002) mention snakes, monitors, tempts witnessed were successful. - SUBMITTED BY raptors, small mammals (e.g. shrews, mon ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS goose, African wild cat and domestic cat) PHILIPPUS RUDOLPH (PHILIP) JORDAAN preying on Trachylepis wahlbergii. Known We would like to thank Catharine Hanekom , - avian predators ofTrachylepis spp. are var- for her comments as well as Dr. Jessica da Tshwane University of Technology, Depart ious raptors and lilac-breasted roller (Clauss Silva who reviewed the article. ment of Nature Conservation. & Clauss 2002). REFERENCES Email: [email protected] ALEXANDER STANISLOU (XANDER) COM- On 21 July 2017 I found a juvenileTrach - BRANCH, B., 1998. Field guide to the snakes BRINK, Tshwane University of Technology, ylepis occidentalis individual (SVL 50 mm & and other reptiles of southern Africa. Struik. Department of Nature Conservation. Room Tail 78 mm – identified by colour pattern and Cape Town. 511, Floor 5, Building 5, Pretoria Campus, known presence on the farm) impaled on a CORBET, P.S. (1959). The food of a sample of Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001. Rhigozum trichotomum shrub (at a height crocodiles (Crocodilus niloticus L.) from Lake Email: [email protected] of 70 cm on a shrub with a total height of Victoria. Proceedings of the Zoological Soci- 100 cm) by a common fiscalLanius ( collaris) ety of London. 29 (4): 211-235. on a farm approximately 70 km northeast COTT, H.B. 1961. Scientific results of an in- SCINCINAE of Noordoewer in the Karas Region, south- jury into the ecology and economic status Trachylepis occidentalis ern Namibia (28°16’12.7”S & 18°03’44.1”E; of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) (Peters, 1867) 740m). Although the actual impaling pro- in Uganda and northern Rhodesia. Transac- cess was not observed, this is inferred as tions of the Zoological Society of London, 29 Western Three-striped common fiscal are resident on farm and of- (4): 211-235. ten seen preying on invertebrates (Fig. 1). Figure 1. Juvenile Trachylepis occidentalis impaled MATTHEWS, W.S., VAN WYK, A.E., VAN AVIAN PREDATION on Rhigozum trichotomum shrub by common Common fiscal’s have a catholic diet and ROOYEN, N., BOTHA, G.A. 2001. Vegetation P. CUNNINGHAM fiscal. of the Tembe Elephant Park, Maputaland, are known predators of vertebrates - e.g. Common fiscal are seen daily on the farm South Africa. South African Journal of Bota- Although lizards are known to fall prey to blindworms, lizards, chameleons, snakes, and although this was the first impaled prey ny. 67: 573-594. a variety of predators (e.g. Branch 1998, frogs, birds, rodents, bats (Hockey et al. item encountered, most other foraging -ob Marais 1992, Alexander & Marais 2007) 2005) although these usually make up a RADLOFF, F.G.T., HOBSON, K.A., LESLIE, A.J. servations have been of arthropods and small percentage of the diet (e.g. <10% of 2012. Characterising ontogenetic niche there is often a paucity of data regarding even a scorpion, but no reptiles. The last - shifts in Nile Crocodile using stable isotope specific species and/or predators with most the diet in KwaZulu/Natal – e.g. Soobramon few years on the farm have been associat- ey et al. (δ13C, δ15N) analyses of scute keratin.Iso - data on predators being anecdotal. This is 2004). Prey items are often impaled ed with below average annual rainfall. This topes in Environmental and Health Studies. especially true for the genus Trachylepis. or wedged on thorns, wood splinters, and overall dry spell and probably general lack of 48 (3): 439-456. However, some predators are mentioned, barbs of wire fence (Hockey et al. 2005) arthropod prey items may have influenced TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK: MANAGEMENT albeit mostly at genus level – e.g. Shine et which serves as a ‘storage’ function (Bevanthe bird to attempt larger prey. On Trachylepis PLAN. Version 1.0 (2015). Ezemvelo KwaZu- al. (2006) include in the diet of & England 1969) or as a display for territorialthe other hand, the breeding season for lu-Natal Wildlife, Pietermaritzburg. Psammophiine (Colubridae) snakes; Marais advertisement and to attract females (Yosefcommon fiscal is between August and -Janu (1992) include Trachylepis spp. in the diet of & Pinchow 1989). However, common - fisary (Tarboton 2001) which could imply that WALLACE. K.M., LESLIE, A.J. (2008). Diet of the Cape wolf ( Lycophidion capense ); cal do not cache as much as their northernthe Trachylepis occidentalis - the Nile crocodileCrocodylus ( niloticus) in “kill and dis hemisphere counterparts (Harris & Arnot the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Journal of Branch (1998) indicate that domestic cats play” could serve a social function although prey on Trachylepis capensis and Clauss & 1988). the placement of the carcass within the 32 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 33 shrub contradicts this although it is not clear from southern Africa. Copeia 4: 650-664. the snake used caudal luring in its attempt how common fiscal view their surroundings. SOOBRAMONEY, S., DOWNS, C.T. & AD- to capture the gecko. Nevertheless, this is a first record ofTrachyl - AMS, N.J. 2004. Variability in foraging The snake initially took about five - min epis occidentalis as prey by common fiscal as behaviour and prey of the common fiscal utes observing the Lygodactylus before far as I could determine (See Broadley 1974 shrike, Lanius collaris, along an altitudinal moving to within 80cm of the gecko. Once for other prey items). gradient in South Africa. Ostrich 75(3): 133- the snake had taken up position it began to REFERENCES 140. wriggle its tail in a caterpillar like motion, ALEXANDER, G. & MARAIS, J. 2007. A guide TARBOTON, W. 2001. A guide to the nests attracting the attention of the gecko. The to the reptiles of southern Africa. Struik & eggs of Southern African birds. Struik Pub- gecko became increasingly interested in the Publishers, Cape Town. lishers (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town, South Africa. movement of the tail, turning around, rais- BEVAN, G. & ENGLAND, M.D. 1969. The YOSEF, R. & PINCHOW, B. 1989. Cache size ing its head and inching forward toward tail. impaling of prey by shrikes. British Birds 62:in northern shrikes influences female mate However, as the gecko was inching closer 192-199. choice and reproductive success. Auk 106: the snake appeared to make a slight move- 418-421. ment of the head and the gecko retreated. BRANCH , B. 1998. Field guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern Africa. Struik -Pub SUBMITTED BY: Caudal luring has been recorded many lishers, Cape Town. times before in numerous different snake PETER CUNNINGHAM. Environment and species and families. It usually involves the BROADLEY, D.G. 1974. Predation by birdsWildlife Consultancy, Namibia, P. O. Box on reptiles and amphibians in south-eastern use of a bright, conspicuous tail tip (Sazima 90717, Windhoek, Namibia. Africa. Honeyguide 78: 11-19. 1992; Martins et al. 2002; Andrade 2010), E-mail: [email protected] but may be even further developed in the CLAUSS, B. & CLAUSS, R. 2002. Common ‘spider’ caudal lure ofPseudocerastes ur- amphibians and reptiles of Botswana – more arachnoides (Fathinia et al. 2009). The in- than just creepy-crawlies. Gamsberg Mac- PSAMMOPHIINAE millan Publishers, Windhoek. dividual Eastern Bark Snake we observed Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia displaying caudal luring was a sub-adult, but HARRIS, T. & ARNOT, G. 1988. Shrikes of (Günther, 1864) adults of this species also have orange orFig. 1. Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia from southern Africa. Struik Winchester, Cape Eastern Bark Snake yellow tipped tails and may also utilize thisSoutpansberg. Note bright coloration of tail tip. Town. Photo Ryan van Huyssteen. behaviour (Branch 1998). HOCKEY, P.A.R., DEAN, W.R.J. & RYAN, P.G. REFERENCES HUNTING STRATEGY To our knowledge this is the first obser- (eds) 2005. Roberts – Birds of Southern Afri- Andrade, D.V., Marques, O.A.V., Gavira, th vation ofHemirhagerrhis nototaenia caudal ca, VII ed. The Trustees of the John Voelck- M. PETFORD & R. VAN HUYSSTEEN R.S.B., Barbo, F.E., Zacariotti, R.L. and Saz- luring and the first species within the Psam- er Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. ima, I. (2010). Tail Luring by the Golden On November 16, 2016 while sampling at mophiinae which has been observed to do Lancehead (Bothrops insularis), an Island MARAIS, J. 1992. A complete guide to the Medike Mountain Sanctuary, Soutpans- so. snakes of Southern Africa. Southern Book Endemic Snake from South-Eastern Brazil. berg, Limpopo Province, South Africa (QDG ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Publishers (Pty) Ltd, Halfway House. 2229DC, 22°59’35”S, 29°36’82”E); a sub- South American Journal of Herpetology 5: - 175-180 SHINE, R., BRANCH, W.R., WEBB, J.K., HAR- adult Eastern Bark Snake (Hemirhagerrhis Thank you to Prof. Bill Branch for sugges LOW, P.S. & SHINE, T. 2006. Sexual dimor- nototaenia) was observed hunting a Cape tions, corrections and additions during re- Branch, B. (1998). Field guide to snakes and phism, reproductive biology, and dietary Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus capensis). What view process. other reptiles of Southern Africa. Struik- Pub . habits of Psammophiine snakes (Colubridae) was notable about this observation was that lishers. Cape Town 34 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 35