Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 717-730 (2020) (published online on 25 August 2020) Herpetofaunal survey of the Ongeluksnek (Malekgalonyane) Nature Reserve in the foothills of the Drakensberg, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Werner Conradie1,2,* Brian Reeves3, Sandile Mdoko3, Lwandiso Pamla3, and Oyama Gxabhu3 Abstract. The results of a herpetofaunal survey of Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa are presented here. Combination of visual encounter survey methods and standard Y-shape trap arrays were used to conduct the survey. A total of 26 species (eight amphibians and 18 reptiles) were recorded, representing 29 quarter-degree grid cell records, of which 62% represented the first records for these units. Furthermore, we document the presence of three species of snakes (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia, Hemachatus haemachatus and Homoroselaps lacteus) for the first time for the whole degree square of 3028 (approx. 100 km2). This study highlights the need to survey poorly known regions to enable us to understand and document the full distributional extent of species. We also discuss the impact of uncontrolled fires on the absence of grassland specialised species during our survey. Keywords. Amphibia, Reptilia, karroid, conservation, biodiversity, fire Introduction has been done in the southern and western regions (e.g. Branch and Braack, 1987), while the northern and The herpetofaunal richness of South Africa is central areas associated with the former homelands of considered to be amongst the highest in the world the Ciskei and Transkei remained poorly surveyed. In (Branch, 1998; Bates et al., 2014; Du Preez and recent years a series of rapid biodiversity studies has Carruthers, 2017; Tolley et al., 2019). Even though increased our knowledge of herpetofauna occurring South Africa’s herpetofauna is considered fairly well along the Wild Coast (in the former Transkei homeland) studied, new species are still being described (for (Venter and Conradie, 2015) and the arid interior of the example, frogs: Channing, 2012; Channing et al., 2013; Eastern Cape Province (Conradie et al., 2016). Channing and Baptista, 2013; Conradie, 2014; Wilson The Ongeluksnek (~Malekgalonyane) Nature Reserve and Channing, 2019; reptiles: Jacobson et al., 2014; (NR) is located in the north-eastern part of the Eastern Travers et al., 2014; Whiting et al., 2015; Heinicke et Cape Province, on the border between South Africa and al., 2017; Conradie et al., 2018, Bauer et al., 2019; Bates Lesotho. It is approximately 13 250 ha in extent. The and Stanley, 2020). Some areas of the country remain surrounding land tenure is primarily communal and land poorly surveyed, especially parts of the Northern Cape, use is predominantly large and small stock farming. The Eastern Cape and North West provinces (Bates et al., area around Ongeluksnek NR was farmed commercially 2014). Within the Eastern Cape Province, much work until the early 1980s when land was expropriated during the formation of the erstwhile Transkei homeland. The lower lying portions of the area were allocated to communal or subsistence farmers while the catchment areas were set aside as a conservation area, the 1 Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld), P.O. Box 13147, Ongeluksnek NR, which was declared in 1990. The Humewood, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. reserve has a history of consumptive utilisation. Local 2 School of Natural Resource Management, George Campus, farmers were previously allowed to graze the lowland Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa. 3 Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency, 17-25 Oxford Street, areas of the reserve under a permit system. An inspection East London, South Africa. of vegetation condition in 1994 revealed that the area * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] was heavily overgrazed and vulnerable to accelerated 718 Werner Conradie et al. soil erosion. Recommendations were made to rest the time-constrained and, between them, documented only vegetation and manage by fires, but these were not four species of reptiles and amphibians. implemented. At this point the reserve was severely This study forms part of a series of rapid surveys to invaded by alien plants and subjected to frequent illegal improve biodiversity inventory data of protected areas grazing, uncontrolled fire and poaching of wildlife managed by ECPTA within the Eastern Cape Province. (ECPTA, 2012). In 1997 attempts were made by the The purpose of these surveys are to: a) develop and update post-apartheid government to improve the management the biodiversity inventories of protected areas, b) assess of the reserve, in partnership with traditional leaders and the biodiversity features in terms of conservation value, surrounding communities. The Eastern Cape Parks and c) identify habitats and sites of conservation concern, Tourism Agency (ECPTA) assumed responsibility for and d) to create benchmark datasets for environmental the reserve in 2004 but, due to limited resources, this change and anthropogenic impact research. organisation has experienced challenges in increasing management effectiveness on the reserve (ECPTA, Material and Methods 2012). Study Site.—Ongeluksnek NR falls within the Eastern No formal herpetological surveys have been Cape Province part of the Drakensberg Mountains undertaken for this reserve, although in the late 1980s the (Fig. 1). The elevation is highest in the west, along the late Bill Branch (Port Elizabeth Museum) conducted a Lesotho border, at about 2,700 m above sea level (a.s.l.) brief one-day survey at Ongeluksnek NR, while Marius and lowest in the east, where it drops to about 1,500 Burger (former Eastern Cape Nature Conservation) m a.s.l. A high-lying (at approximately 2,500 m a.s.l.) visited the reserve briefly in 1996. Both ‘surveys’ were plateau occurs on the western boundary. The geology Figure 1. Topographic map indicating the position of Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve (green polygon) and the quarter-degree grid cells it covers (blue lines: major rivers, grey lines: provincial or country boundaries). Herpetofaunal survey of the Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve, South Africa 719 of the reserve is predominantly of the Drakensberg is about 1,000 mm in the foothills and around 1,800 Group, which is basaltic lava with minor sandstone, mm on the escarpment. Snow occurs with an average tuff and agglomerate. The Clarens Formation occurs frequency of approximately eight days per year, mainly on the lower-lying eastern portion of the reserve and in winter, although snow falls have been recorded for all comprises fine-grained sandstone and siltstone. More months of the year. Berg winds are prevalent between recent Quaternary alluvial deposits occur in the river August and September while local topographically- systems (Johnson and Wolmarans, 2008). induced winds occur as a result of solar heating of the The reserve is situated predominately within the ground during the day and cooling during the night Grassland Biome. The higher lying areas in the west (ECPTA, 2012). are vegetated by Lesotho Highland Basalt Grassland. Survey.—A herpetofauna survey was conducted in There are extensive wetlands on the plateaus in these the reserve from 18 to 28 February 2019. The survey areas and these are classified as Lesotho Mires. At involved active searches and passive trapping. Four Y- intermediate elevations in the central part of the reserve, shape trap arrays (each array consisting of three 10–15 the vegetation is Southern Drakensberg Highland m long, 50 cm high, drift fences positioned in a Y-shape Grassland, while the lower lying areas in the east is East with a single pitfall trap in the middle, two one-way Griqualand Grassland. A small section of Mabela Sandy funnels per fence, and a one-way funnel at the end of Grassland also occurs here (Mucina and Rutherford, each arm, see Fig. 2 and Table 1) were set up in different 2006). habitats. An additional trap array (Trap 3) comprised a Ongeluksnek NR is mainly influenced by subtropical single straight drift fence of about 30 m that utilised six anticyclones and receives predominantly summer funnel traps with a pitfall trap in the middle. rain, principally as orographic rain from squall-line Vouchers (two to five individuals) were collected for thunderstorms (ECPTA, 2012). Annual precipitation each species, while all other specimens were released Figure 2. Arial images demonstrating the arrangement of the four trap arrays employed at Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve. All images are orientated in a northern direction. 720 Werner Conradie et al. Table 1. Trap array sites for the survey, with brief habitat descriptions and numbers of days installed. Table 1. Trap array sites for the survey, with brief habitat descriptions and numbers of days installed. Trap Site Latitude (S) Longitude (E) Altitude (m) Description Trap days 1 -30.33425˚ 28.35612˚ 1596 Rocky outcrop with young grass 8 2 -30.33473˚ 28.35295˚ 1607 Rocky outcrop with young grass 8 3 -30.33087˚ 28.35196˚ 1540 Bank of artificial dam 8 4 -30.34124˚ 28.32787˚ 1770 Grassy Scrubland 7 5 -30.34236˚ 28.31880˚ 1767 Dry Wetland with young grass 7 Table 2. Summary of the number of species and subspecies recorded at Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve, and the at capturenumber site. of new Voucher quarter-degree specimens grid cellwere (QDGC) humanely records forthe South current Africa. survey. No additional historic reptile records euthanised by injecting reptiles with, and submerging exist for the reserve, although one other reptile species frogs in, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS222)Ongeluksnek solution Nature(Psammophylax Reserve rhombeatus) has been recorded (ConroyNumber et al., of 2009). reptile Specimens species were then fixed in 10% 18from the same Quarter Degree Grid Cell (QDGC). formalinNumber before of QDGC being records preserved in ethanol. Genetic 18Although Branch and Burger also recorded additional materialNumber was collectedof new QDGC from records each voucher specimen and 15species (Breviceps verrucosus, Strongylopus grayii stored in 96% ethanol. All specimens are deposited at and Xenopus laevis), these were not substantiated Percentage new QDGC records (%) 83 Port Elizabeth Museum, South Africa.