CHAPTER 7: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS DIGITAL ADDENDA 7A – 7B DIGITAL ADDENDA 7A – 7B Digital Addendum 7A: Species of special concern in the study area Table 7.1: Animal species of special concern in the study area (i.e. animal species that have more than 60% of their distribution in the study area, or that occur in the study area and are Threatened according to IUCN Red List criteria) Group Scientific name Common name Distribution Habitat Endemism IUCN Red List status Riparian bush on the Northern and Western Cape: narrow alluvial fringe of Critically Endangered SA Endemic and largely Mammalia Bunlolagus monticularis Riverine Rabbit only distributed in Central and seasonally dry (global assessment: endemic to study area south Karoo watercourses in the IUCN, 2008) central Karoo. South Africa and Lesotho. SA and Lesotho Least Concern (global Chlorotalpa sclateri Subspecies known only from Escarpment Mountain endemic, subspecies a Mammalia Sclater's Golden Mole assessment: IUCN, 2015 shortridgei Sutherland, but may range Renosterveld. SA endemic and ) eastwards to Beaufort West. endemic to study area. Endemic to the Upper and Data Deficient (global Lower Karoo Bioregions of the Rocky habitat with an assessment: IUCN, Nama-Karoo, including SA endemic, may be a Mammalia Elephantulus pilicaudus Karoo Rock Sengi elevation of ≥ 1,300 m 2013) Least Concern Williston, Karoo National Park, narrow endemic above sea level. (national assessment, Carnarvon, Calvinia, Loxton. 2016) Distribution not well understood. Open habitat that Found mainly in the Nama- and provides some cover in Succulent Karoo biomes but also the form of stands of tall in southern North West and grass or scrub bush. Use Vulnerable (global Southern African Gauteng, marginally in disused springhare or assessment: IUCN, 2016 Mammalia Felis nigripes Black-footed Cat endemic, in Botswana, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu- aardvark burrows or and national assessment, Namibia and SA. Natal, Free State, Northern dens under calcrete 2016) Cape, Western Cape and Eastern slabs, or hollowed out Cape termite mounds in which to lie up during the day. Page 1 CHAPTER 7: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS DIGITAL ADDENDA 7A – 7B Group Scientific name Common name Distribution Habitat Endemism IUCN Red List status Relatively widespread in South They are generally, but Endangered (global Africa: eastern North West, not always, associated assessment, IUCN, Gauteng, southern Mpumalanga, with grasslands, Mammalia Mystromys albicaudatus White-tailed Mouse South African endemic 2008); Vulnerable western high-lying KwaZulu- occurring in the fynbos (national assessment, Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape and the Karoo and rocky 2016) and Western Cape. areas South Africa, with small Shrub and fynbos in intrusion into southern Namibia. Near SA endemic, with areas with rocky Distributed widely from the approx. 60% of Least Concern (IUCN, Mammalia Otomys unisulcatus Karoo Bush Rat outcrops and high plant Western Cape eastwards to distribution in study 2008 assessment) cover and foliage western Eastern Cape and north area density. through the Northern Cape. In a wide range of Vulnerable (global habitats but mainly Africa and Asia (may be assessment: IUCN, 2016 Mammalia Panthera pardus Leopard associated with rocky different subspecies) and national assessment, outcrops and hills, 2016) mountain ranges. South Africa, Swaziland and Fynbos, mainly Lesotho. In Albany Thicket, Southern Black Renosterveld and Southern African Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Afrotis afra Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Korhaan Strandveld. Prefers endemic regional assessment) biomes and the southern extreme undisturbed habitat. of the Nama Karoo. Lightly wooded savanna Widespread throughout sub- and thornveld and semi- Endangered (2015 Aves (Birds) Aquila rapax Tawny Eagle Saharan Africa, with a small African endemic. desert. Mostly in regional assessment) population in the grassy Karoo. protected areas. Wide distribution throughout Mainly restricted to Africa; in South Africa across 5 mountainous terrain. Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Aquila verreauxii Verreauxs' Eagle biomes, but restricted to African endemic. May use pylons in regional assessment) mountainous habitat; large areas Karoo for nesting. of high density in study area. Breeds widely in Palaearctic region and is a partial migrant in sub-Saharan Africa. In South Dams and shallow Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Ciconia nigra Black stork Africa mostly in southern and waterbodies with fish. regional assessment) eastern provinces, avoiding the dry interior and west. Page 2 CHAPTER 7: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS DIGITAL ADDENDA 7A – 7B Group Scientific name Common name Distribution Habitat Endemism IUCN Red List status Mostly fynbos. In fragmented South Africa. Core of range in Renosterveld prefers Endangered (2015 Aves (Birds) Circus maurus Black Harrier Fynbos, but does extend to the high quality patches. SA endemic regional assessment) southern reaches of the Karoo. Forages in high altitude grasslands, down to Karoo scrub. Open desert and semi- desert areas. Habitats include grazed or burnt Southern Africa, present in the Near endemic to Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Cursorius rufus Burchell's Courser grassland, stony or Karoo. southern Africa. regional assessment) gravel plains, dry river beds and edges of salt pans. Southern Africa, predominantly South Africa and Lesotho. Endangered (global Breeding colonies in Limpopo, Southern African assessment, IUCN, Aves (Birds) Gyps coprotheres Cape Vulture North West and Gauteng, endemic. 2015, and 2015 regional KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern assessment) Cape. Generally avoid drier areas, but do Wide but fragmented occasionally occur Afrotropical distribution. In the marginally in Nama Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Neotis denhami Denham's Bustard study area mostly in Eastern African endemic. Karoo. Often in rocky regional assessment) Cape grassland and lowland areas and on plateaus. fynbos. Occasionally use cultivated fields. South Africa and Namibia. SA endemic with small Very specific habitat Lower and mid Orange River, intrusion in extreme requirements - seldom Least Concern (2014 Aves (Birds) Phragmacia substriata Namaqua warbler south to karroid regions of southern Namibia. More more than 50 m from SARC assessment) Western Cape, and central Free than 60% of distribution streams and rivers. State and Eastern Cape. in study area. Throughout central and western Africa; mostly in Limpopo and Perennial rivers or Mpumalanga and KwaZulu- Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Podica senegalensis African Finfoot streams lined by thick African endemic. Natal, but are populations regional assessment) riparian bush. recorded in the Eastern Cape in the study area. Page 3 CHAPTER 7: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS DIGITAL ADDENDA 7A – 7B Group Scientific name Common name Distribution Habitat Endemism IUCN Red List status Open grassland and Widespread throughout sub- scrub, with short ground Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Sagittarius serpentarius Secretary Bird Saharan Africa, mostly in open African endemic. cover and scattered trees regional assessment) grassland and scrub. for nesting. Mostly forest, including Widespread throughout sub- riverine forest but also Saharan Africa with high Vulnerable (2015 Aves (Birds) Stephanoaetus coronatus Crowned Eagle woodlands and forested African endemic. densities observed in the regional assessment) gorge sin savanna and Somerset East area. grassland. Central-western Eastern Cape and adjacent regions of the Between 1300 2200 m Endemic (90%) in study Least Concern (2014 Reptilia Afroedura karroica Karoo Flat Gecko southern Northern Cape and in dolerite outcrops in area SARC assessment) north-eastern Western Cape in grasslands grassland and Nama-Karoo. Above 1500 m in grassy Endangered (2014 Reptilia Bitis inornata Plain Mountain Adder Eastern Cape. Sneeuberg. Endemic to Karoo habitats SARC assessment) Cloete's Girdled Western Cape. Nuweveldberg: Sandstone rocky habitats Least Concern (2014 Reptilia Cordylus cloetei Endemic to Karoo Lizard area of occurrence = 338 km2. on Nuweveldberg SARC assessment) South Africa. Western Karoo in Western and Northern Cape, Rocky areas of SA endemic, with about Western Dwarf Least Concern (2014 Reptilia Cordylus minor from Komsberg range in the mudstone shale 70% distribution in Girdled Lizard SARC assessment) north to Majiesfontein in the lowlands study area. south. Dolerite outcrops in Braack's Pygmy Western Cape. Nuweveldberg: Near Threatened (2014 Reptilia Goggia braacki montane grasslands on Endemic to Karoo Gecko 75 km2 area of occurrence. SARC assessment) Nuweveldberg South Africa. From Pearston in the Eastern Cape to Touwsrivier Karoo Dwarf Tortoise in the Western Cape. In Dolerite outcrops 800 - Near Threatened (2014 Reptilia Homopus boulengeri SA endemic / Karoo Padloper Northern Cape to Calvinia in the 1500 m SARC assessment) northwest and Carnavon in the northeast. South Africa. Eastern Cape Fold Large rock outcrops in Mountains and southern SA endemic, with about Pachydactylus mesic habitats from 750 Least Concern (2014 Reptilia Thin-Skinned Gecko escarpment mountains of the 50% distribution in kladaroderma – 1700 m, in both shale SARC assessment) Westen Cape and adjacent N study area. and in sandstone Cape. Page 4 CHAPTER 7: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS DIGITAL ADDENDA 7A – 7B Group Scientific name Common name Distribution Habitat Endemism IUCN Red List status Pseudocordylus Western Cape. Nuweveldberg & Least Concern (2014 Reptilia microlepidotus