Page 108 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

106  WILD SOUTH AFRIC A

Amphibians and Reptiles Family

Amphibians and reptiles tend to get plenty of bad press, and DNA and fossil evidence
indicate that crocodiles
not entirely without reason, considering that the Nile crocodile are more closely related
kills dozens of villagers annually, and several snake species can to birds than to lizards
inflict lethal bites. However, most reptiles are harmless to people or snakes. As such, the class
and are of great ecological value. These cold-blooded creatures Reptilia is an artificial
construct, one that would
maintain their body heat using external sources, for instance by only gain scientific validity
basking in the sun. They are therefore prolific in warm climates were it to include birds.
and tend to be poorly represented at high altitudes.

African Bullfrog Tree Frog Skink
Species: Pyxicephalus adspersus Family: Hyperoliidae Family: Scincidae
LC Variable Variable
South Africa’s largest frog Africa’s most diverse frog Represented in South Africa
spe cies is an aggressive family, found in moist by over a dozen species,
carnivore that weighs up to wood land habitats, tree skinks are small, fleet-footed
2 kg (4 lb) and takes prey as frogs are small and brightly lizards with slender bodies,
large as rats. During the coloured, with long broad- long tails and dark scaling.
rains, it emits a memorable tipped toes used to climb Among the more visible
medley of lusty bellows and trees and reeds. A common spe cies are the variable,
grunts. In the dry season it species is the bub bling kassina, striped and rainbow skinks
estivates, burying itself in a whose pop ping chorus is of the genus Mabuya, most
subterranean cocoon for among the most wondrous of which are associated
months on end. of African sounds. with rocks.

Gecko Chameleon Agama
Family: Gekkonidae Family: Chamaeleonidae Family: Agamidae
NE NE NE
The most diverse African lizard These charismatic lizards are Agamas are medium to large
family, geckoes have lidless known for their colour changes lizards with bright plastic-
bug-eyes for nocturnal hunting (caused by mood rather than looking scales – blue, purple,
and adhesive toes that allow background), independently red or orange, depending
them to run upside-down on swivelling eyes and long sticky on the species. The flattened
smooth surfaces. Most familiar tongues that uncoil to lunge at head is generally differently
is the common house gecko, insects. Most common is the coloured from the torso. Often
a translucent white lizard that flap-necked chameleon, but observed basking on rocks, the
can be seen in safari lodges there are also several endemic male red-headed agama
in the Kruger area. dwarf chameleons. is particularly spectacular.
IUCN status LC: Least Concern; NE: Not Evaluated

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