Nama Karoo
Agriculture, amongst other, is a major threat in this biome and the medium for permanent contact between wildlife and humans. History tells of many misunderstood relationships between farmers and predators. Today, as our knowledge of nature increases, we begin to understand that all biodiversity is important and we find better ways of managing wildlife problems. The Nama Karoo is a mostly arid region dominated by low-shrub vegetation. It is centred on the plateau of the Cape Province. The climate is harsh with frequent droughts and fluctuations in both seasonal and daily temperatures. The mean maximum temperature exceeds 30˚C in the summer. Annual rainfall ranges between 100-500mm. Weakly developed lime rich soils cover most of the region.
Mammals:
Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis): it is the largest rodent in southern Africa and one of 29 species worldwide. It can reach a length of 75-100cm and a weight of 10-24kg. The entire upper part of the body, except the head which is covered with shorter flexible spines, is covered with long, sharp and white, black-ringed quills. When attacked the Porcupine raises its quills, darting backwards to embed its spines in the flesh of the attacker. The tail quills are hollow and rattled when it is intimidated. It does not naturally dig its own burrow and usually retreats to a cave or rock crevice, bit it will make use of a disused aardvark hole. It is a nocturnal forager but would leave the safety of its shelter by day to sun-bathe. Bark, roots, bulbs, tubers and wild fruits form part of its natural diet and it gnaws on bones to compensate for the lack of phosphorus in its diet. It is known to cause large scale destruction to vegetable crops and is the usual culprit for damaging the underground water pipe-systems on farms. There is no danger in the mating process since the female raises her tail spines vertically, allowing the male to do his work.
Springhare (Pedetes capensis): this rodent (not hare) is the only species in its own family. Its colour varies from reddish-brown to yellowish-grey with a broad, black tail-tip. It has extremely long and powerful hindlegs, greatly shortened forelegs and always appears in a kangaroo stance. It moves, at an astonishing pace, using only its hindlegs and can cover about 2m in a single bound. Naturally it feeds on grasses and roots. On cultivated land it will feed on maize, beans, sweet potatoes and groundnuts. Its natural enemies include snakes, owls, jackals and mongooses. It is however a very sought after source of protein in poorer communities. The San people are so fond of them they consume almost every part of the body and utilise the fur, skin and organs in many ways. It digs its own underground shelters using the strong digging claws of its forelegs. Its burrows has more than one exit, so to provide several escape routes from predators that enter its shelter. The female gives birth to one offspring, which stays in the burrow for seven weeks and thereafter weaned onto grass.
Birds:
Ostrich (Struthio camelus): the biggest living bird on the planet reaches a height of 2m and a weight of 80kg. The male is black with white feathers at the tips of the wings and buff, grey-brown tail feathers. The female, as in most birds, is dull and coloured greyish-brown. It has a deep booming call, some would say almost like the roar of a lion. Ostriches usually occur alone or in pairs but may gather to form large flocks of between 40 and 100. Ostriches are very dangerous when disturbed, especially around their young and a kick from an adult ostrich could kill a large animal. They can run up to 60km/h. They feed almost entirely on plants and consume pebbles which aid in the digestive process. They can live without water almost indefinitely and in the Namib desert they are known to get their water from wind-blown chaff that has absorbed fog along the coast. Breeding males, with bright red frontlegs, have a harem of 1-3 females. Each female lays 3-8 eggs in one communal, ground nest and only the alpha “wife” incubates the eggs for 6-7 weeks. The hatchlings are able to run with their parents after three days. The ostrich has a broad history of domestication in southern Africa, especially Namibia and South Africa, and are currently extensively farmed with in Oudtshoorn for their feathers, skin (for leather), meat and eggs (mostly for art displays).
Cattle Egret (Bubulcuc ibis): probably one of the most common birds in Africa. It is mostly seen on farmland following cattle, catching the disturbed insects from the bushes. It also feeds on worms, frogs and lizards. It is a very opportunistic feeder and has come to the habit of following ploughs and catching the insect larvae in the turned soil. Both males and females are white with yellow bills and brownish legs. Breeding birds have pinkish plumes on the crown, back and breast, their bills turn orange and their legs turn yellow to red. They roost in large numbers in trees, usually near water. These trees often die due to the effects of the large amounts of bird droppings. By day they fly to where ever food is available and are immediately attracted by freshly ploughed soils. They build flimsy platforms in trees or reedbeds where 2-4 pale blue eggs are laid and incubated by both parents for 24 days. The hatchlings are cared for by both parents for another 45 days but are able to fly at 30 days of age.
Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor): looking very similar to the Greater flamingo, but smaller in size, with a darker bill and pinker plumage. In proportion to its body it has the longest neck and legs of all southern African birds. It can reach a length of 1,2m and a weight of 1,6-1,78kg. Its body is mostly white with a pale pink tint. Its wings are mottled bright red and its bill is dark red with a black tip. It has webbed feet enabling it to feed in water too deep to wade in. The flamingo is a filter feeder, using its specially adapted bill to filter through the mud and feed on the microscopic algae. When seen feeding, the flamingo’s feet are lifted and pressed down in a rhythmic, “massaging” fashion so to get the mud in suspension and suck into the mouth using its tongue. It stays at the same position, moving its head around its feet and so each flamingo forms a circle around its feet. When the water retracts, hundreds of these circles can be seen, together looking much like the craters on the moon. A single white egg is laid in a cone-shaped nest, about 30cm tall and made of mud. The chicks stay in a communal crèche and are fed by their parents for 65-75 days before they can fly. The largest population of P minor is found at Kamfers dam (an estimated 60 000 flamingoes), northeast of Kimberley. Kamfers dam is a permanent wetland that receives its water from Kimberley’s sewage plant (as partially treated sewage water) as well as stormwater. In recent years the quality of the sewage effluent has deteriorated. As Kimberley grows economically the quality of the sewage water will keep dropping and the P. minor population may be displaced.
Reptiles / Amphibians:
Common Puff Adder (Bitis arietans): a snake with the instinct to inflate itself when threatened. It is one of the most widespread poisonous snakes in Africa. It is reluctant to flee when approached and relies on its camouflage and remains motionless to protect itself. Its camouflage consists of the main light brown body colour and pale-edged, backward facing chevrons (V-shaped patterns) with minor extra details such as pale spots or stripes. It conceals itself so well that it is only noticed when in striking range or, if already on top of it. Its bite is rapid and very painful (owed to the 15mm long fangs) and some adults may strike several times. The poison leads to immense swelling and internal bleeding. It is a largely sedentary creature and may not move for days (in the right conditions) and so saves a lot of energy. It feeds on frogs, lizards, birds, rodents and other snakes (whichever meal is easier). The newly laid eggs contain fully formed and functional young that hatch within minutes and are born ready to kill.
Common Platanna (Xenopus laevis): the Platanna, which is native to southern Africa, can be found across the globe due to the 20th century use of female platannas in biological pregnancy tests. Today it is a common experimental subject in the laboratory and is still exported from southern Africa. It can grow up to 6cm in length and has a pale grey to black skin colour on the top parts of its body, the bottom parts are yellow-grey and veins are easily noticeable on either side. It is completely aquatic, unlike any other southern African amphibian. It has smooth skin, a streamline body and very powerful backlegs with large webbed feet enabling it to swim as confidently as a fish. It does not have a tongue at all since it feeds underwater on insects, small fish and tadpoles. The male frogs are able to “sing” underwater, how is not clearly understood since no air bubbles are produced and no movement can be noticed during its “singing”.
Mole Snake (Pseudolaspis cana): the first snake to be protected in South Africa. This status was granted to this species to send out a message to the public that it is harmless and helps control pests. Growing to a length of between 1 and 2m and being a large, thick, glossy snake it is often mistaken for a poisonous snake and bludgeoned to death. Though, it is able to inflict a very painful bite, but only when provoked. Molesnakes, as the name suggests, burrow into sandy soils with the aim of hunting underground prey, such as molerats. They have a small pointed head (a fully grown adults head would not exceed a width of 3cm), making it remarkable that their lower jaw would be able to stratch to the extent allowing it to swallow prey such as the Cape dune mole. The young feed on lizards and rodents, but the adults feed on warm blooded animals exclusively killing their prey with constriction. They adapt to captivity and make good pets.
Invertebrates:
Desert Termite (Psammotermes allocerus): like all termites they are very effective in construction and equally effective in the destruction of man-made structures, especially wooden structures such as fence posts and wooden beams. They also colonise cultivated land, destroying the crops. These 5mm long (workers; soldier termites are 7mm long), pale and almost transparent invertebrates build their nests at the base of a grass clump, dead tree or wooden post in the ground.
Vinegar Flies (Drosophila melanogaster): probably the single largest contributor (as a species) to the subject of Genetics owing to its fast reproductive and development cycles. It is also susceptible to most human viruses, such as the common cold, making it an excellent experimental subject in the field of medicine. The adults are attracted to the fermentation of yeast colonies on rotting fruit. Their larvae feed not on the rotting fruit, but on the yeast colonies. They can be small to minute (depending on nutrition), yellow or grey with bright red eyes. D. melanogaster is distinguished from other species by the lack of silver stripes on the thorax.
Vinegar Flies (Drosophila melanogaster): probably the single largest contributor (as a species) to the subject of Genetics owing to its fast reproductive and development cycles. It is also susceptible to most human viruses, such as the common cold, making it an excellent experimental subject in the field of medicine. The adults are attracted to the fermentation of yeast colonies on rotting fruit. Their larvae feed not on the rotting fruit, but on the yeast colonies. They can be small to minute (depending on nutrition), yellow or grey with bright red eyes. D. melanogaster is distinguished from other species by the lack of silver stripes on the thorax.
Herbs:
Red Grass (Themeda triandra): the most important grazing grass occurring in undisturbed open grassland and bushveld. It is a variable perennial tufted grass with compressed leaf sheathes and drooping spikelets that are partially enclosed by a spathe. The plant turns red late in the season. It is sensitive to overgrazing and is an indicator of veld in a healthy condition. It is fire resistant (easily regenerates after a veld-fire) and will form dense stands if fires are frequent, provided that overgrazing does not occur. The influence of manmade fires thus has a direct roll on the population structure.
Broad-Leaved Turpentine Grass (Cymbopogon caesius): a very unpalatable grass with a bitter turpentine taste (hence the name). However, grazers will utilise it if there are no other grasses available. It is a tall grass with a narrow circumference. The leaves are situated along the unbranched culms. Though unpalatable, humans have many uses for it, e.g. thatching material and used in Lesotho to line grain baskets, so to keep rodents away. It also contains an essential oil with ingredients such as carvone, trans-carveole and D-limonene.
LM Grass (Dactyloctenium australe): a popular indigenous lawn grass that grows best in sandy soils and under light shade. More drought tolerant than other exotic grasses such as kikuju. It is palatable though it does not yield high leaf production. Also used to prevent erosion of soils (inland and at the coast). It is a creeping mat forming grass that spreads by means of stolons. Its inflorescence (formed between January and May) is forked into 2 or three spikes that carry the individual flowers.
Trees / Shrubs:
Sweet Thorn (Acacia karoo): a medium sized (4-10m), deciduous tree with rough bark; long, paired thorns; complex leaves with featherlike leaflets and round, yellow flowers which appear in great numbers. It has many uses: its sickle shaped pods are good animal fodder; the glue is edible; the wood is used for furniture, fences and ofcourse as fire wood. The bark along with the wood is also used in traditional medicines.
Lye Ganna (Salsola aphylla): this shrub / small, sprawling tree is most popular due to its ash producing strong lye from which soap can be made. It has a pale greyish appearance with very small (2mm), succulent leaves tightly packed along the branches. The flowers are just as small and an inconspicuous greenish yellow. Its seeds form wings and are often mistaken for the flowers. It is heavily browsed by stock.
Shepherd’s Tree (Boscia albitrunca): a small tree with a rounded and well-branched crown. Its bark is smooth, grey to white. The leathery leaves (4-20mm in length) are clustered and often bristle-tipped. The small, yellowish green flowers form dense clusters and after fertilisation form small, yellow, hairless berries (10mm in diameter). Its roots are edible and can be made into a porridge when pounded and can also be roasted as a substitute for coffee beans. The leaves and roots are used medicinally. The flowers are often pickled and made into capers. The fruit pulp is mixed with milk which serves as a side dish.