Animals close to the sea shore

Bushbuck Caracal

Medium sized antelope go down to the beach at

night to feed.

Larger in size in this area due to minimal compe-tition for food. They are

solitary animals and highly territorial. Black and white

markings on face.

Dassie Duiker and Grysbok

Closely related to ele-phants, due to their toe structures. Frequently

seen on rocks and cliffs.Eat seeds and fruit.

Often go into the water for salt and to rid

themselves of ticks.

Grey Mongoose Large spotted Genet

Lesser and Grey mon-goose have long bushy tails, their legs and feet

are black. They are active by day.

Slim, short-legged carni-vore with spotted coat and long bushy tail. Preys on a wide variety of creatures

from insect to nestling birds.

birds close to the sea shore

Porcupine Striped Mouse

Nocturnal rodents, usually solitary but can occur in pairs. Charge backwards with quills erect when

threatened.

Four distinct stripes running down its back. They are active by day.

African Darter African Hoopoe

A spear feeder, they can be seen diving for fish

along the coast.

The long curved bill is used for probing the ground for

worms and insects.

African Penguins Black Harrier

Now declared endangered species.

The rarest species of harrier in the world. They soar low over the ground

to catch their prey.

birds close to the sea shore

Black Oystercatcher Blue Crane

Highly endangered. Eating mainly shellfish. They nest in hollow sand. Found in

pairs or small groups.

National bird of South Africa, over 1m high and occur in flocks when they

are not mating.

Bokmakierie Cape Bulbul

The loud, ringing duet, ‘bok-bok-cheet’ probably gives the bird its name.

Usually seen in gardens. Their diet includes fruit

and insects.

Cape Francolin Cape Gannet

Occurs in pairs or family groups which keep to

dense cover most of the time.

Large flocks may assemble at fish shoals. Most follow the ‘sardine run’ to KZN in

winter.

birds close to the sea shore

Cape Gulls Cape Robin

Scavenges on shells, dead fish, bait and eggs. Gulls often drop mussels onto rocks to split them open.

Worms and insects are captured on lawns and

among leaf litter.

Cape Wagtail Crowned Lapwing

Gets its name from the manner in which it wags

its tail when walking. Com-mon in gardens and built

up areas.

Occurs in short grassland. They may feign injury in

order to distract predators from their nests.

Double Collared Sunbird Fiscal Shrike

The lesser and the greater both occur here. They get their name from

their bright red collars. Commonly seen feeding

in aloes.

Spears victims onto thorns or barbed wire to be

collected later.

birds close to the sea shore

Fish Eagle Grey Heron

Sometimes feed on mullet in the bay. Have a magnificent call. They

build their nests in trees.

It preys on frogs and fish. Nest is platform of reeds and sticks, built in a tree

or reed bed.

Helmeted Guinea-fowl Jackal Buzzard

Feeds on insects and seeds. Eggs are laid on

the ground among dense vegetation.

Gets its name from the jackal-like call it makes.

Pied Kingfishers Sanderling

Black and white birds usually found in pairs.

Often seen hovering above the water looking for fish.

They also eat shellfish.

Birds in flocks run in clockwork-fashion along beaches, following wave

backwash to capture small molluscs.

birds close to the sea shore

Speckled Mouse-bird Spotted Eagle Owl

Berries and soft fruit make up their diet.

Feeds on small creatures including winged termites.

Spur Winged Goose White Breasted Cormorant

Males are considerably larger than the females.

Occurs in both marine and freshwater habitats. They

catch fish under water.

White-necked Raven White-fronted Plover

Feeds mostly on eggs of other birds and carrion

picked up on roads. May forage on beaches at low

tide.

Camouflaged eggs laid on upper beach among plants

or washed-up flotsam.

reptiles on the sea shore

Leopard Tortoise

Large tortoise with dull, dome shaped shell.

Mole Snake

Adults are black. Active by day. Non venomous but

able to inflict severe bites in self defence.

Angulate Tortoise

Males have a shelf under their chin to use in combat

with other males. Common in gardens and

built areas.

Brown House Snake

The squared-off snout and two pale lines on either

side of the pales eyes are characteristic.

Puff Adder

The venom is cytotoxic meaning it affects your

tissue. They are ambush hunters and rely on their camouflaged colouring to

remain undetected.

Rinkhals

Feeds mostly on toads but will also take rodents and

even other snakes.

Marine organisms

Cape Cobra Cape Dwarf Gecko

The venom is neurotoxic meaning it affects the

nervous system. The most venomous snake in South Africa. Spreads its hood

when threatened.

Throat is stippled with grey brown while the belly

is cream coloured. The back is grey-brown with

dark streak from snout to shoulder or beyond.

Alikreukel (Giant Periwinkle) Black Mussel

Edible sea mollusc. You will most likely find empty shells

or trap doors in the rocks. Permits only allow 5 per

person per day.

Found on rocky shores, they anchor themselves to rocks

to avoid being washed off by waves. Edible but must be

prepared properly.

Blue Bottle Blue Stingray

(Portuguese Man of War)Gets blown by the East

winds onto beaches. Ten-tacles up to 3m long and

very poisonous.

The whip-like tail is armed with a toxin-bearing spine.

Found in shallow sandy bays where it is extremely

well camouflaged.

Marine organisms

Bottle Nose Dolphin Cape Urchin

Regularly seen from shore where they surf and hunt.

Round echinoderm covered in pointed spines. Lives in rock pools where it feeds on algae. Pale green

shells are often washed out on shore.

Chokka (Calamari) Common Dolphin

Internal chalky plate, which gives the cuttle fish buoyancy. Used as beak sharpener for cage birds

such as canaries.

Long snout. May gather in large hunting schools of hundreds. They often

launch themselves out of the water.

Duckfoot Limpet Elf

Very flat surface to minimize damage from

waves. Also a filter feeder.

Also known as Shad. On this coast known as

blue shad.

Marine organisms

Ghost Crab Goose Barnacle

Digs deep holes high on sandy beaches.

Filter feeder. Fixed to rocks in clutches.

Humpback Whale Jelly Fish

Not often seen from shore.

Normally moves quite fast.

Normally no stinging tentacles. Fed on at sea

by turtles. When washed up plough snails feed on

them.

Mermaids Purse Octopus

Shark or Ray eggs. Tentacles attach to

seaweed while embryos develop.

Normally only lives for 12 months from birth to death. Found on rocky

shores.

Marine organisms

Oyster Pansy Shell

Edible organism that is notoriously hard to open. They filter the sea water

to obtain nutrients.

Biscuit like shells of dead sea urchins. Also known as

sand dollar.

Paper Nautilus Pink Coral

The internal organisms of small squid like animals.

One of the most beautiful and delicate shells.

A bright fuchsia coral found in rocky shores.

Stains fingers when touched.

Plough Snail Pygmy Sperm Whale

Occurs on sandy, wave-exposed beaches where it scavenges on carrion

located by scent.

Sometimes beaches itself between Dana Bay and

Boggoms Bay for reasons unknown.

Marine organisms

Seals Siffie (Venus Ear)

Often come out and lie on the beaches, due to either sickness or when moulting. Do not disturb them, as they can be very

dangerous.

The inside is a beautiful ‘mother-of-pearl’ colour.

Southern Mullet Southern Right Whale

Caught commercially in nets. It is a delicacy when

smoked.

Visits our shores between June and November. Can be seen and heard whilst

walking on the beach.

Swimming Crabs White Mussels

Back legs are paddle shaped. Can nip your

toes. Sandy coloured with red spots. They feed on

plough snails.

Two siphons; one sucks in water for feeding, the other expels wastewater.

Main source of food of the Oystercatcher.

Common names Scientific names Afrikaans names

African Hoopoe Upupa epops HoephoepPied barbet Lybius leucomelas BonthoukapperCape Clapper lark Mirafra apiata HoëveldklappertjieGreater striped swallow Hirundo cucullata GrootstreepswaelEurasian swallow Hirundo rustica Europese swaelBlack saw-wing swallow Psalidoprocne holomelaena SwartsaagvlerkswaelBrown-throuted martin Riparia paludicola Afrikaanse oewerswaelRock martin Hirundo fuligula KransswaelFork-tailed drongo Dicrurus adsimilisi MiksterbyvangerPied crow Corvus albus WitborskraaiBlack crow Corvus capensis SwartkraaiCapebulbul Pycnonotuscapensis KaapsetiptolOlivethrush Turdusolivaceus OlyfsterCape rock-thrush Monicola rupestris Kaapse kliplysterFamiliar chat Cerocomela familiars Kaapse kliplysterCape robin Cossypha caffra Gewone janfrederikKaroo robin Erythruppygia coyphoeus SlangverklikkerWillow warbler Phulloscopus trochilus HofsangerBar-throuted apalis Apalis thoracica BandkeelkleinjantjieNeddicky Cisticola fulvicapillus NeddikkieSpotted prinia Prinia maculosa KaroolangstertjieFiscal flycatcher Sigelus silens FiskaalvlieëvangerCape white-eye Zosterops pallidus Kaapse glasogieCape wagtail Motacilla capensis Gewone kwikkieCape rockjumper Chaetops frenatus Kaapse berglysterGrassveld pipet Anthus cinnamomeus Gewone koesterOrangethrouted Longclaw Macronyx capensis OranjekeelkalkoentjieFiscal shrike Lanius collaris FiskallaksmanSouthern tchaga Tchagra tchagra GrysborslaksmanBokmakierie Telephorus zeylonus BokmakierieRed-winged starling Onychognathus morio RooivlerkspreeuEurasian starling Stumus vulgaris Europese spreeuWattled starling Creatophora cinerea LelspreeuPied starling Spreo bicolour WitgatspreeuCape sugarbird Promerops cafer Kaapse SuikervoëlMalachite sunbird Nectarine famosa Kaapse SuikervoëlOrange-breasted sunbird Nectorinia violacea OranjebossuikerbekkieBlack sunbird Nectarinia amethystine SwartsuikerbekkieCattle egret Bubulcus ibis VeereierGreat double-collared sunbird Nectarine afra Groot-rooiborssuikerbekkieLesser double-collared sunbird Nectarine chalbea Klein-rooiborssuikerbekkieHouse sparrow Passer domesticus HuismossieCape sparrow Passer melanurus Gewone mossieMasked weaver Ploceus velatus SwartkeelgeelvinkCape weaver Ploceus capensis Kaapse wewerRed bishop Euplectes orix RooivinkYellow rumped widow Euplextes capensis Kaapse flapPintailed whydah Bidua macroura KoningrooibekkieCommon waxbill Estrilda astild RooibeksysieYellow canary Serinus flaviventris GeelkanarieBully canary Serinus canicollis DikbekkanarieForest canary Serninus scotops Gestreepte kanarieCape canary Serinus canicollis Kaapse kanarieWhite-throuted canary Serinus albogularis WitkeelkanarieStreaky-headed canary Serinus gularis Streepkopkanarie

Birds (continued)

Common names Scientific names Afrikaans names

Cape bunting Emberiza capensis RooivlekstreepkoppieAfrican Darter Anninga rupa SlanghalsvoëlBlack Harrier Circus maurus WitkruisvleivalkCape gull Larus vetula Swartvlerk seemeeuCape crowned plover Vaneilus Coronatus Kaapse kroonkiewietCape gannet Morus capensis Kaapse visvangerFish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer VisarendGrey heron Ardea purpurea Grys reierJackal buzzard Buteo rufofuscus Jakkals diefAfrican Penguin Spheniscus demersus PikkewynPied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis BontvisvangerSanderling Calidris alba StrandloperSpur winged goose Plectropterus gambensis Gevleulde gansWhite breasted cormorant Phalacrocorax Iucidus Wit bors visvangerWhite necked raven Corvus albicollis Wit hals kraai

inVerteBrates Praying mantisAgentine antCocktail antHoney bees

mammals Striped polecat Ictonyx striatus StinkmuishondScrub hare Lepus saxatilis KolhaasCommon duiker Sylvicapra grimmia Gewone (grys) duikerBushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus BosbokSmall-spotted genet Genetta genetta KleinkolmuskeljaatkatStriped mouse Thabdomus pumilio StreepmuisCape Serotine Bat Eptisecus capensis Kaapse dakvlermuisPorcupine Hystric africaeustralis YstervarkBat-eared fox Otocyon meglotis BakoorvosCaracal Felis caracal RooikatCape dune mole-rat Bathyergus suillus Kaapse duinmolBottle nose dolphin Tursiops truncates StompneusdolfynHumpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae GollwalvisSouthern Right whale Eubalaena australis Suidelike noordkaperCommon dolphin Delphinus delphis Gewone dolfynGrey mongoose Herpestes ichneumon Grys muishondLarge spotted genet Genetta tigrina Gevlekte muskeljaatkatCape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus Rob

marine orGanisms Giant periwinkle AlikreukelBlack mussel Swart mosselBlue bottle Blou blasieBlue stingray PylstertCape urchin PampoentjieChokka TjokkaDuckfoot limpet SeeslakGoose barnacle Jelly fish Jellie visMermaids purse Haai eierOctopus SeekatPlough snail

Common names Scientific names Afrikaans names

Shad ElfSouthern Mullet HarderVenus ear SiffieWhite mussel Witmossel

reptiles Cape cobra Naja nivea Kaapse geelslang (kobra)Southern rock agama Agama atra Klip koggelmanderPuff adder Bitis arietans PofadderCape skink Mabuya capensis Kaapse gladde akkedisTree snake/Boomslang Dispholidus typus BoomslangMole snake Pseudaspis cana MolslangKaroo dwarf chameleon Bradypodion karroicum Dwerg-verkleurmannetjieParrot-beaked tortoise Homopus areolatus Gewone padloperLeopard tortoise Geochelone pardalis BergskilpadAngulate tortoise Chersina angulata RooipensRinkhals Hemachatus RinkhalsBrown House Snake Lamprophis Bruin huis slangCape Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus capen Kaapse dwerg geitjie VeGetation White Milkwood Sideroxylon inerme WitmelkhoutKaroo Boer-bean Schotia afra KarooboerboonBushtick-berry Chrysanthemoides monilifra BietouCabbage Tree Cussonia spicata KiepersolSeptember bush Polygala myrtifolia BloukappieKrantz Aloe Aloe arborescens KrantzaalwynWild Olive Olea europaea Olienhout Carpubrotus edulus Suurvygie

SA RED DATA BOOK ENTRY *Vulnerable #Near threatened

RAINFALL 350mm per annum With almost

300 sunny days a year in the Mossel Bay and

surrounding areas, it is the perfect all-year holiday

destination.