Steenbok

Steenbok (Dwarf Antelope of South Africa)

Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) are one of South and Southern Africa’s smallest of antelope but what it lacks in size the Steenbok makes up for in its looks.

Being a beautiful reddish brown in colour, male Steenbok only stand between 40-60 cm (16-24 in)  high and weight in between 10-16 g (22-35 lbs) with the females being slightly smaller. In comparison to the rest of their bodies Steenbok have very long legs, other defining characteristic of the Steenbok is its very large ears and a black triangular patch on the bridge of the nose. You can further distinguish males from females as only males posses short straight black horns  or spikes really which stand about 150cm (6in) in length from the top of its head, large dark eyes, give way to preorbital glands.

Steenbok are solitary antelope and only really come together to mate, although breeding does take place throughout the year, births tend to peak in November and December each year which coincides with ‘Mother Natures re-birth’ (Spring) here in the Southern Hemisphere.

As with a few African antelope Steenbok are primarily browsers, (pick from trees and shrubs) feeding at or near ground level, occasionally they scrape the ground with their sharp hooves for roots and tubers. Water is not essential as moisture can be taken from the food they eat.

Steenbok have many different predators, including Leopard, Caracal and even Pythons, in the presence of danger, Steenbok first hide, crouching with the neck pressed against the ground and ears retracted to avoid detection. If the threat persists or approaches the animal will flee, with fast zig-zagging flight interrupted by attempts at concealment by lying down flat.

In South and Southern Africa the Steenbok’s distribution is wide and varied and can be found in various environments throughout South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Swaziland, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Male Steenbook (Raphicerus campestris) showing his horns
large ears and 'preorbital glands'

The Southern Masked Weaver Bird- Natures Craftsman

Wildlife and Nature Pictures - Southern Masked Weaver - Natures Craftsman

At 14cm (6in) the Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)  is a common resident breeding bird of South and Southern Africa's numerous wildlife species. Of the taxon 'Ploceidae' or 'Weavers' of which there are many species around the world, the Southern Masked Weaver is widespread over virtually all of South Africa, which can count its self fortunate to have approximately 10 other  'Ploceus' species besides the Southern Masked Weaver. Male weavers are when breeding generally bright striking yellows, black and or reds in colour and the yellow and black of the Southern Masked weaver is one of its striking features. Females are not nearly as striking as the males of the species as we so often find in nature.

Mother nature has provided the Southern Masked Weaver with all the necessary tools required for its survival. The Southern Masked Weaver  is what is known a 'Passerine' a species of bird which includes more than half of the worlds bird species.  One of the most notable features of 'passerines' is the toe arrangement, this arrangement of three toes pointing forwards and one backwards  helps facilitate 'perching' thus the Passerines like the Southern Masked Weaver are commonly known as 'perching' birds for which the Southern Masked Weaver is very apt.

Further notable features of the Southern Masked Weaver is its 'bill,' it is generally known as a 'seed' eating bird for which it strong 'conical' shaped bill is ideally suited for cracking those hard grass seed husks which it feeds upon. Also it is possible sometimes to tell which species of weaver bird  is in 'residence' purely by looking at the shape of the nest as certain weavers have a 'signature' style. 

This brings me on to the nests of the Southern Masked Weaver, for this is what weavers generally are most renowned for, nest building. The Southern Masked Weavers nest is generally constructed of intricately woven grass, and lined with feathers by the female and the entrance of the nest is always facing downwards, certain other weavers also use leaf fibre, and fine twigs. 

Like most weavers the Southern Masked Weaver is a gregarious sociable bird and they build their nests close together often on the same branch and often over bodies of water, which of course being so close together affords them a certain degree of protection as well.  The male breeding Southern Masked Weaver has several breeding partners (known as Polygyny not Polyandry) during the breeding season, which maybe between as many as 20-30, for which this little industrious bird builds nest for each and everyone of his females partners. Sometimes parasitised by cuckoos the female Southern Masked Weaver has a clever trick 'up her sleeve' or should I say 'under her wing' she actually lays different coloured eggs and the cuckoo has no way of knowing what colour the eggs are until it enters the nest to lay one itself. 

Male Southern Masked Weaver
Inspecting His Intricately Woven Grass Nest 

The 'Signature' Grass Nest of  a Spectacled Weaver

Wildlife and Nature Pictures - Natures Female Swingers (Polyandry)

Wildlife Species-Grey Foam Nest-Tree Frogs  

In the wonderful world of nature many wildlife species do not stick to the general rules of 'one' mate during a breeding season. ie.. one male-one female or visa -versa..  In our human world it is broadly categorised as 'Polygamy' (having more than one spouse)  In natures animal kingdom, species that mate with more than one member of the opposite sex  during a breeding season is  termed as  'Polygyny' (A male mates with more than one female during a breeding season) or 'Polyandry' (A female mates with more than one male during a breeding season).

It is the latter 'Polyandry' on a grand scale that this female species of frog known as the Grey Foam Nest-Tree Frog (Chiromantis xerampelina) participates in. Currently all over Limpopo province where I live as well as in the rest of South Africa, I see dam's (pool's, lakes, pond's or general standing water) with the intriguing nests of this industrious and clever medium sized (+/- 100mm) frog .

The female Grey Foam Nest-Tree Frog  starts by climbing up the vegetation which will be overhanging water, sometimes this maybe many meters up from the waters surface. She then starts to deposit her eggs (many hundreds) on a branch or over a hanging protrusion over the water. At the same time she also secretes a 'sticky liquid' which is manipulated and kicked and worked up by her back legs to form a large 'foam nest', some I have seen are as big as footballs! At this point, it is where the many attendant males, as many as 12 or so ('simultaneous polyandry') fertilise the eggs with their sperm. 

The 'foam nest' helps prevent dessication of the eggs (drying out) and also minimise predation of her eggs and tadpoles, as frogs and toads that would normally lay their eggs in the water are susceptible to this problem. Once the eggs have hatched in the nest  and after 3-5 days the little tadpoles wriggle and drop out the 'foam nest' into the water below to continue their feeding and metamorphosis life cycle after being given the best possible start in life.

Wildlife and nature are full of interesting facts, one of these facts concerning the Grey Foam Nest-Tree Frog is also quite interesting.  Like most frogs the Grey Foam Nest-Tree Frog is susceptible to 'drying out' and the reason why most frogs are nocturnal and active during the cooler parts of the day. However,  mother nature provides these frogs with the ability to produce a 'mucus' type skin all over their bodies which combined with the with-drawing of their limbs 'close' to their bodies, it helps prevent the 'drying out' happening and thus retain their  body moisture.

Grey Foam Nest Tree Frog (Chiromantis xerampelina) - (limbs withdrawn to help loss of body moisture)
and a 'Foam Nest'

Wildlife and Nature Pictures - Natures Mating Rituals

Mother Nature and her Mating Game

Wildlife, if you live your life daily in the South African bush can take on a whole new meaning. You can immerse yourself in a whole new world of mystery and intrigue, the  'toings' and 'froings' of many of mother natures wildlife's interesting characters. This spectacle  is played out daily in front of you and it can take a 'life time' to fully understand, but only a mere moment to enjoy, if you are lucky enough to witness such happeneings. I count myself very lucky to witness  and photograph many such spectacles to share with you all. 

As the months come and go you start to notice the bush's wildlife changing their behaviour, colour, attitudes and as in my last few post they may even 'disappear' or 'appear' all together as seasonal migrations take place or they hibernate.

For the various species of wildlife that actually breed in South Africa, the time eventually comes around when love is in the air, which in most cases is the onset of Spring. Mother nature provides many ways in which certain species choose a 'mate' and how they are chosen. One of the interesting processes many wildlife species go through to choose a mate initially, is a system which is called 'Lekking'. Lekking usually takes place before or during the breeding season.

Many of natures wildlife species like Birds, Antelope, Frogs, Seals, Crabs, even Butterflies use this system. Briefly then  'Lekking' is conducted is an area or arena called a 'Lek' where a 'aggregation' (gathering) of  males  form 'small territories', to 'defend' and display themselves to potential females mates.

Dependant on size of species, this could be anything from a few centimetres to 20 or 30 meters  but the areas are solely for competitive display purposes (as 'resourced regional territories' and or 'home ranges' of animals is another subject altogether and best kept for another post) and are defended by males against each other with a view to establishing a 'hierarchy' and attracting female mates. 

Many females of the species on the other hand  visit  these areas/arenas 'Leks' primarily to find a mate. Those males that are noticed by females are those perhaps with large horns or antlers, bright coloured coats or feathers, large in statue, audible noises like snorting and or singing displays (birds) all go to make up a 'display' in a 'Lek' to attract a female mate and continue the gene pool.

A fine male specimen (ram) 'Impala'
A species of Antelope found in South Africa which uses the 'lekking' system to help find a mate.