This Black Girdled lizard is about 6 inches in length and his color helps him absorb heat. He was sitting on the rock which had lichen on it and blended in so well.
I guess it needs toes like this in order to clambour amongst the rocks.
A Blue-tailed skink but unfortunately not a very good shot of it.
Nor this frog!! Seems like my photography is going from bad to worse. :)
I have an idea that this may be a Velvet Ant (Mutillidae) and if so, the first on of the species I have found.
A close look at its wings.
I guess it needs toes like this in order to clambour amongst the rocks.
A Blue-tailed skink but unfortunately not a very good shot of it.
Nor this frog!! Seems like my photography is going from bad to worse. :)
I have an idea that this may be a Velvet Ant (Mutillidae) and if so, the first on of the species I have found.
A close look at its wings.
Our common wall lizards have very long toes as well, as you say all the better to climb with:-) Diane
ReplyDeleteI remember the lizards, but where did we see that frog? Love the ant wing macro.
ReplyDeletethe detail on the ants wing is amazing. my favorite is the first one. he blends so perfectly with the background. i love to watch our lizard here, go from green on leaves to black on tree trunks and all shades in between. i have not seen a blue tailed skink here in florida, but we had lots of them in Savannah Georgia. they look just like yours,. as i sit here th parrots is smiling at me from your side bar and the moth above it with 2 dots is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing photo of the ant, Joan, especially the wing close-up. I enjoyed all your photos today. Blessings Jo
ReplyDeleteThe one from the wing is really great!
ReplyDeleteIt seems something from another planet...
I bet by now you are in the bush soaking in all the wonderful sights.
ReplyDeleteI do like the deisgn of those wings on the ant. Makes me think of a bats wings. Looks like leather.
Have a wonderful and safe time.
B.
Thanks Diane. Some of them habe there round, flat toes which help them cling to surfaces like windows. A good way of telling the species apart.
ReplyDeleteThe lizard was in the Dinosaur Park Gaelyn, just before I got down and dirty taking those shots of the ant. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra. The lizard you are talking about is very unusual for me as it seems to be a cross between a lizard and a chameleon. None of our lizards change color like that but we do have plenty of chameleons here. I caught a baby one two days ago which I am feeding. :)
ReplyDeleteThat has to be the most beautiful moth I have ever seen. Really stunning and a big one too.
Thanks Jo. Hope you are having a great week end.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrea. When you see them close up like this I am always pleased they are not bigger as they would definitely scare people if they were. :)
ReplyDeleteI am Becky and loving it. :) Last night I was sitting outside feasting my eyes on all the stars. What a beautiful display!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing close-up of the wings! The blue tailed skink looks like some I've seen in MalaMala but can't be sure it's the same species.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jose. Yes, it id the dsmr species. They are very common in SA and found all over.
ReplyDeleteIts a pity that gecko's don't want to sit still long enough for us with the short lenses to get close.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have lost my photography mojo and it is worrying as I am running out of pics to post. I'm heading up to your neck of the woods next week for my son's trampoline SA champs in Pretoria and hope that the trip up through the Karoo, a stop over in Bloem and a couple of days around Johannesburg and then Pretoria will change it for me. Perhaps I just need some new surroundings to get me out of this slump.
You are right Jonler, there are some things one just cannot get close to.
ReplyDeleteI think we all have these slumps and the winter is the worst time of all. I know I just dont feel like going out at all. Sometimes a small thing like a change of scenery will do the trick and hope this is what happens with you. A pity I would not be up in Pretoria at this time as we could have had lunch but I am in the bush for the next two weeks and loving it of course. :) I was just listening to the sound of the Fish Eagle by the river outside. It has to be the most beautiful call of anything in Africa and it tells me I am home again. :)
Hope your son does well in the competition.
Wow..are those the veins in the wings...amazing.....
ReplyDeleteThe also use them to cool their blood and so themselves Michelle.
ReplyDeleteThat wing shot is great! All very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary.
ReplyDelete