#ecoexploration

Look at that nose!!! 😍 To get a photograph of these mammals is not easy at all... Round-eared Elephant Shrews inhabit the more arid regions of the South, Western and Northern Cape. They forage on insects as well as roots and tubers - and they have been documented feeding on fallen berries as well. They are solitary animals, believed to be monogamous. They live in burrows that they expropriate from other rodents, reuse or dig themselves. Macroscelides proboscideus, somewhere dry, Western Cape, South Africa. #canon #canonmacro #macro #ishootwithorms #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #surveys #support #ecoexploration #mammal #mammals #mammalsofinstagram #shrew #shrews #shrewsofinstagram #elephantshrew #Macroscelidesproboscideus #nature #wildlife #arid #cute #longnose (at South Africa)

Look at that short tail! South African Pouched Mouse is a terrestrial species which will reclaim burrows that have been vacated by other species, or dig new ones. They will block up this burtow from the inside during the day, and have also been recorded blocking up the burrow entrance when they go out foraging to prevent theft of their food storage or predation. They are called pouched mouse for the two pouches that extends from their shoulders to the corners of their mouths. They use these pouches to carry seeds and nuts back to their burrows where they hoard them in a special chamber. One of their biggest predators are Barn Owls. If there is one thing they cannot do, it is to sit still for a photo shoot... out of about 200 photos, only one is useable! Saccostomus campestris, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, Western Cape. #canon #canonmacro #macro #ishootwithorms #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #surveys #support #ecoexploration #iamnikon #nikon #nikonsa #pouchedmouse #mouse #mice #miceofinstagram #mammals #mammalsofinstagram #animals #saccostomuscampestris #nature #wildlife #southafrica #arid (at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve)

This is such a charismatic species... and they are super docile. Opistacanthus capensis is a large scorpion species, getting up to 90mm in length, and they are nocturnal. They are found in a variety of habitats and are not uncommon in towns and homes. They really are a very calm and docile species and stings are rare. Overberg, Western Cape, South Africa. #canon #ishootwithorms #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #surveys #support #EcoExploration #animalsofinstagram #scorpion #scorpions #sting #venomous #naturephotography #nature #wild #wildlifeofinstagram #southafrica #africa #westerncape #overberg (at Western Cape)

This is an African Pygmy Mouse... adults are barely 10cm from nose to tail... pretty, small and extremely cute. Mus minutoides are one of the rodent species that is believed to scatter-hoard proteaceae nuts and seeds, an effective form of seed dispersal in our fynbos eco-systems. This is a widespread species that occurs from South Africa into Central and East Africa. We found this confiding specimen on Farm 215, Overberg, Western Cape. #canon #canonmacro #macro #ishootwithorms #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #surveys #support #ecoexploration #iamnikon #nikon #nikonsa #lovethesmallthings #mammals #mouse #mice #rodent #rodents #rodentia #furry #musminutoides #pygmymouse #southafrica #westerncape (at Farm 215 - nature retreat & fynbos reserve)

Common Egg-eaters are found throughout South Africa, except in the forests and desert areas. This snake feeds on eggs, and has grooves on the inside of its mouth which assists it in holding on to the egg. These grooves also helps it to move the eggs towards the throat where a bony spur (specialized vertebral hypapophyses) crushes the egg. The reptile then swallows the liquid, and the complete shell is then regurgitated. Dasypeltis scabra, Napier, Overberg - South Africa. #canon #canonmacro #macro #nikon #nikonsa #nikonic #ishootwithorms #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #surveys #support #ecoexploration #dasypeltisscabra #commoneggeater #snakesofinstagram #snake #snakes #reptilesofinstagram #reptile #reptiles #herping #herps #herpetology #nature #wildlife #southafrica #westerncape #nonvenomous (at Napier, Western Cape)

This Long-jawed Six-eyed Spider (aka Woodlouse Spiders) can be found around our homes and in rural areas, under rocks or in warm leaf litter - majority of the time in close proximity to woodlice. This is a nocturnal active hunter which does not spin a web to catch their prey - but they do construct silken retreats in crevices between bricks or rocks which they occupy during the day. The most common prey in their habitat is woodlice, but they will eat any invertebrate they can overpower with their disproportionately large jaws. Dysdera crocata, Napier, Overberg - South Africa. #canon #canonmacro #macro #nikon #nikonsa #nikonic #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #support #surveys #ecoexploration #ishootwithorms #spider #spiders #spidersofinstagram #arachnid #arachnids #atachnidsofinstagram #sixeyedspider #woodlicespider #dysderacrocata #southafrica #westerncape #introduced #nature #wildlife (at Napier, Western Cape)

Look at this spectacularly coloured animal! Knysna Dwarf Chameleons are found in the Southern Cape around George and Knysna - with a likely introduced population in the town of Swellendam, and an isolated population in the Grootvadersbos Forest which will likely be revised. This species prefers fynbos as well as afromontane forest, but can also be found in gardens. Bradypodion damaranum is endemic to South Africa and we found this one in the Garden Route, Southern Cape. #canon #canonmacro #macro #nikon #nikonphotography #ishootwithorms #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #surveys #support #ecoexploration #chameleon #chameleons #chameleonsofinstagram #reptilesofinstagram #reptile #reptiles #herping #herps #herpetology #nature #wildlife (at George, Western Cape)

White-fronted Plovers are one of the most common shorebirds along our South African coastline. They are an endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Charadrius marginatus' diet consists mainly of invertebrates. They have a very characteristic way of feeding, running with the lapping waves to catch the small inverts as they emerge or are deposited with the wave action. Their nests are very well camouflaged and one needs to be very careful when walking above the high water mark on beaches, as there is always an opportunity of chancing upon one of their (or other seabird) nests. Thick-knees, African Black Oystercatchers, mongoose and gulls as well as unsupervised dogs have been found predating on eggs and chicks. We had the good fortune of photographing this little plover on the nest for quite some time on Onrus Beach, Hermanus, Western Cape. #canon #canonmacro #macro #ishootwithorms #nikon #nikonic #nikonphotography #bionerds #biodiversity #planning #support #surveys #ecoexploration #bird #birds #birdsofinstagram #avian #ornithology #birdlife #birding #feathered #ocean #seabird #seabirds #shoreline #shorebirds #wildlife #nature #southafrica (at Hermanus, Western Cape)