Spongiform encephalopathy in an arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) and a greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)

Clinical, pathological and epidemiological details of scrapie-like encephalopathies are described in an arabian oryx and a greater kudu. Clinical signs included ataxia and loss of condition with a short, progressive clinical course (22 and three days, respectively). Histopathological examination of the brains revealed spongiform encephalopathy characteristic of that observed in scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). It seems probable that these cases have a common aetiology with BSE. Scrapie-like spongiform encephalopathies have now been described in five species of exotic artiodactyls in Britain indicating a, hitherto inapparent, wider range of ruminant species as natural hosts for these diseases.     

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, in a kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) from a commercial game farm in the Malelane area of the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, was diagnosed for the first time, in a kudu cow from a commercial game ranch in the Malelane area of the Mpumalanga Province close to the Kruger National Park. This diagnosis has important implications for the eradication of the disease in commercial and communal livestock in the area. Kudus are considered to be a potential maintenance host and, because of discharging fistulae in the parotid area where the lymph nodes are commonly infected, they have the potential of disseminating bacteria over wide areas. Cognisance should be taken of the presence of tuberculosis in a species other than domesticated cattle in this area and its implications for the control of tuberculosis in cattle.     

A new Dactylogyrus species (Dactylogyridae: Monogenea) from Enteromius mattozi,Cyprinidae, at Piet Gouws Dam,South Africa

Enteromius mattozi Guimaraes, 1884, a popular eating fish among local people, were examined for monogenean parasites as part of a larger study to ascertain the feasibility of establishing aquaculture production in Limpopo, South Africa. In this study a new monogenean parasite of the genus Dactylogyrus was collected from the gills of E. mattozi, and described. It differs from known species of this group in the shape, size and structure of the heavily sclerotized vaginal prop. The proximal end of the vaginal prop has three layers similar to stacked funnels of decreasing sizes leading into a tube. The male copulatory organ is also much larger and robust than those of related species. The name Dactylogyrus mattozii is proposed for this new species.     

A new and unusual species of Parachiton (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from South Africa

A new species of the genus Parachiton, P. hodgsoni n.sp., which inhabits shallow water off the South African coast, is described. The radula is unusual for the genus Parachiton. It consists of about 160 transverse rows of very small mature teeth of which the major lateral teeth have very narrow tridentate cusps. The intermediate valves are granulose with the granules arranged in widely spaced, longitudinal rows on the central area of the valves. There are 20–31 longitudinal rows on the central areas of the intermediate valves. Variability in the morphology of the tail valve is shown.     

Description of a new species of Cordylus Laurenti (Reptilia: Cordylidae) from the south-western Cape,South Africa

A new species of girdled lizard in the Cordylus genus is described from the south-western Cape, South Africa. Unlike other Cordylus taxa the new form usually has only two supraciliaries per side, the posterior parietals are usually separated mesially by a small post-interparietal scale and the lateral body scales are larger than the dorsal scales. The relationships of this new form to other members of the Cordylus group are discussed.     

A review of the Namaqua gecko,Pachydactylus namaquensis (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from southern Africa,with the description of two new species

An analysis of morphological and allozyme variation in the Namaqua gecko, Pachydactylus namaquensis from southern Africa is presented. Three separately evolving lineages, well defined by morphology and allozyme variation, are identified. The isolated southern population, occurring on the southern escarpment and Cape Fold Mountains surrounding the western Little Karoo, is named P. kladamderma sp. nov., and is characterized by a slit-like ear opening, low number of granules bordering the mental (3-6) and mental and adjacent infralabials (513), the frequent (79%) occurence of the supralabial entering the nostril, and its drab brown base colouration. A northern population, occurring in southern Namibia and the Richtersveld is named P. haackei sp. nov., and is characterized by its more rounded or squared ear opening; high number of granules bordering the mental and adjacent infralabials (11-19), the general exclusion of the supralabial from the nostril (only 3.7% entry), and brighter, lighter colouration. It is further differentiated from P. kladaroderma on the basis of fixed differences at 11 allozyme loci. Both new species differ from P. namaquensis, which is mainly restricted to Little Namaqua- land, but is sympatric with P. haackei in the Lower Orange River region, by their more heterogenous dorsal scalation, smaller cloacal spurs, lack of spine-like tubercles on the lateral surfaces of the tail, and more fragile skin. The type locality of P. namaquensis is restricted to ‘the vicinity of Springbok, Little Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa’.     

The sclerodactylid holothurians of southern Africa,with the erection of one new subfamily and two new genera (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)

The sclerodactylid subfamily Sclerodactylinae is restricted to include only those forms with a short, compact, tubular calcareous ring and a new subfamily Sclerothyoninae is diagnosed to accommodate two new southern African monotypic genera Sclerothyone and Temparena, with compact but non-tubular calcareous rings. The new genera are erected respectively for Ludwig and Heding's (1935) Cucumaria? velligera and C.l chuni, formerly classified in Pentamera. This brings the total number of sclerodactylid holothurians known from southern Africa to six genera and seven species. All taxa are diagnosed and/or described, a key is provided for all southern African species and their local distributions are mapped.     

Breeding season and breeding potential of the greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) in captivity in South Africa

The cane rat, Thryonomys swinderianus, is an aseasonal breeder. It has a very low fecundity rate with an average litter size of 2.9 (range 1-5), producing a maximum of two litters per annum. The low annual fecundity is the direct result of the extended gestation period of the cane rat which exceeds 150 days in duration.     

Description and ecology of larvae of Glossogobius callidus and Redigobius dewaali (Gobiidae) from temperate South African estuaries

This paper describes the morphology and ecology of the larvae and early juveniles of two common gobiids in warm temperate South African estuaries. The early developmental stages of Glossogobius callidus and Redigobius dewaali were collected during plankton surveys in seven permanently open and five intermittently open estuaries along southeastern South Africa. Larval G. callidus have a characteristic ventral row of pigment that extends from the cleithral symphysis along the ventral midline of the tail to the end of the caudal peduncle; notochord flexion takes place at the yolk-sac stage, between 3 and 4 mm BL. Larval R. dewaali are characterized by having two very large stellate melanophores on the ventral surface of the trunk and tail, and internal pigment between the snout and hindgut; notochord flexion takes place between 4 and 6 mm. Body lengths at settlement for G. callidus and R. dewaali are 13 mm and 16 mm, respectively. G. callidus and R. dewaali dominate the larval gobiid catch in warm temperate estuaries. Estuary type and freshwater input played a defining role in the occurrence of larvae of these, often sympatric, species in temperate estuaries. Larval G. callidus occurred in both permanently open and intermittently open estuaries, and were most abundant in mesohaline regions over the spring/summer period. By contrast, larval R. dewaali occurred exclusively in permanently open estuaries and were more prevalent in the fresh and oligohaline regions in autumn. Larvae of both species were more prevalent in freshwater-rich estuaries. Densities of G. callidus and R. dewaali peaked at 101 and 3829 larvae per 100 m³respectively. The usefulness of using the early stages of these gobiids as indicators of estuarine health based on their specific and often prolific estuarine occurrence is discussed.     

Neothada hades N.sp. from South Africa,with notes on the genus and a key to the species (Nematoda: Tylenchidae)

Neothada hades n.sp. from South Africa is characterized by the posession of small but distinct stylet knobs, 149-175 body annules intersected by 14 longitudinal lines (incisures), protruding lateral fields marked by four incisures, and an elongate-conoid tail with bluntly rounded tip. Reasons are given why N. canceilata (Thorne 1941) and N. tatra (Thome & Malek 1968) are regarded as two distinct species, and why N. canceilata apud Andrassy, 1982 is regarded as distinct from Thome’s species. Andrassy’s species is renamed N. andrassyi n.sp. A key is presented for the six recognized species of Neothada.     

The louse fly Lipoptena paradoxa Newstead, 1907 (Diptera:Hippoboscidae): description of its adult and puparium and biology in South Africa.

Lipoptena paradoxa Newstead, 1907 is re-described using scanning electron microscopy and its puparium is described for the first time. The distribution of the fly is restricted to the eastern half of South Africa, generally at altitudes below 600 m. Its preferred hosts are all browsing antelope namely, bushbuck, nyalas, kudus and common duikers. The largest numbers of flies were present on kudus in the Kruger National Park from July or August to January and large numbers were recovered from these animals' tails from November to January. Considerably more female than male flies were collected.     

A new species of Parapharyngodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) and other helminths in Typhlosaurus lineatus (Squamata: Scincidae), from southern Africa

Parapharyngodon baueri n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of the legless skink, Typhlosaurus lineatus, is described and illustrated. Parapharyngodon baueri is the 42nd species assigned to the genus and differs from other species in the genus by possessing four pairs of caudal papillae, no cloacal lip adornment, and a sharply pointed spicule of 79-98 microm. The cestode, Oochoristica truncata, the nematode, Thubunaea fitzsimonsi, third-stage nematode larvae and acanthocephalan cystacanths were also present.     

Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XLIV. Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) collected from 15 carnivore species

Fleas were collected from 61 wild carnivores belonging to 13 species in various nature reserves and on farms, two feral domestic cats in a nature reserve and a domestic dog in the city of Johannesburg. Eleven flea species, including two subspecies of one of these, belonging to six genera were recovered. Amongst these only Ctenocephalides felis felis and Ctenocephalides felis strongylus are considered specific parasites of carnivores. The remaining ten species normally infest the prey animals of the various carnivores.     

Impact of Prosopis (mesquite) invasion and clearing on vegetation species composition and diversity in semi-arid Nama-Karoo rangeland,South Africa

The Nama-Karoo biome occupies 28% of South Africa’s land area. Alien leguminous trees of the genus Prosopis have invaded large tracts of Nama-Karoo rangeland. We evaluated the impact of Prosopis invasion and clearing on vegetation species composition and diversity (alien and indigenous species richness and cover) in Nama-Karoo rangeland on two sheep farms in the Beaufort West district of the Western Cape province of South Africa. Our results suggest that Prosopis invasion and clearing can significantly change Nama-Karoo rangeland species composition. Invasion and clearing appear to have no effect on alien species richness. Invasion, however, increases alien species cover, while clearing restores it to pre-invasion levels. In contrast, invasion reduces indigenous species richness while clearing restores it to pre-invasion levels. Invasion appears to have no effect on indigenous species cover. This lack of effect appears to be the serendipitous result of a site-specific trade-off between a decline in cover of grasses that are negatively affected by Prosopis invasion and a concomitant increase in the cover of positively affected grasses. Clearing increases indigenous species cover to above pre-invasion levels. The higher than usual indigenous species cover after clearing could be a transient legacy of Prosopis soil nutrient enrichment.     

Movement patterns of Lichia amia (Teleostei: Carangidae): results from a long-term cooperative tagging project in South Africa

Understanding fish movement patterns and migrations is important for fisheries management as well as the identification and conservation of critical habitats. Data collected by the Oceanographic Research Institute's Cooperative Fish Tagging Project (ORI-CFTP) were used to describe the large-scale movement patterns of Lichia amia along the South African coastline. A total of 10 762 L. amia were tagged between 1984 and 2012, of which 744 (7%) were recaptured. Most tagging effort, mainly on juvenile and subadult individuals, took place along the south-eastern (i.e. Eastern Cape) and south-western (i.e. Western Cape) regions of the country during summer. Conversely, more L. amia were tagged and recaptured (mostly adults) during winter and spring (July to November) along the north-east coast (i.e. KwaZulu-Natal). Movements (dispersal distance in kilometres) by juveniles were restricted and largely confined to estuaries within the south-eastern and south-western regions of the country. There was a significant effect of fish size on distance moved (ANOVA: p<0.001), with evidence of a distinct seasonal (winter) longshore migration by adults to KwaZulu-Natal. The consequences of juvenile residency in estuarine habitats and high recapture rate of adults during a directed, seasonal spawning migration are discussed in light of improving current fisheries management.     

The release of a troop of rehabilitated vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: outcomes and assessment

Rehabilitation and release have become central to the management and welfare of primate species in South Africa such as the vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops). However, limited research means that it is unknown whether rehabilitation is a successful management strategy for this species. This study describes the release of a troop of rehabilitated vervet monkeys and evaluates the results of 1 year of post-release monitoring. The released animals exhibited wild behaviours and established a home range. Survival could not be adequately evaluated due to the high number of untraceable animals, and troop composition was significantly different from that of wild troops. Improvement may be gained by radio-collaring more animals using improved technology, ensuring that troop composition is comparable to wild troops, excluding ex-pets from re-introduction and a more detailed assessment of the release site.     

First record and redescription of the introduced sea anemone Sagartia ornata (Holdsworth, 1855) (Cnidaria: Actiniaria: Sagartiidae) from South Africa

The brooding sea anemone Sagartia ornata is reported from South Africa for the first time and is redescribed. The species is abundant intertidally in Langebaan Lagoon, where it attaches to stones shal lowly buried in sediment. It is probably a recent intro duction from Europe.