|
Typical of this species is the pronk (jumping
display), which led to its common name, springbok.
Both sexes
have horns but those of the ram are thicker and
rougher. This species has adapted to the dry, barren
areas and open grass plains and is thus found
especially in the and in the Karoo up to the west
coast.
 Springbok
are herd animals and move in small herds during
winter, but often crowd together in bigger herds in
summer.
Springbok eat both grass and leaves and can go
without drinking-water, because they get enough
moisture from the succulent leaves. Where
drinking-water is available they will use it.
The galjoen is found only along the South
African coast. It keeps to mostly shallow water, is
often found in rough surf and sometimes right next
to the shore and is known to every angler.
 Near
rocks, the colour of the galjoen is almost
completely black, while in sandy areas the colour is
silver-bronze. It is also known in KwaZulu-Natal as
blackfish or black bream. The record size is over 55
cm and 7 kg, however the average is much smaller.
The galjoen is a game fighter.
The diet of the galjoen consists mainly of red
bait (ascidians), small mussels and barnacles. The
scales are very firmly attached. The fins are
well-developed with prominent spines.
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 The
yellowwood family is primeval and has been
present in this part of Africa for more than
100 million years. The species is widespread
and is found from Table Mountain, along the
southern and eastern Cape coast, in the
ravines of the Drakensberg up to the
Soutpansberg and the Blouberg in Limpopo.
In forests, they can grow up to 40
metres in height with the base of the trunk
sometimes up to 3 metres in diameter. In
contrast, trees that grow in unsheltered
places like mountain-slopes, are often
short, bushy and gnarled.
 The
bark of the Real Yellowwood is
khaki-coloured to grey when it is old,
deeply split and peels off in strips. The
crown is relatively small in relation to its
height and is often covered with grey
lichen. Male and female cones resemble pine
cones and are white, light green or pink.
The female cone has a fleshy podocarpium on
which the seed, which takes on the shape and
colour of a cherry, develops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
