Please note the following:
This website has been set up in a way in which I hope it is easy for the average person to find what they are looking for although things have been listed according to their scientific name in order to keep the same species together.
1. Plants and flower are listed according to the colour of their flowers in order to make them easier to find but please remember that sometimes the difference between red and orange is not very clear and different to each persons eye so please check the colour nearest to what you think it is too if you cannot find it. Any plant which does not have a flower, is listed under “Flowers/Plants Unknown”.
2. In many instances species do not have a common name so they have been written as follows: Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli). The scientific name is always in brackets.
For the past 5 years I have been a keen (amateur) photographer of the insects making up our small world, rarely seen. The problem came when trying to identify what I was finding and it has always been my wish to start a comprehensive website with pictures and names in order to help others.
Since I started, I have had numerous requests to identify other things of our fauna and flora so I intend to make this as diverse as possible yet stick sticking to a central theme of nature.
I am not an entomologist, zoologist etc – just an ordinary person with a love of the outdoors. I have learnt a lot in order to identify subjects and I am trying to enlist the help of people to help me classify these things properly. If you can be of assistance, please contact me at natureswow at gmail dot com.
This site needs to grow with your help. Please send in your pictures for identification to the above e-mail address in a size of about 600 pixels. The subject will be identified and added to our pages with your name attached. Please remember to include the area where you found it as it can make a difference in the species.
I would like to thank the following people for their help so far:
Reptiles: Johan Marais – his book A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa which he co-wrote with Graham Alexander is wonderful, full of interesting information and beautiful pictures. Do click on the link and see his terrific website, then buy the book. It is a beauty for the coffee table.
Birds: Craig Kerr who is a wonderful bird photographer kindly let me use his pictures. His other work can be seen at: Craig Kerr
Spiders: Norman Larsen kindly helped me identify the spiders. He revised the book Filmer’s Spiders which can be found in most book stores. It is packed with great info and pictures.
Ants: Brian Taylor’s site Ants of Africa is a wonder to browse through if you want to identify a species, with great info and pictures.
Please also go to BugGuide, a site which has insects from the USA and Canada.
