FileList Convert a pdf file! Koedoe 19: 145-152(1976) NOTES ON MAMMALS ENCOUNTERED IN THE TSITSIKAMA NATIONAL PARKS G. A. ROBINSON Tsitsikama Coastal National Park P.O . Stormsrivier 6308 Abstract - Data and observations on mammals collected since the proclamation of the Tsitsikama National Parks in 1964, are presented. Although the Swedish naturalist J. F. Victorin (1970) and other early collectors and explorers have referred to elephants, hippos, buffaloes and many other big game species occurring in the area between Knysna and Humansdorp, only data and observations collected subsequent to the establishment of the Tsitsikama National Parks in 1964 will be pre- sented. De Graaff and Nel (1970) referred to the smaller mammals occurring in the Parks while de G raaff (1974) listed the occurrence of rodents. The material observations were collected as a routine duty of field staff in the Parks but in a few cases traps were set by visiting profes- sionals. The numbers referred to below the notes of some of the species are the museum accession numbers of the Tsitsikama Coastal National Park housed at Storms River Mouth. Nomenclature follows that of the Smithsonian Institute (Meester and Setzer 1971) as far as possible, other- wise Roberts (1951) is accepted. ORDER PRIMATES Family Cercopithecidae Papio ursinus ursinus (Kerr, 1792) Chacma Baboon Widespread and abundant, troops at Bloukrans Pass, Storms River Mouth, Paul Sauer Bridge and at Nature's Valley. The troop at Storms River Mouth occasionally ventures down to the intertidal zone where they have been observed eating intertidal invertebrates. They are caught in adjacent areas to the Park by the Department of Forestry where they cause considerable damage to the pine (Pinus spp.) plantations. Cercopithecus pygerythrus pygerythrus (F. Cuvier, 1821) Vervet Frequently seen at Groot River near Nature's Valley and at the De Plaat forest near Paul Sauer Bridge although they are found throughout the area in the indigenous forests. The troops usually number between 15-25 individuals. 145 ORDER CARNIVORA Family Mustelidae Mellivora capensis capensis (Schreber, 1776) Honey Badger Only one has been observed near Lottering River in 1969. A skeleton was, however, found during 1967 while the Otter Trail was being con- structed and it is likely that others exist in this area. TNP IBI 1967 110 Poecilogale albinucha albinucha (Gray, 1864) Snake Mongoose A vel)' rare find, collected at the De Plaat forest. The distribution of this species seems uncertain and this record probably extends its known distribution. (Skin and skull collected). TNP/B/1974/28 Aonyx capensis capensis (Schinz, 1821) Clawless Otter Found all along the Park's coast usually in the vicinity of estuaries. Often seen in the late afternoons during the winter months when the sea is rough. Most commonly seen at Storms River Mouth and at Groot River estuary. I ctonyx striatus striatus (Perry, 1810) Cape Polecat One specimen collected after it had been run over on the National Road near Witelsbos. Not usually seen due to its nocturnal habits. Only the skin was preserved. TNP/B/197512 Family Viverridae Genetta genetta (Thunberg, 1811) Small Spotted Genet Commonly seen at Storms River Mouth and since the prohibition of dogs in the Park, has become quite tame. Three have been trapped and tagged for further studies. Herpestes pulverulentus pulverulentus (Wagner, 1839) Widespread in the Parks and regularly seen. Family Felidae Panthera pardus melanotica (Gunther, 1885) Cape Grey Mongoose Leopard Records of sightings at Paul Sauer Bridge, Storms River Mouth, Robbehoek and Bloukrans Pass. The populations must consist of at least eleven individuals as a mother with three kittens were reported being seen in the Bloukrans Pass. The specimen on display in the open-air museum (Tsitsikama Coastal National Park), was shot in the Langkloof. TNP/B/1968/14 146 Felis caracal caracal (Schreber, 1776) Caracal Have been observed on several occasions by rangers and the public. Two kittens were caught at Stonns River in 1966 by local labourers and reared by the author. ORDER HYRACOIDEA Family Procaviidae Procavia capensis capensis (Pallas, 1766) Cape Dassie Extremely abundant in rocky outcrops and since the prohibition of dogs in the Park have become very tame at Stonns River Mouth. The breeding season usually starts during the latter part of November and continues into December. ORDER CETACEA Sub-order Odontoceti Family Physeteridae Kogia breviceps (Blainville, 1838) Pygmy Sperm Whale One specimen collected along the coast during 1969 by the Port Eli- zabeth Museum. It was a male 2,6 m in length. Kogia simus (Owen, 1866) Dwarf Spenn Whale This identification is doubtful. On Saturday 1974.05.31 the author was infonned of a stranded dolphin at Mooibaai. It was noted that it was still alive and the beast was hurriedly given a few violent pumps to clear its lungs. The dolphin was dragged back into the water. After swimming around in the bay for a short while it headed for deeper water and was not seen again. J. A. Fourie and T. Dearlove confinned the tentative identification. This could, however, also have been a K. brevi- ceps. Family Delphinidae Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758 Common Dolphin Occurring in enormous schools frequently as large as several thous- and individuals. These schools are usually found in deeper water. Stenella euphrosyne (Gray, 1846) Euphrosyne Dolphin Another pelagic dolphin found in huge schools and not readily dis- tinguishable from the abovementioned species. Saayman, Bower and Taylor (1972) refers to it as Stenella caeruleoalbus. 147 TUTSiops aduncus (Ehrenberg, 1833) Bottle-nose Dolphin Occurring in smaller schools totalling several hundred individuals. Seen frequently throughout the year close to the coast. Best (1971) has suggested using "Gadamn" as this species' common name but, "Bottle- nose" is more commonly used. Solalia lenliginosa (Owen, 1866) Humpback Dolphin Seen throughout the year close inshore in small groups. Saayrnan el al. (1972) describes this species as Sousa sp. Best (1971) has suggested that the common name "Speckled dolphin" be accepted for this species . Family Ziphiidae Mesoplodon heclori (Gray, 1871) Hector's Beaked Whale During March 1967 two specimens were collected at Lottering River Mouth. Their skulls are housed in the Port Elizabeth Museum (1511/15 and 1511/16) . Mesoplodon densiTostris (Blainville, 1817) Blainville's Beaked Whale The most recent stranding (1975.06.26) found at the western end of the caravan park at Storms River Mouth. It was a female weighing 184,4 kg and had a total length of 2,61 m. All the skeletal material is available. TNP/BI7 5/3 Sub-order Mysticeti Family Balaenidae E ubalaena glacialis (M liller, 1 7 76) Southern Right Whale These whales spend their summers closer to the antarctic and are only seen during the winter months migrating to and from the warmer regions. They select protected bays in which to calve and Storms River bay has been regularly visited for this purpose. Usually seen alone but often in pairs and occasionally a pair with a calf. Best (1971) also suggests "Back right whale". ORDER PINNIPEDIA Family Otariidae Subfamily Arctocephalinae Arctocephalus pusillus (Schreber, 1776) South African Fur Seal Often seen out at sea but occasionally enters river mouths and has 148 been observed by the author catching fish in the Storms River estuary. One or two mortalities occur annually along the Tsitsikama Coastal National Park. Family Phocidae Subfamily Monachinae Lobodon carcinophagus (Hombron andJacquinot, 1842) Craheater Seal Collected at Nature's Valley beach on 1974.04.15. A rare seal for the South Coast and only a few records have been published (Nel 1971). The skin is on display at Skukuza. TNP/BI1974/1. ORDER CHIROPTERA Sub-order Megachiroptera Family Pteropodidae Rousettus aegyptiacus (E. Geoffroy, 1810) Egyptian Fruit Bat Found in large cave in Storms River estuary. Colony probably con- sisting of more than 3 000 individuals. Other caves visited along the coast and at Groot River showed no signs of this bat. Reported by B. Whitcher to occur in the Bloukrans River area (pers. comm.). Sub-order Microchiroptera Family Rhinolophidae TNP/B/1972/2. Rhinolophus capensis Lichtenstein, 1823 Cape Horseshoe Bat Found in most of the caves situated along the coast. TNP/B/1 974/26 Family Vespertilionidae Subfamily Miniopterinae M iniopterus schreibersi (Kuhl,1819) Schreiber's Long-fingered Bat Commonly found in the caves caused by faults in the Table Mountain Sandstone layers. TNP/B/1974/22 ORDER ARTIODACTYLA Family Suidae Potamochoerus porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) Bush Pig Occurs throughout the coastal and forest area. Regularly seen at night and judging from its diggings must be fairly abundant. TNP/B/1 974/10 149 Family Bovidae Subfamily Bovinae Tribe Tragelaphini Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas, 1 766 Bushbuck Never seen in groups, usually alone, but on occasions a pair have been seen consisting of either a ram and a doe or of a doe and a lamb. TNP/B11967111 Taurotragus oryx (Pallas, 1766) Eland It was.re-introduced by the Department of Forestry to the Lottering Forest Reserve during 1973 and has subsequently been seen in the imme- diate vicinity of both the Coastal as well as the Forest National Parks . Subfamily Cephalophinae C ephalophus monticola (Thunberg, 1789) Blue Duiker Recently more observations have been recorded. A nucleus herd of four (two does and two rams) was initiated during 1974. These were presented by the Director of the Queens Park Zoo, East London. Un- fortunately the two rams died shortly after arrival. Post-mortems re- vealed white muscle as the cause of death. Subfamily Antilopinae Tribe Neotragini Raphicerus melanotis (Thunberg, 1811) Grysbok A common antelope in the Parks usually seen at night. Prefers the macchia to the dense forest. ORDER RODENTIA Sub-order Hystricomorpha Family Hystricidae Hystrix africae-australis Peters, 1852 Cape Porcupine Seems to be quite common in the Coastal National Park and quills are often found on the Otter Trail between Storms River and Groot River. They are not frequently seen, due to their nocturnal habits. Family Muridae Praomys (M astomys) natalensis Multimammate Mouse Collected above caravan park on Loerie Trail, Otter Trail and in the restcamp at Storms River Mouth. Seems to be very common. TNP/B/1974/14 150 Rhabdomys pumilio (Sparrman, 1784) Cape Striped Mouse Probably the most common mammal in these Parks. Found all over and collected at both Storms River and Groot River. TNP/B/1974118 Family Cricetidae atomys irroratus irroratus Brants, 1827 Vlei Otomys It is a very common rodent with numerous runs all over the Parks. Sub-order Bathyergomorpha Family Bathyergidae Georychus capensis capensis (Pallas, 1 7 78) Fairly common at Storms River Mouth. ORDER CHRYSOCHLORIDEA Family Chrysochloridae Amblysomus iris corriae Thomas Schwann, 1905 TNP/B/1968/9 Cape Mole-rat TNP /B/ 1969/6 Zulu Golden Mole Common in the Parks where the soil allows them to burrow. ORDER INSECTIVORA Family Crociduridae Myosorex cafer (Sundevall, 1847) TNP/BI1974/30 Natal Forest Shrew From the trapped specimens it would appear that these animals are very numerous. TNP/B/1974/16 Crocidura jlavescens jlavescens (I. Geoffroy, 1827) Red Musk Shrew This shrew is common along the fringes of the coastal forest. Col- lected at Storms River Mouth. TNP/B11974115 Acknowledgements Thanks are due to the National Parks Board of Trustees for permis- sion to publish these notes, and to colleagues who helped with the col- lection and identification of specimens. 151 REFERENCES BEST, P. 1971. Order Cetacea. In: MEESTER J. and H. W. SETZER (eds): The Mammals of Africa: An Identification Manual. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press . DE CRAAFF, C. 1974. Notes on the occurrence of rodents in South African National Parks. Koedoe 17: 173-183. DE CRAAFF, C. andJ. A.J. NEL. 1970. Notes on the smaller mammals of the Eastern Cape National Parks. Koedoe 13:147-149 . NEL, J. A. J. 1971. Order Pinnipedia. In: MEESTER, J. and H. W. SETZER (eds): The Mammals of Africa: An Identification Manual. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. ROBERTS, A. 1951. The Mammals of South Africa. Johannesburg: "The Mammals of South Africa" Book Fund. SAAYMAN, C. S., D. BOWER and C. K. TAYLOR. 1972. Observations on inshore and pelagic dolphins on the South Eastern Cape coast of South Africa. Koedoe 15:1-24. VICTORIN, J. F. 1970. The Travels in the Cape the Years 1853-1855. English translation. Cape Town: C. Struik. 152 Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8