SANParks.org Forums

Imberbe HAS opted out

Okay, herewith the solution:

A Combretum imberbe tree:

a) Is found from South Africa up until the Sahara Desert.
FALSE. Found from South Africa up till Tanzania.
b) Can always be identified by it's silvery-grey bark that is cracked into a multitude of rectangular blocks (like bricks in a wall).
FALSE. Not always, because the bark is actually smooth when the tree is young.
c) Has red flowers and four-winged seeds.
FALSE. Has creamy-yellow flowers and four-winged seeds.
d) Has been used by local peoples to white wash their huts and as a toothpaste, while the tree's gum has been eaten.
TRUE. The leadwood ashes are mixed with water to make a paste and then used on teeth. The ashes also are prepared to whitewash kraal huts. The gum has been eaten nutritionally, especially by the San Bushmen.
e) Has the hardest wood in the world, with a specific gravity (density) 29% greater than that of water.
FALSE. It is one of the heaviest woods in the world (specific gravity of 1.29), but not the heaviest - that honour belongs to snakewood (specific gravity of 1.35).

Bishop

We've not talked a lot about bushpig on here, so let's see if I can drum up something about them:

These shy animals occurs mainly in ___(a)____ in the ____(b)____ parts of the country. Bushpig firstly rely on their ____(c)____, and secondly on their ____(d)____. For interest, even though bushpig are omnivores that will even feed on carcasses, they mainly feed on plant material. Also, a bushpig's eyes almost don't shine at all when you aim a light at them.

a)

• damp woods and riverine thickets
• dry forest and savannah bushveld
• open marshland and grass plains

b)

• western and north-western
• eastern and south-eastern
• southern and south-western

c)

• hearing
• sense of smell
• sense of sight

d)

• hearing
• sense of smell
• sense of sight

Hope its not too easy.

These shy animals occurs mainly in damp woods and riverine thickets in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the country. Bushpig firstly rely on their sense of smell, and secondly on their sense of hearing. For interest, even though bushpig are omnivores that will even feed on carcasses, they mainly feed on plant material. Also, a bushpig's eyes almost don't shine at all when you aim a light at them.

Just taking a guess here, but lets see.

Great way of asking the question Bishop.
Again just guessing, so probably all wrong!!!

These shy animals occurs mainly in ( in the dry forest & savannah bushveld) in the (eastern & S.eastern) parts of the country. Bushpig firstly rely on their( hearing) and secondly on their (sense of smell.)

Siobain, your guess was quite spot on! Those were indeed the correct answers.

You're IT

Which of the following accurately describe the 'Desert Rain Frog'?

A) Grey brown with pale central stripe of variable colour down it's back.

B) Smooth yellowish cream with brown mottling forming an M pattern
behind the eyes.

C) The skin on it's belly is so thin that it easily bursts when the frog
is lifted without support under the belly.

D) They have hard, sharp, wedge-shaped snouts to help push their
way through the sand.

E) The frog emits a squeaky wail and secretes a distasteful milky fluid
if molested.

Select only the facts pertaining to this frog.

I'd love to respond but what I know about the desert rain frog you could fit on the point of a needle and trying to find any relevant information without a frog book is proving tough.

A) Grey brown with pale central stripe of variable colour down it's back.

B) Smooth yellowish cream with brown mottling forming an M pattern behind the eyes.

C) The skin on it's belly is so thin that it easily bursts when the frog is lifted without support under the belly. The skin on the belly is paper-thin with an extensive network of veins near the surface, and it is presumed that where it rests on the damp sand about 10cm underground during the day, it absorbs the moisture available in the sand through this vascular membrane.

D) They have hard, sharp, wedge-shaped snouts to help push their way through the sand. Can't find a description, but on the photos it is actually quite blunt - reminiscent of a bulldog almost!

E) The frog emits a squeaky wail and secretes a distasteful milky fluid if molested. this defence is probably due to the fact noted in point C), it being very likely to burst if picked up.

Can't actually get a description, only not-so-clear photos, so I'll say the following ones are applicable.
A, C, E

Timepilot thanks for taking the time to partake.

Bishop you're almost there. One is incorrect.

Bishop, A. is incorrect, B. is the correct description.

Well done Bishop,
you are IT

My apologies. I'll probably not be on for a day or three. First to post is IT.