Paul Carter. Posted Feb 2021; revised 5 Mar 2021 (additional sightings)
MAMMAL LIST
On visits to Wilderness (2019 to 2021) I photographed the following small mammals:
1. Brants’ Climbing Mouse (Dendromus mesomelas). @ Fairy Knowe Backpackers.
2. Woodland Thicket Rat (Grammomys dolichurus). @ Fairy Knowe Backpackers. These two sightings (6 weeks apart) are at the western extreme of its range in South Africa (field guides do not show it west of Port Elizabeth; but Monadjem et al (2015) show it as far west as the Knysna area).
3. Southern Africa Vlei Rat (Otomys irroratus). @ The Wallow Guesthouse.
4. African Mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus). @ The Wallow Guesthouse.
5. Cape Dune Mole-rat (Bathyergus suillus). @ Wilderness Ferry Waterside Jetty.
Images and site information on these sightings are given by location below.
Mammal Records by Location
1 – Fairy Knowe Backpackers
The property is on the edge of town and has a small patch of thicket and milkwood trees that borders a reedbed and bird hide. There is a 200-meter-long nature trail through the thicket area, with some walk-in campsites along it. There is a 300-meter-long trail along the southern edge of the property to a bird-hide. Camping and self-contained rooms are available (under new management since late 2020). I spent three nights here in Jan 2021; there was no road traffic at night because of the pandemic-related curfew (9 pm – 5 am). The property is also in walking distance of the Ebb-and-Flow section of the Wilderness NP. Mammals seen at Fairy Knowe Backpackers were:
a) Brants’ Climbing Mouse (Dendromus mesomelas).
Seen on the path to the bird hide; I was looking for this species in the reeds, having seen it in such habitat before, but saw one three meters up a tree in the thickets alongside the reedbeds (16 Feb 2020). Location shown at iNaturalist.
b) Woodland Thicket Rat (Grammomys dolichurus).
Seen in the main camping area under the milkwood trees (18 Feb 2020 and 4 Mar 2021). Location shown at iNaturalist.
c) Cape Serotine (Neoromicia capensis).
Seen; with ID by audio (Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro); (18 Feb 2020).
d) OTHER:
Caracal and Bushpig seen by owner Adrian Loveland.
2 – The Wallow Guest House
This guest house is located on a 3 ha fynbos property on the high-lying area behind Wilderness. There is a short trail at the back of the property.
a) Southern Africa Vlei Rat (Otomys irroratus).
Common but usually in thick cover (16-20 Feb 2020). Location shown at iNaturalist.
b) Common Mole-rat (Cryptomys hottentotus).
Seen on the front lawn (16 Feb 2020). Location shown at iNaturalist.
c) Cape Serotine (Neoromicia capensis).
Seen; with ID by audio (Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro); (18 Feb 2020).
d) OTHER:
Bushpig is known in the area; Caracal and Bushbuck seen by the owners (Dave and Maureen).
3 – Wilderness Ferry Waterside Jetty
This jetty (300 meters east of town) is near the junction of Waterside Road and Limberlost Lane.
a) Cape Dune Mole-rat (Bathyergus suillus).
Seen on the lawn near the jetty (19 Feb 2020). Location shown at iNaturalist.
References
Monadjem A, Taylor PJ, Denys C, Cotterill FPD (2015 Feb). Rodents of Sub-Saharan Africa: A Biogeographic and Taxonomic Synthesis. De Gruyter.
Stuart C, Stuart M (2015). Stuarts’ Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa including Angola, Zambia and Malawi. Struik Nature.