Violin Spiders
(Family Sicariidae) Several violin spider species occur in Southern Africa, but only Loxosceles simillima has so far been recorded throughout Zimbabwe.…
Pied Crow
('Pied' means 'coloured in patches of different colours', especially black-and-white.) Scientific name: Corvus albus (Genus Corvidae = Latin 'crow or raven'; species albus = Latin 'white')Shona name: Gunguwo…
The Biodiversity of the Bvumba Mountains
Introduction These notes are intended to increase an awareness of the beauty and biodiversity of the Bvumba and hopefully a desire…
Gabar Goshawk
Scientific name: Genus Melierax (from Greek melos = 'song' + hierax = 'hawk'); species Gabar ('gabar' probably of 'Hottentot' origin, though the meaning is uncertain)Shona name: Rukodzi (generic name for small hawk) Sound: http://www.xeno-canto.org/126226…
Links to articles – biodiversity
Biodiversity https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/12/what-is-biodiversity-and-why-does-it-matter-to-us Amazon under threat https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51300515 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - biodiversity & adaptation in a desert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVC-i6RxHyI&feature=youtu.be Battle to save Harare's…
Links to articles – environmental issues in Zimbabwe
Present coal mining on Hwange National Park border https://africageographic.com/stories/coal-mining-in-hwange-national-park/ Chinese firms given permits to mine coal in Zimbabwean national park https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/03/chinese-firms-given-permits-mine-coal-zimbabwean-national-park/…
Scorpions and Scorpionism in Zimbabwe
With the onset of the hot and humid weather, scorpions will be out in abundance, having hibernated during the cooler months.…
Blue Waxbill
Scientific name: Genus Uraeginthus (Greek = like a finch) Species angolensis (Latin = from Angola)Shona names: Kasiisii, kadhiidhii, chisiisii, katstiitsii (all these names sound onomatopieic, reflecting the…
Abdim’s Stork
Ciconia abdimii (Ciconia Latin = Stork: abdimii after El Ernaut Abdimm Bey, Egyptian Governor of the Wadi Halfa area of Sudan 1821-1825); Shuramurove (Shona = generic name…
Arrow-marked Babbler
Genus Turdoides (Latin = 'thrush-like', 'like a thrush' i.e. another type of bird) species jardineii (named after Sir William Jardine) Shona: Dywedywe or hochahocha. (Both of these sound…
