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…
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…
The Button or Widow Spiders of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has a rich spider fauna. With the exception of a few species, all spiders have venom which is secreted by…
Hamerkop
Hamerkop (from the Afrikaans for "hammer-head"); Scopus umbretta (Genus Scopus (Latin = a broom or brush, alluding to the bird's crest OR Greek =…
