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Species Cards

Erica verticillata

Erica verticillata is a critically endangered fynbos species once extinct in the wild and now reintroduced through conservation efforts. As part of the unique Cape Floristic Region, it plays a role in sustaining pollinators and ecosystem balance.

Whorl heath

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Thinopyrum distichum

It is the sole species of the genus that occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a wild relative of bread wheat and is a halophyte.

Coastal Wheatgrass

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Oedera humilis

This species is one of the bushes recognized in the Government Gazette No. 49556 as an essential part of the sheep diet required for producing certified Karoo lamb.

Perdekaroo

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Secale africanum

This is the only rye species from southern Africa. It is palatable and has been used for grazing. It is not known whether it was used as a cereal by the indigenous peoples in the past (pza.sanbi.org/secale africanum).

African rye

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Lupulella mesomelas

The black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas, formerly Canis mesomelas) is a keystone species in South Africa, maintaining ecosystem balance through rodent control and carrion scavenging that limits disease spread.

Black-backed jackal

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Psammobates tentorius trimeni

The Namaqualand tent tortoise is a vibrant and highly polymorphic seed disperser.

Namaqualand tent tortoise

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Psammobates tentorius tentorius

The Karoo tent tortoise is an important seed disperser for various plant species and endemic to South Africa. It is arguably one of the most taxonomically confusing and morphologically polymorphic species of Testudines.

Karoo tent tortoise

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Labeo umbratus

The Moggel is a freshwater fish endemic to Southern Africa. It is important for commercial and subsistence fisheries, angling, aquaculture, and physiological research.

Moggel

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Pomadasys commersonnii

The Spotted Grunter is a high-value species targeted by commercial fisheries. In South Africa, commercial fishing of this species is prohibited, with only recreational angling permitted.

Spotted Grunter

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Psammobates tentorius verroxii

The Bushmanland tent tortoise, an important seed disperser for various plant species and endemic to South Africa and Namibia, is arguably one of the most taxonomically confusing and morphologically polymorphic species of Testudines.

Bushmanland tent tortoise

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Sclerophrys pantherina

The Western Leopard Toad is a narrow endemic of the Western Cape, South Africa, with several populations already lost. The remaining few are critical to the species’ survival.

Western Leopard Toad

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Otomys auratus

The South East African Vlei Rat is a vital component of South African biodiversity, contributing to ecosystem health through seed dispersal, soil aeration, and serving as prey for predators.

South East African Vlei Rat

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