5.5.3 Lygodactylus capensis (Common Dwarf Gecko)
This species is a day gecko, which like the Tropical House Gecko is native to the
north-eastern areas of South Africa but it’s commensal habits have led to it invading
many urban areas of the country (Bauer et al. 2014), such that it has been described
as South Africa’s most successful invasive reptile (Rebelo et al. 2019). The earliest
records date to around 1956 in Port Elizabeth, although other introductions may have
been earlier (Rebelo et al. 2019). Expansions in peri-urban areas of Port Elizabeth
and Bloemfontein have been rapid, while that in Cape Town has been comparatively
slow. The introduction of this species to Cape Town is thought to have originated
with the establishment of a population in a nursery. Hitch-hiking and stowaways as
adults and eggs are likely to be the pathway of invasions (Rebelo et al. 2019). For
example, a crate from Kruger National Park is presumed to be the source of a
population which established in Addo Elephant National Park in the 1970s (Branch
1981). Branch (2014b) noted that they are rarely found away from man-made
structures, although the number of sightings in natural settings is rising (Rebelo
et al. 2019). As no other day geckos are native to the invaded areas, there is unlikely
to be any intra-guild competition. The common dwarf gecko is not known to be
invasive elsewhere in the world, although it is a likely candidate, and its impact has
not been assessed. Common Dwarf Geckos are not listed in the Regulations.
5.5.4 Indotyphlops braminus (Flowerpot Snake)
The Flowerpot Snake originates from southeast Asia, but has become invasive all
over the world and is, after the Red-eared Slider, the world’s most widely-distributed
reptile (Kraus 2008). Ironically, this was one of the first snakes recorded from
South Africa (in 1838), and only recognised as an invasive in 1978 (Measey and
Branch 2014). Since that time, new populations have been found at the coast in
Durban (Brooke et al. 1986), and inland in the Western Cape. It is noteworthy that
this species reproduces parthenogenetically, and so easily establishes new
populations on introduction. The impact of these small thread snakes has not been
assessed anywhere, and the species is not listed in the Regulations.
5.6 Amphibia
5.6.1 Hyperolius marmoratus (Painted Reed Frog)
Painted Reed Frogs were detected in Villiersdorp, Western Cape in 1997 and in Cape
Town in 2004 (Davies et al. 2013). A subsequent genetic study showed that these
animals consisted of individuals that were extending their range from the Eastern
5 Terrestrial Vertebrate Invasions in South Africa
139
This species is a day gecko, which like the Tropical House Gecko is native to the
north-eastern areas of South Africa but it’s commensal habits have led to it invading
many urban areas of the country (Bauer et al. 2014), such that it has been described
as South Africa’s most successful invasive reptile (Rebelo et al. 2019). The earliest
records date to around 1956 in Port Elizabeth, although other introductions may have
been earlier (Rebelo et al. 2019). Expansions in peri-urban areas of Port Elizabeth
and Bloemfontein have been rapid, while that in Cape Town has been comparatively
slow. The introduction of this species to Cape Town is thought to have originated
with the establishment of a population in a nursery. Hitch-hiking and stowaways as
adults and eggs are likely to be the pathway of invasions (Rebelo et al. 2019). For
example, a crate from Kruger National Park is presumed to be the source of a
population which established in Addo Elephant National Park in the 1970s (Branch
1981). Branch (2014b) noted that they are rarely found away from man-made
structures, although the number of sightings in natural settings is rising (Rebelo
et al. 2019). As no other day geckos are native to the invaded areas, there is unlikely
to be any intra-guild competition. The common dwarf gecko is not known to be
invasive elsewhere in the world, although it is a likely candidate, and its impact has
not been assessed. Common Dwarf Geckos are not listed in the Regulations.
5.5.4 Indotyphlops braminus (Flowerpot Snake)
The Flowerpot Snake originates from southeast Asia, but has become invasive all
over the world and is, after the Red-eared Slider, the world’s most widely-distributed
reptile (Kraus 2008). Ironically, this was one of the first snakes recorded from
South Africa (in 1838), and only recognised as an invasive in 1978 (Measey and
Branch 2014). Since that time, new populations have been found at the coast in
Durban (Brooke et al. 1986), and inland in the Western Cape. It is noteworthy that
this species reproduces parthenogenetically, and so easily establishes new
populations on introduction. The impact of these small thread snakes has not been
assessed anywhere, and the species is not listed in the Regulations.
5.6 Amphibia
5.6.1 Hyperolius marmoratus (Painted Reed Frog)
Painted Reed Frogs were detected in Villiersdorp, Western Cape in 1997 and in Cape
Town in 2004 (Davies et al. 2013). A subsequent genetic study showed that these
animals consisted of individuals that were extending their range from the Eastern
5 Terrestrial Vertebrate Invasions in South Africa
139