Colophospermum mopane trees are a common larval food plant of the mopane moth (Imbrasia belina), which commonly reaches outbreak proportions. Our study investigated factors determining host tree choice by ovipositing mopane moths within a single host species (C. mopane). Tree size was the primary determinant of oviposition at both the habitat (tall riverine-, medium height woodland- and short-shrub mopane) and individual tree scale, with an increase in the number of egg masses with increasing tree size (estimated by height and canopy volume). Preference for larger trees was only evident at the habitat scale, however, as individual trees were utilized as expected according to the availability of their canopy size class. More detailed tree characteristics, such as leaf size, shoot size, stem number and even leaf chemistry (protein:tannin ratio and total polyphenols) had no influence on host choice. Host choice was based on the most obvious measure of resource abundance, namely tree size, as expected for an outbreak species, since resource availability rather than nutritional quality is likely to be the primary determinant of larval survival.

The isiXhosa colloquial names of 86 taxa of South African land mammals recorded in three mammalogical works and three isiXhoxa dictionaries are tabulated and discussed. This reveals several ambiguities, discrepancies, inconsistencies and uncertainties, as well those species and groups of species for which the names are not in doubt. Resolving the doubts would benefit the administration of environmental law, and would assist fieldworkers doing mammal/ biodiversity surveys in isiXhosa-speaking areas. Improving the accuracy and consistency of information provided in the standard works would also be beneficial. Such a resolution would best be done by zoologists working with lexicographers. Consequently, the paper is written with both zoologist and lexicographer in mind, and information is given that may be common knowledge to one but not the other.

Intertidal rock pools are inherently dynamic environments that experience marked changes in physico-chemical parameters over diel, tidal and seasonal time scales. Fish that inhabit the intertidal zone can generally be characterized as either permanent residents or transients/visitors. This study investigates the resting metabolic rate (RMR; mg O₂g/h) of the resident rock pool fish Caffrogobius caffer and the transient sparid Diplodus sargus capensis at a range of salinities (5, 15, 25, 35 and 45 PSU) and temperatures (14, 20 and 28°C) using closed-vessel respirometry. Both species were temperature sensitive, with Q_{10 (14–28)} of 1.82 and 2.07, respectively. A significant positive relationship (P =0.03) between salinity and oxygen consumption was determined for D. sargus capensis, but not for C. caffer. The RMR values were significantly higher (P < 0.01) for D. sargus capensis compared to C. caffer at all temperatures and at all salinities, except 5 PSU. This was attributed to the different biologies of the two species, C. caffer being a bottom-dwelling species and D. sargus capensis a mid-water species. It is suggested that the decreased temperature sensitivity and euryhaline characteristics of C. caffer compared to D. sargus capensis, would allow the former to more effectively penetrate the upper intertidal zone.

Among the four African otter species, the Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus) is the least known due to the remoteness of its Central African equatorial rainforest range. The taxonomic status and the criteria to differentiate A. congicus from the quite similar Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) are reviewed. The current distribution and status of A. congicus (Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Cameroon and Central African Republic, northern Angola, and probably western Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi) is updated using an information network, surveys in Gabon, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and localities of museum specimens. The species is mainly threatened by deforestation, hunting for bush meat and use for witchcraft materials.

Radio-tracking was undertaken over two months to investigate the social organization of the four-toed elephant-shrew (Petrodromus tetradactylus) in sand forest at Tembe Elephant Park, South Africa. Petrodromus tetradactylus occurred in monogamous male-female pairs that defended partially overlapping home ranges. There was virtually no overlap between the ranges of adjoining pairs, indicating low population density although not negating mutual avoidance or territorial defence, which could be inferred by incongruent intra-pair ranges. Our findings largely concur with those of a similar study of P. tetradactylus in Kenya and studies of other elephant-shrew species elsewhere. Home ranges estimated from a mean of >34 radio-tracking fixes over a short period suggest that male home range areas were similar to those reported in previous studies, while home range areas of females, although variable, were on average smaller than those previously reported. Most males and some females had two separate centres of activity that confounded the accurate estimation of their home ranges. The reason for this is unclear but may be related to habitat characteristics and quality, as it was not the result of home range shifts.

For most of the year, Meyer's parrots in the Okavango Delta do not form large feeding flocks, and groups larger than two or three are probably the result of opportunistic aggregation at favoured food items after dispersion from communal roosts. Communal roosting likely does not facilitate flocking unless the food resources are close to the roost site, but may function in anti-predator defence. Meyer's parrots appear to be dependent on riverine forest, Acacia-Combretum marginal woodland and mopane woodland for roost sites in the Okavango Delta. They aggregated more during the breeding season due to their specialist nutritional requirements, and female dependence on food provisioning by the male parrots. Meyer's parrots may be sedentary in the Okavango Delta, but the possibility of limited local movements in other areas (especially the Zimbabwean highlands) should be investigated.

Rana saharica is the most widely distributed anuran in Tunisia. We examined morphological variation in 124 specimens as a function of their geographical origin, using univariate and multivariate statistics with traditional morphometrics. Our results supported the existence of three morphotypes of this species, correctly classified 84.7% of specimens, and indicated significant degrees of variation in morphometric characteristics between regions. No significant differences were found between sexes among populations. We observed an increase in body size and a decrease in body mass as a function of latitude. Specimens from the southernmost region had the smallest body size and the greatest morphometric divergence. The pattern of morphometric variation probably results from phenotypic plasticity correlated with local environmental factors.

Recent work in the field of parasitology has drawn attention to the application of parasites as pollution-accumulation indicators, particularly cestodes. A discrepancy in metal concentrations within cestode posterior and anterior tissue has led researchers to attribute this phenomenon to metals binding to the shells of their eggs. Thus, the objective of this study was to demonstrate metal presence through the implementation of fluorochromy. Tissue forms of a known metal accumulator, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, were exposed to a Phen Green FL fluorescent probe specific for metal ions and examined with a fluorescence microscope. The results have shown that metal ions bind to the egg-shells of B. acheilognathi and that fluorescence microscopy can be employed successfully to demonstrate metal accumulation in tapeworms.

Amietophrynus xeros was sequenced for part of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial region to assess genetic diversity between populations from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Tanzania. Although populations are currently unconnected, diversity within the Sahel region was relatively low, indicating that the species only expanded into this region relatively recently, perhaps after the last glacial maximum. Diversity was higher between samples from Tanzania. Some individuals of two species from previously published studies, A. garmani and A. gutturalis, share haplotypes with A. xeros, but this is likely to be due to error, possibly misidentification. Similar errors appear to exist in published studies of other North African Amietophrynus species such as A. regularis.

On the occasion of a symposium celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Zoological Society of Southern Africa (ZSSA), the history of the Society is outlined in terms of its different ‘growth stages’ under different political dispensations and geographical headquarters, of its 34 organized symposia and of the 34 outstanding zoologists who have been awarded the Society's highest honour, the Gold Medal. The office bearers of the ZSSA Council from its inception to the present are documented. Changes to the Society's journal and newsletter are briefly discussed. It is concluded that the Society faces ‘midlife’ with a solid foundation and positive future, but complacency should be avoided. In particular, the Society's journal requires invigoration and enthusiastic commitment, particularly from high-ranking members, to submit excellent manuscripts to the journal, so as to boost its impact factor and allow it to become globally competitive.

The Zoological Society of Southern Africa (ZSSA) has held conferences since 1962. Given the major changes in national and international environmental priorities and in political and societal structures in South Africa over this period, together with technological advances, major shifts in research trends would be expected. The mix of papers presented at conferences held in 1984, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2009 were investigated to identify trends in the subdisciplines, in taxa and habitats studied, and in the collaboration and participation of students. Trends reflected in publications by South African zoological researchers in 1980 and 2007 were also used. Zoology remains a strong discipline, with 16 university departments employing 16% more staff and 14% more professors in 2007 than in 1980. A large number of zoologists are also employed at museums (43) and at other research institutions (74). There has been little major change in terms of subdisciplines, or the taxa or habitats studied, and conferences have remained broad, with no narrow subdiscipline ever comprising more than 15% of presentations. Priorities for terrestrial zoological research identified in a 1995 commentary paper have not received noticeably more attention. Mammals have consistently received the largest amount of attention, but research on birds has increased. The split between research on vertebrates (64%) and invertebrates (36%), as reflected by publications, was identical in 1980 and 2007. Terrestrial research continues to dominate conferences and publications, and collaborative presentations have increased since 1994. Maintaining traditional research focus in filling of vacancies at universities and other institutions, as well as funding opportunities, have probably contributed to the maintenance of broad research coverage over the last 25 years. Major changes in funding strategies and the national focus on large, integrated scientific questions may influence trends into the future.

Marine species have been introduced continuously into South Africa for more than 400 years, since the arrival of the first European explorers. Various waves of introduction can be identified over this period, each associated with a different mix of vectors. Early wooden vessels carried specialized wood-boring species, a rich external fouling community, plus semi-terrestrial species associated with dry ballast. Modern steel vessels continue to import fouling species, despite the use of anti-fouling paints, and may ply new routes, bringing additional introductions from novel locations. More modern waves of introduction are associated with use of ballast water and with marine aquaculture. Research on marine bio-invasions in South Africa has a short history, marked by a rapid rate of discovery of introductions. Some 86 marine species are currently regarded as introduced to the region, with a further 39 considered cryptogenic, but this number is increasing rapidly. Moreover, many taxa and regions still remain inadequately explored, indicating that the current list remains far from complete. The reasons for under-reporting of introduced populations are discussed and include lack of sample coverage, misidentification of aliens as native species and erroneous redescriptions of aliens as new, indigenous species. However, the lack of taxonomic expertise across large sections of the biota remains the greatest impediment to progress.

Numerous animal species have been introduced to areas from which they were previously absent, and many of these have become invasive, with substantial impacts. However, in other cases, impacts are assumed from theory. Empirical demonstrations are uncommon, making evidence-based conservation policy difficult to achieve. Here we review the broader ecological and conservation lessons from recent work on non-indigenous species in two southern systems, the policy implications thereof, and the subsequent changes to policy as a result of this work. First, we discuss invasions in the Antarctic region. Strong relationships exist between numbers of animal invasions and numbers of human visitors to Southern Ocean Islands, abiotic factors are often limiting for introduced species, homogenization across islands differs among taxonomic groups, and control actions can rapidly result in unintended consequences. This knowledge has influenced national policy and decisions within the Antarctic Treaty System. Second, we discuss ungulate introductions and translocations, both in South Africa and elsewhere. We show that substantial homogenization has resulted from both processes. However, firm evidence for impacts of ungulate introductions and translocations is sometimes difficult to find, despite the theoretical likelihood thereof. Such a lack of information may have profound consequences for the effective implementation of policy.

The African mole-rats of the family Bathyergidae are an excellent model group of mammals for undertaking physiological research. The wide spectrum of social organizations, coupled with their underground lifestyles, make this unique family ideal for studies that embrace broad principles in physiology. Here I present an overview of past and ongoing research into the energetics, locomotory activity patterns, pineal melatonin function and reproductive physiology of these fascinating subterranean mammals.

The last decade has seen the emergence of two new developments in behavioural ecology: the discovery of animal personalities and a new approach to the analyses of animal behaviour, biological markets. Although both regard individual differences in behaviour as adaptive in their own right, these two developments appear, at first glance, to be opposing approaches to analysing animal behaviour. Personalities consist of suites of behaviours that are correlated across situations (e.g. some animals are consistently more or less aggressive across situations than other animals) and assumes that animals are limited in their response to their environment. By contrast, the biological market approach considers organisms as traders of commodities (e.g. food or grooming) where the exchange rates of commodities changes with time and is influenced by shifts in the abundance and demand for the commodity, as happens in human markets. Biological markets thus view animal behaviour as extremely plastic whereas the putative existence of animal personalities suggests that animal behaviour may be relatively inflexible. However, the two approaches may be more similar than heretofore realized and may be complementary rather than opposing. Here I briefly review each approach and show how animal personalities can arise from a biological market situation.

Actual observations of black rhinoceros predation are rarely reported and are limited to two incidences involving subadults. Nevertheless, some authors attribute tail and ear deformities in up to 7.1% of some populations to predation attempts. In August 2008 we observed a mother with dependent c. 8-month-old female black rhinoceros calf in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa. The calf had a recently amputated tail, wounds to the anogenital region, right posterior flank and right side of the neck resembling a lion attack. Thirteen days later and on three subsequent occasions, the mother was sighted alone, suggesting that the calf had succumbed to its injuries. This incident provides evidence to suggest a link between attempted lion predation and tail amputation in black rhinoceros. Significantly, it implies that amputated tails and ears throughout Africa may represent failed depredation attempts and that calf predation may be more prevalent than previously appreciated. Predation is seldom considered in the management of black rhinoceros but should be when attributing cause to poor population performance of this critically endangered species.

We used scat analysis to study the diet of two sympatric medium-sized carnivores: brown hyaena and black-backed jackal, in the North West Province of South Africa. Seven major dietary categories were identified from the scats, with mammal remains being most common for both species. Brown hyaena scats contained more large mammal remains, which together with the presence of invertebrates (in 50% of all brown hyaena scats), suggests that they mainly scavenged. Jackal scats contained a higher proportion of small mammal remains, suggesting that jackals actively hunted more often than brown hyaenas did. The diets differed significantly between the two species, even though diet overlap was fairly high (0.79). Further analysis, albeit based on small sample sizes, suggests that diet of these mesopredators differ between protected reserves with apex predators and unprotected areas without apex predators, thus confounding generalizations. Further studies are therefore required to investigate possible mesopredator release when apex predators are absent.