Commercial fishing in False Bay, South Africa, began in the 1600s. Today chondrichthyans are regularly taken in fisheries throughout the bay. Using a combination of catch, survey and life history data, the occurrence and long-term changes in populations of chondrichthyans in False Bay are described. Analyses of time series data from five fishing methods between 1897 and 2011 provided trends in relative abundance. Of the 37 species found in False Bay, 25 showed no significant trends for any fishing method. Of the 12 species and two genera with catch trends, four showed a common trend across methods, two increasing (Mustelus mustelus and Carcharhinus brachyurus) and two decreasing (Galeorhinus galeus and Raja spp.), while another two species (Triakis megalopterus and Isurus oxyrinchus) showed highly significant declines in one method only. A productivity index was used in conjunction with information on species distribution, catch frequency and trends in abundance to assess the vulnerability of False Bay chondrichthyans. Among the various habitats and depth strata, the surf-zone has been most impacted by exploitation, whereas the conservation of deep-water, soft-sediment species has benefited from the ban on trawling in False Bay implemented in 1928. Continued monitoring using catch data from beach-seine, recreational shore-angling and the commercial linefishery is recommended, along with improved species identification.

Spatial and temporal patterns of disturbance and the subsequent heterogeneity are critical in maintaining biodiversity within grassland ecosystems. Grassland birds have evolved within this ‘shifting mosaic’ to become reliant on specific habitat characteristics maintained under varying levels of both natural and anthropogenic disturbance. Unfortunately, grasslands in South Africa have been extensively transformed and remain poorly conserved, threatening grassland avifauna. Mistbelt grassland is a threatened vegetation type endemic to the province of KwaZulu-Natal, of which only 0.3% is formally protected. This study investigated seasonal and patch type heterogeneity in a Mistbelt grassland avian community by determining avian community structure and composition in four patch types, i.e. i) untransformed open grassland, ii) burnt grassland, iii) bramble-invaded and, iv) bramble-cleared grassland, during winter and summer. Avian assemblages were significantly different between the different patch types for each season. The bramble patch type negatively affected grassland bird species diversity. Bramble-cleared grassland and untransformed grassland had similar vegetation structure and avian communities in the summer, suggesting that the grassland bird community benefitted soon after the clearing of invasive vegetation. This study provides further evidence that bird diversity is enhanced in structurally heterogeneous grassland landscapes. Furthermore, the protection and appropriate management of privately owned Mistbelt grassland, conserved in the form of rangeland, is an important refuge for threatened and endemic avifauna, such as the globally-threatened blue swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) and wattled crane (Bugeranus carunculatus).

Little is known about moult and moult-site fidelity of African waterfowl. Satellite telemetry and uniquely engraved colour-rings were used to study moult-site fidelity of Egyptian geese marked at two sites in South Africa — Barberspan in the summer-rainfall region and Strandfontein in the winter-rainfall region. Twelve Egyptian geese were tagged with satellite GPS PTT transmitters while moulting at Barberspan and Strandfontein during 2008 and 2009, and a further 527 were colour-ringed between June 2007 and March 2009. Bi-monthly point counts of Egyptian geese and scans for colour-ringed birds were made at each study site from July 2007 until June 2010, resulting in 139 individually colour-ringed geese being re-sighted during the study period. We explored Egyptian geese dispersal distances away from the study sites and modelled moult-site fidelity from colour-ring return rates corrected for survivorship, sampling period efficiency and colour-ring detectability estimates. There were 12% and 29.7% colour-ring return rates for geese ringed at Barberspan and Strandfontein, respectively. Four of five moulting birds tagged at Barberspan with satellite transmitters returned to Barberspan to moult the following year. Two of these same birds moulted at Barberspan in the third year while the other two moulted elsewhere. One out of seven Egyptian geese satellitetagged at Strandfontein returned to the same site to moult the following year. One bird moulted at a nearby pan (5 km away), two moulted at estuaries less than 30 km from Strandfontein and one bird moulted at a farm dam 56 km away. Two birds satellite-tagged at Strandfontein did not moult the following year and returned to moult at Strandfontein in the third year. The moult-site fidelity model suggested that a minimum of 16% of Barberspan birds and 51% of Strandfontein birds returned to the same wetland to moult the following year. The apparent low moult-site fidelity at Barberspan suggested by colour-ring resightings may reflect the small number of birds colour-ringed at the site.

The western giant eland (Tragelaphus derbianus derbianus) needs appropriate management for its survival. We measured the effects of supplemental food on activity and browsing patterns during seasons of scarce natural food resources in 2008 and 2009 for a herd of six animals in the Fathala Reserve (Senegal). In response to the provision of high-quality pods of Acacia albida, animals reduced foraging time in 2008 and allocated it to resting. This pattern corresponds to the animals' behaviour in captivity without foraging versus vigilance trade-offs and with predictable (in time and space) access to food. In 2009, supplemental feeding had no effect on behaviour and was associated with increased foraging and ruminating times than in 2008, suggesting more limited natural food resources in 2009.We recorded high species diversity in the animals' natural diet. Supplemental food did not induce changes in browsing pattern at the plant species level, probably due to small individual effect on total nutrient and energy intake. Food supplementation, however, facilitates the animals overcoming unfavourable conditions or alleviates stress with additional rest, and could therefore assist as a conservation intervention to enhance fitness.

A population of the common warthog, Phacochoerus africanus, recently became established on several farms in the Free State Province, South Africa. The aim of the study was to record ectoparasite species that occur on this non-indigenous population and to compare the parasite abundance and prevalence at three different times during 2011. Forty-six warthogs were culled in autumn (15), winter (16) and spring (15). Each individual warthog was screened for ectoparasites for 7–10 minutes by 3–4 persons. Parasites were removed using forceps and stored in 70% ethanol. Ticks were identified by an expert taxonomist, while fleas and lice were identified using published books containing their respective taxonomic keys. A single flea (Echidnophaga larina) and louse (Haematopinus phacocheri) species and three tick species (Hyalomma truncatum, Rhipicephalus gertrudae and Rhipicephalus simus) were recovered from 46 warthogs. The louse and flea were the most abundant ectoparasitic taxa, while the ticks had lower mean abundances. This is the first record of the tick R. gertrudae on warthogs in South Africa. Temporal variation in parasite abundance was observed. The louse was most abundant during spring and summer, while the flea preferred cooler and drier winter conditions. Hyalomma truncatum and R. gertrudae both preferred warmer spring conditions. In general, parasite species richness in the non-indigenous host population was low, which could support the parasite release hypothesis.

Solen cylindraceus, an infaunal bivalve, can reach a maximum length of 95 mm. However, in the St Lucia estuarine system specimens are seldom larger than 55 mm. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the growth rate and morphometrics of S. cylindraceus in St Lucia. Growth lines of this species are too indistinct and irregular to be of any use. This study, therefore, adopted a more direct method of monitoring the shell length of individuals, by caging them in situ. Shell measurements were taken from the individuals in cages and the surrounding environment at monthly intervals for one year. Thereafter, salinities decreased below their tolerance range and the experiment was terminated. Caged and uncaged animals had a shell length of 31.0 ± 4.5 and 31.7 ± 2.3 mm after a year of growth, respectively. An overall growth rate of 0.049 ± 0.059 mm/d was derived for the caged animals. In conclusion, first year growth rates appeared lower than previously recorded for S. cylindraceus. Additionally, it appears that animals are unable to survive in the prevailing harsh environment of St Lucia to reach maximum size.

The southern ground hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri, is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a ‘Vulnerable’ species with a decreasing population. Despite a myriad of threats, including loss of nesting sites, accidental poisoning and persecution, there has been no detailed study of the southern ground hornbill in Zimbabwe.We collected data on nest sites and usage for 42 nests over three breeding seasons in the communal areas surrounding the Matobo National Park. For the active nests in the breeding seasons of 2008/9 and 2009/10 the mean nearest neighbour distances were 4.41 km and 3.53 km, respectively. Most nests were found in granite crevices (67%) while the remainder were found in five different tree species. Most nests (90%) were in areas of subsistence crop farming, the remainder (10%) were found in forests and open savannas. The high breeding density of the southern ground hornbill in the communal areas surrounding the Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe could be attributed in part to traditional Ndebele culture which, for the most part, protects this species. Food also appears to be relatively abundant under communal farming conditions.

Niche theory suggests differential use of shared resources facilitates coexistence of species in a community. In this study we used the faecal stable isotope analysis with observations along transect lines perpendicular to the Pendjari River. This was to examine seasonal habitat features and diet partitioning between two sympatric bovid species waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) and western kob (Kobus kob) in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve. In support of niche partition hypothesis, diets of western kob and waterbuck diverged significantly along both faecal selection axes (d13C and d15N) during the resource-limited period of the dry season as opposed to wet season when there is resource abundance. Western kob and waterbuck resource partitioning does not occur only on the basis of diet segregation but also some habitat variables play an important role in the coexisting system. Findings support the niche partition hypothesis, where morphologically, ecologically and closely related sympatric species segregate at least in one of the niche dimensions to allow coexistence. The two bovid species were observed to diverge largely along distance to water source gradient. The results provided empirical evidence that habitat features acts as an additional dimension over which herbivores partition resources.

DNA barcoding was used to investigate the phylogenetic delimitations of Eisenia sp. populations used in ecotoxicological research in South Africa. A total of three focal groups (used in published works) and two non-focal groups were assessed. These focal groups, including two laboratory cultures and one field population, have been referred to as Eisenia fetida in the literature. A previous molecular study had already helped to establish that one of the two laboratory groups was a population of E. fetida's sister species E. andrei. In the present contribution, analyses of the COI gene revealed that the taxonomy of the remaining laboratory and field populations had also been incorrectly assigned since all the generated sequences grouped unequivocally with published sequences of E. andrei. Very high sequence divergence (>25% K2P) found within E. andrei could signal the occurrence of hitherto undescribed cryptic species. These findings are discussed with an emphasis on the possible consequences of using poorly identified earthworms or specimens with high molecular divergence in ecotoxicological bioassays. It is not clear whether unbeknownst to the researchers, the use of cryptic species in bioassays could jeopardise the quality of ecotoxicological investigations. Early evidence suggests that cryptic oligochaete species may respond differently to metal toxicity. The need for comparative ecotoxicological studies between E. andrei and E. fetida is also evidenced, especially in the light of recent numerous reports of cryptic oligochaete species. Ecotoxicologists are consequently encouraged, whenever possible, to make use of available genomic technologies to screen their laboratory stocks and available field populations for any molecular distinctiveness.

The distribution of the scorpion genus Buthus Leach, 1815 includes southwestern Europe, North and Central Africa and extends east towards the Arabian Peninsula. Phylogenetic relationships within the genus are complex and remain partially unresolved despite several previous assessments. A set of three mitochondrial markers, 12s, 16s and CO1, revealed the presence of five well-supported clades: three clades endemic to Morocco, one clade distributed across the Maghreb region and southwestern Europe and one endemic to Tunisia and Algeria. Morocco presents high levels of endemism and appears to be the centre of diversity for the genus. Further differentiation was found within the clade distributed in Tunisia and Algeria, with the discovery of new phylogenetic patterns. In addition, a phylogeny combining all published CO1 data for the genus emphasized the ongoing complex situation regarding the genus' taxonomy. Highly similar sequences were attributed to different species by different authors throughout the tree, and no differentiated monophyletic species could be resolved. This lack of congruence between morphologically defined species and genetic lineages is a major hindrance in the study of the highly complex genus Buthus.

Avian malaria remains an obscure and mostly unknown avian infection despite the socio-economic threat it poses for poultry industries and its potential to hinder conservation efforts. Therefore, diagnostics for the infection should be expedient, efficient and flexible in applicability. We compared and contrasted two diagnostic techniques for avian malaria; microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).We also used both methods to determine the basic distribution and prevalence of avian malaria amongst passerines in the Western Cape. Approximately 1000 birds from 49 species were sampled from 26 wetlands across theWestern Cape and examined for avian malarial infections. Infections were categorized by genus of malarial pathogen and by bird species infected. Using ocular diagnosis, 183 (18%) birds were infected, compared to 221 (23%) birds diagnosed with PCR. Plasmodium spp. were found to be the predominant cause of infection using both techniques, followed by Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, respectively. Although outcomes from both techniques were strongly correlated, PCR was superior in terms of its sensitivity and expediency. PCR also has wider applicability for users with varying experience in malarial diagnostics, further endorsing molecular diagnostics as the default technique for in-depth analysis of avian malaria epidemiology.

It has been suggested that the invasive, omnivorous Clarias garipienus is capable of rapid invasions and long-term persistence in recently inhabited freshwater systems. To test this hypothesis, the life history of the established, extralimital Darlington Dam (33°10′31″S, 25°09′13″E) population was investigated. By counting post-fluorescent mark increments on otoliths from 21 chemically tagged wild fish recaptured 244–537 days later, the deposition of growth zones, comprising alternating opaque and translucent bands, was validated as annual. Examination of sectioned otoliths from 175 fish revealed that the oldest fish, two males of 840 and 1074 mm total length (TL), were 25 years old - 10 years older than previously described for any C. gariepinus population. The oldest female was 885 mm TL and 21 years old. Lengthat- age was subsequently described using the von Bertalanffy growth model. Combined-sex growth was best described as L_t = 931.7 ( 1 - exp(-0.15(t 2.43))) mm TL. Total mortality (Z) was calculated using catch curve analysis and the Chapman & Robson estimator to be 0.35/yr. The presence of specimens 15 years and older indicates that these fish established quickly and supports the finding that mortality rates are low, which, in turn, suggests likely long-term population persistence.

Though South Africa is rich in aquatic species, little is known about the diversity and distribution of copepods that parasitize different hosts ranging from invertebrates to marine mammals. A total of 43 mobulids (34 Mobula kuhlii; two Mobula eregoodootenkee and seven Manta alfredi) were examined for infection by symbiotic copepods at the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB). Collected copepod specimens were fixed and preserved in 70% ethanol and studied with the stereo- and light microscopes. Most of the examined hosts (38) were infected with symbiotic siphonostomatoids. Ten different species representing five families were identified. Of these, seven represent new host records while four are new geographical records. The highest prevalences (>60%) were calculated for Eudactylina oliveri and Pupulina cliffi on M. eregoodootenkee and M. kuhlii while E. oliveri also exhibited the highest mean intensity values on these hosts.

Giraffe are thought to have excellent vision.We measured eye size, orbit orientation and retina surface area in 27 giraffes of both sexes ranging in age from neonates to mature adults (>10 yrs), to assess how it changes with growth, whether their eye anatomy correlates with their apparently excellent vision and lifestyle, and we have compared our findings with those for other large mammals to assess whether giraffe eye anatomy is unique.We found that giraffe eye volume increases from 33 cm³ at birth to approximately 65 cm³ in adults. The focal (axial) length increases from c. 40 to 48 mm in adults and retina surface area from c. 3000 mm² at birth to 4320 mm² in adults. The orbital axis angle at birth is c. 73° and the horizontal visual field mainly monocular and panoramic.With age the axis angle becomes more acute to c. 50° in adults and the visual field more binocular, changes that occur concurrently with increasing neck length. These results show that the giraffe eye and retinal surface area are larger than in all other ungulates, and their visual fields more binocular, attributes which are consistent with the idea that they have excellent vision.

Urbanization through the process of habitat loss and fragmentation affects ecosystems. Many species are no longer able to survive in these urban areas; however, there are some that have been able to persist and even thrive in these habitats. One such species is Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi). Little is known about its existence in urban areas. Consequently we studied their seasonal variation in home range size, movements and foraging dynamics in the urban environment of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. In a pilot study in summer, adult fruit bats (n = 8) were caught, fitted with radio-transmitters, and their movements followed for 12 nights and days. Although their movements varied considerably, no bats left the urban environment. Some of the larger distances covered in a single night were 2 and 5 km. In winter, an additional ten adult fruit bats were caught and fitted with radio-transmitters. Movements were followed for three weeks during winter and spring respectively. Winter home range size was greater than spring home range size. During winter the bats fed mostly on syringa fruits (Melia azedarach), an alien invasive, while their diet in spring was more varied and included species of indigenous and exotic fruits. The reduced variety of fruit eaten in winter may be explained by a reduction in fruiting plant species, and thus a reliance on a few species to meet their dietary requirements. The bats would have a role in seed dispersal but therein lies the problem of them also dispersing invasive plants. Further research is needed to assess the role played by exotic and alien plant species in the continued success of urban wildlife, in particular fruit bats. The seasonal variation in home range size gives insight into the urban movements of Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats. The use of exotic and invasive plants by these bats is also significant.

Horus is an olpiid pseudoscorpion of which nine species have been described from southern Africa; a tenth, debatable species was described from the Ivory Coast. The two most widely distributed species are H. granulatus and H. obscurus, the former occurring especially in the west and the other in the east, but their distributions overlap; in two instances they have been recorded from the same site. All species have a preference for rock outcrops, which are largely disjunct, and their regular prey comprises small ant species. Fieldwork over a period of 15 years indicated a very low dispersal rate; therefore one would expect localized ‘island’ populations rather than widely dispersed species. This means that the current species delimitations which lump geographically widespread populations may be incorrect. Mitochondrial DNA of specimens from each of 20 different localities across South Africa were analysed to test the hypothesis. Five of these localities did not yield results, but 14 yielded DNA from specimens which proved to belong to Horus and a fifteenth turned out to be a misidentified pseudoscorpion unrelated to Horus. The results were unequivocal: populations from each locality or group of closely-spaced localities were genetically distinct from any other one tested, and the greater the distance between localities, the greater the genetic differences (i.e. significant isolation by distance). This means that the current species delimitations for Horus are incorrect. It will require detailed micro-anatomical study to identify new characteristics on which species delimitations can be based in future.

With many species of southern African raptors becoming increasingly threatened, records from rehabilitation centres can give an indication of the threats faced by birds of prey in particular areas and to particular species. Thus, admissions records from a raptor rehabilitation centre in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were analysed for trends. Over eight years (2004–2011), 547 birds from 39 raptor species were admitted to the centre. The majority of individuals were spotted eagle-owls (16.6%), western barn owls (15.2%) and yellow-billed kites (9.7%). The most frequent known causes of injury to raptors were motor vehicle accidents and injuries caused when birds flew into buildings. There was no significant difference in admissions of motor vehicle collision cases between seasons. People generally waited 3.8 days before bringing injured raptors in to the centre, and approximately half of the birds admitted were fed within that time, highlighting a need for public education regarding the general diets of raptors and the benefits of prompt medical attention.

We evaluated the hypothesis that the regular use of the southern harvester termite, Microhodotermes viator, as food source by the armadillo lizard, Ouroborus cataphractus, originated as an adaptation to survive the summer dry season in a climatic regime where rainfall is highly seasonal. To do so, we determined the most important climatic predictors of the geographical range of this species. Climatic data were obtained for 130 localities where O. cataphractus is known to occur and 168 adjacent localities where it is known to be absent. For each locality, data for 10 climatic variables were extracted from the South African Atlas of Agrohydrology and Climatology database. We constructed a forward stepwise logistic regression model of the probability of O. cataphractus occurrence, based on the set of 10 climatic variables. The best model included, in order of importance, average monthly summer rainfall, mean annual precipitation, average monthly solar radiation, and the ratio of winter rainfall over summer rainfall as most significant predictors. The selected model predicted 88.80% of the presences correctly and 85.52% of the absences. In essence, O. cataphractus is restricted to the winter rainfall zone of South Africa, excluding the high-rainfall southwestern section. We postulate that the highly predictable seasonal rainfall and the ameliorating effect of the Atlantic Ocean on climates in the Namaqualand region, in particular, have provided a unique selective regime for the origin of group-living in O. cataphractus. Dependence on M. viator as food source developed to survive the summer-autumn period of low food availability and resulted in the evolution of heavy armour and group-living behaviour. The moderate winters and early spring temperatures allowed full capitalization on high arthropod abundance during winter—spring, thereby overriding the negative impacts of armour and groupliving on foraging efficiency at the home crevice.

During recent decades, most endangered species have suffered serious population declines. Little has been documented on leopards in West-Central Africa and as a result the efficiency of protection measures and wildlife managing practices can be questioned. Using 416 occurrences of leopards, we investigated the relationship between different environmental factors and leopard distribution to establish a baseline distribution of this feline. Leopards are mainly present in two large populations: one in a forest habitat, the other in a savanna habitat. Leopard populations were found to be associated with lions and hyaenas but they avoided human disturbances. Regarding potential breeding dispersal, the Gaussian representation showed a clear fragmentation among populations, suggesting that long-term survival of the species could be threatened. We found no area to be exempt from threats. The leopard has, however, declined less than other carnivore species and still shows viable populations. Furthermore, occurrences were found to be significantly more numerous than expected in protected areas, suggesting the relative efficiency of conservation.

A catfish captured in the Breede River (33°56'41.6”S 20°4'45.6”E) in South Africa was identified using morphological and genetic techniques as the giant pangasius, Pangasius sanitwongsei Smith 1931, a new record for South Africa. The wild-caught specimen was a genetic match to juveniles purchased from the pet trade, and most likely originated from a release by an aquarist. Pangasius sanitwongsei is not on the list of fishes currently permitted for import into South Africa, and its presence in the pet trade illustrates the difficulty associated with preventing illegal introductions.

Interference competition for nectar sources has been repeatedly described between hummingbirds and various insects, but rarely recorded in other nectarivorous birds. We observed aggressive behaviour by African sunbirds (Cinnyris reichenowi and Cinnyris bouvieri) defending the nectar plant Hypoestes aristata against carpenter bees (Xylocopa caffra and Xylocopa inconstans) in the Bamenda Highlands, Cameroon. During 200 hours of observation, we recorded 38 cases of the sunbirds attacking carpenter bees; all these intrusions occurred only in the flower-richest patches of the plant.We predict that similar aggressive interactions will occur between other Old World nectarivorous birds and insects. Such interference competition between distantly related taxa could have an important impact on the evolution of pollination systems.

We conducted a line-transect survey via direct observation to estimate the densities of forest duikers in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon. Five 2-km line transects were established in different vegetation types, and each transect was walked at 1.0 km/h. We also conducted a ‘quick survey' by walking at c. 2.5 km/h along all transects. A detection function was estimated separately for each species by pooling all the data from the five transects. For Cephalophus silvicultor, all sighting records of the two surveys were used because there was no significant difference in the encounter rates. In total, Philantomba monticola, red duikers (Cephalophus spp.), and C. silvicultor were observed 100, 80, 33 times, respectively. Their individual densities were estimated at 16.43/km² (95% CI: 11.4–23.6), 7.1/km² (5.5–9.2), and 1.63 km² (1.0–2.8), respectively. The encounter rate for P. monticola and C. silvicultor did not vary significantly between the transects, while that of red duikers was higher in the primary forest than in the young secondary or gallery forest. The duiker densities in our study area are among the highest in the African rainforest. Our results indicate that quick surveys may be an effective approach to estimate the densities of rare species.

Interrelationships of the two specialized scraping periphyton-feeders, Varicorhinus beso and V. jubae, and some large African barbs, Labeobarbus spp., inhabiting three main regions of Ethiopia (theWestern and Eastern Plateaus, and the Rift Valley separating them) were investigated using the sequence analysis of a fragment (609 base pairs) of the mtDNA control region. The two scraping forms in question appeared to be phylogenetically distant: V. beso had branched off before the main radiation of the Ethiopian Labeobarbus took place, whereas V. jubae is a sister group of the Labeobarbus gananensis complex sympatrically occurring with it in the south of the Eastern Plateau. For geographical reasons, among the congeneric species, V. jubae could be considered as the most closely related to V. beso, the type species of the genus, but judging from the available data this genus seems to be monotypic, while jubae should be classified as a member of Labeobarbus.

Two generations of gustatory organs occur during amphibian ontogeny in frogs and salamanders (Anura and Caudata), and are classified as taste buds or taste discs. Taste buds are present in larval forms, whereas taste discs are typical for adults. The little research done on Gymnophiona suggests that only taste buds are present in aquatic forms (larvae and adults), and adults of the only terrestrial species studied had taste buds. Here we investigate the nature of gustatory organs in a terrestrial caecilian, Boulengerula boulengeri (Herpelidae), from Tanzania using standard light and scanning electron microscopy. We found only taste bud type organs to be present in B. boulengeri. These occur mainly in the mucosa of the front part of the oral cavity, usually near the teeth. Our results suggest that B. boulengeri possesses only one type of gustatory organ during its ontogeny.

The name Turritella declivis, as described by Adams and Reeve in the ‘The Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Samarang’ (Adams & Reeve 1848–1850), is currently used for two distinct species of turritellid gastropod, one inhabiting the Agulhas Bank off South Africa and the other occurring off the Australian coast. Examination of the type material clearly shows that the name is referable to the southern African species. The Australian species must henceforth be known as Turritella captiva Hedley, 1987, a name previously regarded as a junior synonym of T. declivis. The original type locality ‘China Seas’ is erroneous, as was often the case with material collected during the voyage of the Samarang. It is emended to be the Agulhas Bank, over much of which T. declivis is common and may, in places, be hugely abundant, forming Turritella-dominated benthic communities. Such communities have been recorded in other parts of the world and are frequently associated with seasonal upwelling events, but have not previously been documented off South Africa.

This paper presents the first quantitative study on the seasonal occurrence and body location of white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)-inflicted injuries on Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) at Black Rocks, in Algoa Bay. Between January 2010 and October 2011, 22 boat trips were made to Black Rocks to chum for white sharks. On 19 of the trips a series of overlapping photographs were taken of the northern side of Black Rocks and the percentage of seals, which exhibited fresh white shark bite wounds recorded. A total of 53 sharks and 28 fresh shark-inflicted injuries were recorded on seals over the course of the study period. The maximum number of sharks sighted per hour (1.2) was in July and the highest percentage of shark bitten seals in November (0.6%). There was no significant relationship between the monthly sighting rate of sharks and the percentage of shark bitten seals (P = 0.40). The percentage of shark-inflicted injuries observed on seals increased with seal size. Most injuries were observed in the forebody (37.5%) and lower body regions (37.5%). Very few injuries (6.3%) were observed in the head and neck region. The low number of bite-inflicted injuries observed suggests that white sharks attack seals infrequently at Black Rocks.