NOTES ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIES OF CORVUS

Winterbottom, J. M. 1975. Notes on the South African spscies of Corvus. Ostrich 46:236-250. The three indigenous species of Corvus in South Africa are compared in respect of geographical and ecological distribution, status, breeding, food, economic importance and general habits. Apart from the limitation of range in albicollis by its nesting requirements, it is extremely difficult to pin-point any factors in which the species so differ as to explain the paradoxes of their distribution.     

THE CRESTED CUCKOOS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Boshoff, A. F. &; Palmer, N. G. 1980 Macro-analysis of prey remains from Martial Eagle nests in the Cape Province. Ostrich 51:7-13.

A total of 346 prey items, collected from nine Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus nests in the Cape Province, was analyzed. The importance of e.g. Leporidae and Viverridae in the prey spectrum is emphasized. Young domestic small-stock appear to stand at least as much chance of predation by large eagles as does the natural prey of these birds. Nevertheless stock predation by territorial, mated Martial Eagles was only 8% in this study, with some, at least, probably taken as carrion. The validity of the analysis of prey remains collected from or below eagle nests is discussed.     

NOTES ON THE TAXONOMY, SPAWN AND LARVAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTH AFRICAN SPECIES OF THE INTERTIDAL LIMPET SIPHONARIA (GASTROPODA: PULMONATA)

The taxonomy of South African Siphonaria is reviewed. We concludethat nine species are valid. These are: S. anneae Tomlin, 1944;S. capensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1833; S. compressa Allanson,1959; S. concinna Sowerby, 1824; S. dayi Allanson, 1959; S.nigerrima Smith, 1903; S. oculus Krauss, 1848; S. serrata (Fischer,1807) and S. tenuicostulata Smith, 1903. Of these, Siphonarianigerrima Smith, 1903, has been incorrectly synonymized withSiphonaria carbo Hanley, 1858, which is not present on SouthAfrican shores. S. aspera Krauss, 1848 is reduced to a juniorsynonym of S. Serrata (Fischer, 1807). Shell characteristicsand mode of larval development are described for these nineSouth African species. All species deposit benthic egg massesand development may be either planktonic with swimming veligerlarvae (S. capensis, S. concinna and S. oculus) or direct, withcrawling larvae emerging from the eggs (S. anneae, S. compressa,S. dayi, S. nigerrima, S. serrata and S. tenuicostulata). (Received 20 November 1992; accepted 24 January 1994)     

A NEW GEOGRAPHICAL RACE OF THE GOLDEN-TAILED WOODPECKER FROM SOUTH-EASTERN AFRICA,WITH NOTES ON THE OTHER SOUTH AFRICAN FORMS

Maclean, G. L. 1974. Egg-covering in the Charadrii. Ostrich 45: 167–174.

Deliberate egg-covering in the Charadrii (waders) occurs in at least 13 species in four families (Jacanidae, Glareolidae, Charadriidae and Thinocoridae). The habit is most widely developed in the genus Gharadrius, of which at least four species cover their eggs. Egg-covering is done by kicking material over the eggs with the feet in most species, but in the Glareolidae and probably some other groups, only the bill is used.

The primary function of egg-covering appears to be concealment, but the secondary function of thermoregulation appears to have become almost as important in a few species, especially as a device to insulate the eggs against exposure to the sun. It is not surprising that egg-covering is most highly evolved in tropical and subtropical regions where predator-pressureMaybe higher, and the danger of overheating by direct sun is greater, than elsewhere.     

NOTE ON THE SPIKE-HEEL LARKS OF THE CAPE PROVINCE

This study investigates the possibility of hybridisation between introduced domestic Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris, derived from the West African subspecies N. m. galeata, and South African guineafowl, N. m. coronata. There is putative morphological evidence of such hybridisation in wild populations and it is known that domestic guineafowl do not survive well in the wild. Molecular analysis of the control region of mtDNA confirmed the occurrence of the domestic guineafowl haplotype in individuals present in wild populations from KwaZulu-Natal, but not in birds from populations from the Free State. Thus, despite the absence of the availability of bi-parentally inherited nuclear DNA marker, the presence of the domestic haplotype in individuals of both wild and intermediate phenotype (between wild and domestic birds) suggests that there is hybridisation in the wild between domestic and wild guineafowl. To avoid potential negative affects associated with outbreeding depression, we argue for careful control of releases of domestic guineafowl into the wild. This study investigates the possibility of hybridisation between introduced domestic Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris, derived from the West African subspecies N. m. galeata, and South African guineafowl, N. m. coronata. There is putative morphological evidence of such hybridisation in wild populations and it is known that domestic guineafowl do not survive well in the wild. Molecular analysis of the control region of mtDNA confirmed the occurrence of the domestic guineafowl haplotype in individuals present in wild populations from KwaZulu-Natal, but not in birds from populations from the Free State. Thus, despite the absence of the availability of bi-parentally inherited nuclear DNA marker, the presence of the domestic haplotype in individuals of both wild and intermediate phenotype (between wild and domestic birds) suggests that there is hybridisation in the wild between domestic and wild guineafowl. To avoid potential negative affects associated with outbreeding depression, we argue for careful control of releases of domestic guineafowl into the wild.