Cave B, Bat Cave, Die Hel , Groot Winterhoek
Trip Date: 2024-03-22 to 2024-03-23
Cave B: 2024-03-22
The entrance to this cave is full of drift wood, and a stream flows out of the cave.
On the way to the upper level, a Cedarberg Ghost frog had wedged itself into a crack about 2m above the floor. There were also a lot of moths in the area.
I disturbed a few hundred Miniopterus bats in the upper chamber, and also saw some Rhinolophus. I thought I saw a Myotis, but could not be certain. One Rhinolophus was still flaying around with a pup attached to her.
I found 1 Stone centipede which attempted to escape into a crack. Unfortunately it was damaged when I tried to extract it.
There were 2 bed bugs and lots of spiders in the cave.
On leaving the top chamber, I came around another Ghost frog on the cave wall at least 6m above the ground.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Cederberg Ghost Frog (Heleophryne depressa)Observer
peterswartDescription
This frog was in the twilight zone of the cave approx 2.5m from the ground. The frog had wedged itself into a crack and seemed quite happy on the near vertical wall.
Photos / Sounds
What
Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)Observer
peterswartDescription
These moths occur in the twilight zone of the cave, and extend well into the totally dark parts of the cave. Their eyes reflect torch light, so you often see the eyes before you see the moth.
Photos / Sounds
What
Stone Centipedes (Order Lithobiomorpha)Observer
peterswartDescription
This was the only centipede I saw. It tried to escape into a crack when disturbed.
Length: 22mm
Legs: 14L/15R
Ant: 28L/21R
Photos / Sounds
What
Natal Long-fingered Bat (Miniopterus natalensis)Observer
peterswartDescription
F/A= 46.4mm There were also some Rhinolophus in cave
Photos / Sounds
What
Cederberg Ghost Frog (Heleophryne depressa)Observer
peterswartDescription
This frog was at least 6m from the floor of the cave and well into the dark part of the cave. Unlike https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203784963, which was wedged into a crack in the wall, this frog was on a flat wall. A very shallow stream emerges from the back of the cave and runs towards the entrance near where the frog was found. Its possible that the frog was washed into the cave, but I suspect it climbed the wall from the entrance floor.
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