Fauna

Birds

Bird diversity in the landscape is high and the species present include many of Namibia's endemic bird species such as Rüppell's parrot, Monteiro's hornbill, rockrunner and white-tailed shrike. Other species include blackfaced waxbill, short-toed rockthrush, whitebacked mousebird, Cape penduline tit, ashy tit, shaft-tailed whydah, and cinnamon breasted bunting. Over 300 bird species have been recorded within the landscape. One of the main features of the Daan Viljoen Game Park is the reservoir around which the bungalows and picnic sites are situated. As this is a permanent source of water, it attracts bountiful birdlife and other wildlife.

» Species list of birds

Mammals*

At least 75 species of mammals are expected to occur in the landscape. Of the mammals, 6 species (8%) are endemic to Namibia. Mammals include shrews (2 species), hedgehog, elephant shrews (3), bats (13), bushbaby, baboon and pangolin, hares/rabbits (3), molerat, squirrels (2), porcupine, springhare and dassie rat, rats and mice (17), carnivores (17), aardvark, rock dassie, warthog, antelopes (7).

» Species list of mammals

Reptiles*

At least 78 species of reptiles are expected to occur, comprising at least 36 snakes (3 blind snakes, 1 thread snake, 2 pythons, 5 burrowing snake and 25 typical snakes), of which 8 are endemic to Namibia, 2 tortoises and 1 terrapin and 34 lizards, with 13 of these being endemic to Namibia.

» Species list of reptiles

Amphibians*

Roughly 13 species of amphibians are expected to occur. These include 3 species of toads, 2 rubber frogs, 2 puddle frogs and 1 each for bull frog, sand frog, kassina, rain frog, cacos and platanna. Three species are endemic.

» Species list of amphibians

Arthropods*

 Arthropods are invertebrates with an exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed limbs. They include the insects, arachnids, and crustaceans and are vital components in the cycling of nutrients through ecosystems. A diverse arthropod fauna occurs with many species which are especially adapted to the particular environmental conditions in the area. Many species are considered threatened by habitat degradtion, and the impacts of agriculture, alien species and pollution.

*Information based on specialist studies undertaken for the Windhoek Biodiversity Inventory - an inventory of an area overlapping the landscape.

Relevant literature