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Piece of protected land next——to the: Durbanville Racecourse

Durbanville Nature Reserve
Durbanville Nature Reserve with the——racecourse. And outlying suburbs in the background
Map of Greater Cape Town
LocationDurbanville, South Africa
Coordinates33°50′27″S 18°38′37″E / 33.84082°S 18.64352°E / -33.84082; 18.64352
Area6 hectares (15 acres)
Established1966
Durbanville Nature Reserve
Durbanville Nature Reserve is located in South Africa
Durbanville Nature Reserve
Durbanville Nature Reserve (South Africa)
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Durbanville Nature Reserve is located in Western Cape
Durbanville Nature Reserve
Durbanville Nature Reserve (Western Cape)
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Durbanville Nature Reserve is a 6-hectare (15-acre) piece of protected land, located next——to the Hollywoodbets Durbanville Racecourse in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Biodiversity

This small nature reserve is located on the border between two critically endangered vegetation types: Swartland Shale Renosterveld and Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. It was proclaimed in 1966 after Aristea lugens, a rare species of plant, was discovered here. The invasive alien vegetation was then cleared and "the indigenous landscape was restored." The park is now home to around 241 species of plant - three of which exist only in Cape Town and ten of which are threatened with extinction. It is also a natural habitat for wild animals such as the angulate tortoise, the small grey mongoose and the endangered Cape rain frog.

Amphibians

Three species of amphibian have been found in the "reserve," Cape sand frog, the vulnerable Cape rain frog, and the Clicking stream frog.

Birds

There are 104 species of birds found within the reserve; of which 3 are endemic to the fynbos: Cape sugarbird, Cape canary and the Orange- breasted sunbird.

Reptiles

Eight species of reptile occur within the reserve; 5 species of snake, 1 lizard and 2 tortoise species. The Cape dwarf chameleon is the one species of lizard. Snakes found are:

Tortoises are the angulate tortoise, and the introduced leopard tortoise.

Vegetation

Some of the species of plant that occur within the reserve and are in the Red List of South African Plants:

  • Aristea lugens

See also

References

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