Dictyophorus spumans to his and her friends.
These guys were plentiful in the long grass on the west side of Koringberg over the weekend.
Fully 10cm long and CHUNKY, they’re actually harmless – unless you try to eat them.
And we weren’t about to do that.
I’m fairly sure that this is a female (big one) and a male (little one), but I’m no expert.
Their name comes from their ability to secrete a toxic foam as a defence mechanism from their thoracic glands. The toxins come from their diet, which includes Milkweed – and if you’ve ever encountered milkweed sap, well, you know.
But despite having a face that only a mother could love, they kept themselves to themselves, despite having a lens shoved (probably) a bit too close to them.
So don’t let them put you off coming to South Africa.
It’s the lions and the hippos you need to watch out for.