Yellow-throated sandgrouse

Pterocles gutturalis

R10 

This R10 coin features the yellow-throated sandgrouse (Pterocles gutturalis), a species of bird in the Pteroclidae family, which is mainly found in the savanna grasslands where it breeds and feeds.
The yellow-throated sandgrouse is a monogamous bird, meaning that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. It builds its nest on the ground with twigs, straw and leaves. The nest is placed under a bush to protect the young from predators. 
Two to three eggs are laid during egg-laying season, which is in the dry winter months, from March to October. The eggs are incubated by both sexes for about 25 to 26 days and when the chicks hatch they are cared for by both parents. The female brings the chicks water soaked in her belly feathers.  The chicks usually leave the nest when they reach roughly a third of their parent's size.
 
White-backed night heron

Gorsachius leuconotus

R10 

This R10 coin features the white-backed night heron (Gorsachius leuconotus), a species of medium-sized heron in the family Ardeidae. Nocturnal by nature, these can be found living individually or in pairs.
The most recognisable feature of the white-backed night heron is the pale bare skin, from white to pale yellow or green surrounding its large eyes. In breeding season, the bird’s usually yellow iris turns brown. It has a black head and short crest or prominent feather display on the top of its head. The bird has a notable white triangular patch along the back formed by the white scapulars or small feathers, on the shoulder of the bird. This white patch is often hidden when the wings are closed, but noticeable when flying. Their nests are well hidden and are built to resemble a platform of sticks or reeds. Two to three greenish-white eggs are laid in a clutch. The chicks leave the nest before they can fly. 
 
Orange tritonia

Tritonia nelsonii

R5

Tritonia nelsonii, commonly known as orange tritonia, is a delicate geophyte in the Iridaceae family. 
The genus name is derived from the Latin word triton, meaning ‘weathervane’, and alludes to the apparently random arrangement of the stamens in some species.
The orange tritonia is slender and grass-like, reaching a height of approximately 500 mm. The beautiful funnel-shaped petals are almost translucent and delicately veined. Tritonia nelsonii occurs in grassland and on rocky outcrops with the orange flowers being quite noticeable during its summer flowering time, among the grasses where it generally occurs. 
 
Grass crinum

Crinum graminicola

R5

Crinum is a genus of the large and attractive Amaryllidaceae family. The name Crinum originates from the Greek Krinon, which means lily.
Larger in stature than most other species of Amaryllidaceae, Crinum graminicola are herbaceous plants with large bulbs which produce a neck made up of the sheathing bases of the old leaves. This deciduous summer-growing bulb has a stem of approximately 45 cm which holds the umbellate flowers. The flowers are usually a uniform deep-pink colour but many plants have flowers that are white with a prominent, deep-pink keel. The linear to sword-shaped leaves are relatively narrow for the large size of the plant. Crinum graminicola are native to the grassy plains of the highveld of South Africa.