Author Archive
Posted on June 25, 2010 - by admin
Ridge-tailed Monitor
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Varanus acanthurus or Ridge tailed Monitor
The Ridge tailed monitor is one of Australia’s smaller Monitor species, growing to only 78 cm long, most of which is tail. They are found in the desert areas in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia. Their diet includes grasshoppers, cockroaches and beetles. The scales on the tail of the Ridge Tailed monitor are raised and pointed, hence its common name. This helps the monitor anchor itself in the rock crevices it calls home. This anchoring makes it impossible for hungry predators to extract and eat the lizards. (more…)
Posted on June 24, 2010 - by admin
Rough-scaled Snake
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Tropidechis carinatus or Rough scaled Snake
Rough scaled snake is often confused with the harmless Keelback Snake. Both have rough scales that help them to climb. The Rough scaled snake has relatively long fangs, and a highly neuro-toxic venom. Recipients of a Rough scaled Snake bite often fall into unconsciousness within minutes of being bitten. Rough scaled Snake is closely related to the Tiger Snake group, and Tiger Snake anti-venom will effectively neutralize their venom. (more…)
Posted on June 24, 2010 - by admin
Thick-tailed Gecko
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Underwoodisaurus milii or Thick tailed Gecko
The thick tailed gecko inhabits many environments including wet and dry sclerophyll forest, open grasslands, scrubland and even desert, particularly those areas associated with rock outcrops. It is found in south-east Queensland, and extends down over much of southern Australia except the far southeast and southwest. It is often found in backyards, sheltering under logs and rocks. Its scientific name (Underwoodisaurus) isn’t referring to where this gecko likes to shelter. Rather, it is named after a Mr Underwood, with Underwoodisaurus meaning ‘Underwood’s lizard’. (more…)
Posted on June 23, 2010 - by admin
Slaty-grey Snake
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Stegonotus cucullatus or Slaty grey Snake
The non-venomous Slaty grey Snake is found on Cape York Peninsula of North Queensland and the northern part of the Northern Territory. They feed on fishes (including eels), tadpoles, frogs, lizards, reptile eggs and small mammals. When feeding on small mammals, the Slaty grey Snake constricts its prey in a python-like fashion. When hunting they will happily climb into low shrubs or rocky banks in the vicinity of frog breeding sites. (more…)
Posted on June 23, 2010 - by admin
Pebble Dragon
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Tympanocryptis cephalus or Pebble Dragon
This truly earless pebble dragon has large pale blotches across the top and side of its tail. It feeds on small insects and while normally active during daylight hours, it has been known to be active on warm nights. The males of this species tend to be slightly smaller than the females, but they have longer hind legs. (more…)
Posted on June 22, 2010 - by admin
Eastern Brown Snake
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Pseudonaja textilis or Eastern Brown Snake
This is a large, diurnal (active during the day), dangerously venomous snake. We often get carried away with the potency of a snake’s venom, but the distribution and temperament of the animal is also an issue. In the last decade the Eastern Brown Snake has become the cause of most snakebite deaths in Australia. This is not because these animals are more aggressive – quite the contrary. When an Eastern Brown Snake is confronted it will lunge at the aggressor out of fear. (more…)
Posted on June 22, 2010 - by admin
Eastern Blue-tongued Skink
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Tiliqua scincoides or Eastern Blue-tongued Skink
Eastern Blue-tongued Skink is common throughout Eastern Australia, often found in bushland and suburban areas where conditions are suitable. They are known as blue-tongues because their tongue ranges from bright to dark blue, and they have a habit of displaying it prominently and hissing loudly when disturbed. (more…)
Posted on June 21, 2010 - by admin
Western Brown Snake
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Pseudonaja nuchalis or Western Brown Snake
Western brown snake can be found over most of mainland Australia, being noticeably absent from the moister areas of the east, south east and south western Australia. Western Brown Snake shelter in disused mammal burrows and deep soil cracks, and under fallen timber and rocks. During warmer weather these snakes become nocturnal. They feed on small mammals, birds and reptiles, including other snakes. (more…)
Posted on June 21, 2010 - by admin
Shingleback Lizard
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Tiliqua rugosa or Shingleback Lizard
A close relative of the more familiar bluetongue, the shingleback lizard is an extremely distinctive member of the lizard family known as skinks. Its two most striking features are the short rounded tail, which bears a remarkable resemblance to the head end to confuse predators and the huge scales covering the body giving it a rough and bumpy appearance. Like its close relative, the Shingleback Lizard has a large tongue, which is fleshy and dark blue in colour and used to warn off any potential threats such as dingoes or foxes. An adult shingleback lizard is robust lizards with a broad, triangular head. A large adult will measure over 35cm in length. (more…)
Posted on June 21, 2010 - by admin
Breeding
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Childrens Python Breeding
by Matt & Nicci Turner
Despite confusion over its name, the small and easily kept Antaresia childreni is a snake for all.
We think that most biologists, ecologists, paleontologists and other scientists have daydreamed at one point or another of having the honor of being immortalized with the assignment of their surname to describe an organism to science. What a great thing it would be to be among the scientists who have plants and animals named after them — the D’Albert’s python, the Bibron gecko, the Colett’s black snake and others. But to what benefit would that honor be to the understanding of the plant or animal? It is neither descriptive nor geographic, and as is the case for Antaresia childreni, often confusing or misleading. (more…)
