With Dan and Stewart both posting awesome Alice Springs trip reports here I'm sure you'll either be keen to see more or completely sick of it by now
During the spring/summer I have been up in Alice a few times for my field research, which I will talk about later. Having this great opportunity to spend a decent chunk of time in one of outback Australias best herping locations, I went pretty hard and here are the finds:
So first up I'll get the feathered reptiles out of the way!
Black kites characterised in flight by the forked tail
Australia's iconic wedge-tailed eagle often observed with road kill as in this case
Spinifex pidgeon, these comical little birds will often dash into vegetationa and amongst spinifex rather than taking flight
Major Mitchell's
Western Bowerbird, this was the resident camp bird that would raid my fruit and leave sloppy presents all over the place, yet never have the decency to hang around for a decent photo
Black fronted Dotterels were often found near permanent water
Pied Butcher bird
On the lighter nights the nocturnal birds of prey were abundant on the roads including tawny frogmouths, spotted and owlet night jars, boobook owls and barn owls like this one
Australasian Grebe
Red-backed Kingfisher
Black faced Cuckoo Shrike
One of my favourites, the Rainbow bee-eater
These fairy martins were common around Uluru, collecting mud from puddles on the walking path which they use to build their nests
Pacific heron
Little button quail were also numerous on the roads at night
Ringneck parrot
Brown falcon that let me nice and close for photos
White winged triller
This Yellow throated miner was part of a small very curious family begging for food
Dingoes were reasonably abundant both during the day and at night but often very wary of people
Central Australia is also home to some magnificent invertebrates:
And after saying that I'm pretty sure this "elephant beetle" species is introduced...
There are several species of colourful native cockroaches that I've often found associated with Triodia
Pie dish beetles are common inhabitants of leaf litter on which they feed
I've only known Tiger beetles from the margins of salt lakes where they burrow in the crust, so I was surprised to find one under a bin where I was staying. These ferocious predators are armed with massive mandibles, they're incredibly fast runners and will speed along until they run into an unfortunate prey item and clamp down.
I was also finding a few interesting grasshoppers on the roads at night.
Toad hoppers are huge fat grasshoppers that camouflage well in rocky habitat
Leopard grasshopper
Can't remember the name of this species but they were pretty funky looking with velvety fur
I tracked down this Gumleaf katydid by call. These katydids are a decent size and being predatory they have a nasty bite
I was lucky to stumble across this scenario at my field site, the parasitic wasp had already subdued the spider and was carting it away to be buried with an egg. The spider, while paralysed by the wasps sting, would then be eaten alive by the wasp larvae.
Unfortunately I wasn't around for any decent rain events so I missed out on some of the more seasonal burrowing frogs but I did get all the common species.
Neobatrachus sudelli found in the dunes south of Alice
Litoria gilleni were numerous in the rocky gorges
Litoria rubella, they often enjoyed the acoustics offered by the toilet where I stayed
Opisthodon spenceri, another common species that seemed to pop up everywhere
I'll start the reptiles very soon!
Central Australia (yes another one!)
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Amphibolurus longirostris were common in more woodland type habitat, often along drainage lines
During my first trip there was always a fire or two somewhere, one night we went looking for any critters that might flush out
The result was several Amphibolurus gilberti fleeing from the flames
The obligatory Pogona vitticeps, a nice orange, heavily gravid female
Ctenophorus caudicinctus was the resident rock specialist dragon in the MacDonald Ranges
Tympanocryptis centralis found in sparsely vegetated rocky areas, demonstrate amazing camouflage
Diporiphora winnecki found on a sand dune
Ctenophorus nuchalis
Ctenophorus rufescens - this was one of my main targets on the second trip and a highlight. I think between two of us we saw 5 individuals in what seemed like about 4 hours, but they were extremely flighty and difficult to get close to.
Ctenophorus isolepis another sprinter among the lizards dashing between spinifex tussocks on the dunes
Varanus acanthurus
Varanus tristis, this individual lived in the roof where I stayed, he was often betrayed by the sound of claws on corrugated iron
Varanus eremius, an awesome goanna but terrible posers, this one dashed after only one shot
Varanus gilleni
Varanus gouldii
And of course Varanus giganteus, I'm still yet to see a huge one but even the smaller ones I've seen just have something awesome about them, very unique from other monitors
Now I need to get some sleep, more to come soon.
During my first trip there was always a fire or two somewhere, one night we went looking for any critters that might flush out
The result was several Amphibolurus gilberti fleeing from the flames
The obligatory Pogona vitticeps, a nice orange, heavily gravid female
Ctenophorus caudicinctus was the resident rock specialist dragon in the MacDonald Ranges
Tympanocryptis centralis found in sparsely vegetated rocky areas, demonstrate amazing camouflage
Diporiphora winnecki found on a sand dune
Ctenophorus nuchalis
Ctenophorus rufescens - this was one of my main targets on the second trip and a highlight. I think between two of us we saw 5 individuals in what seemed like about 4 hours, but they were extremely flighty and difficult to get close to.
Ctenophorus isolepis another sprinter among the lizards dashing between spinifex tussocks on the dunes
Varanus acanthurus
Varanus tristis, this individual lived in the roof where I stayed, he was often betrayed by the sound of claws on corrugated iron
Varanus eremius, an awesome goanna but terrible posers, this one dashed after only one shot
Varanus gilleni
Varanus gouldii
And of course Varanus giganteus, I'm still yet to see a huge one but even the smaller ones I've seen just have something awesome about them, very unique from other monitors
Now I need to get some sleep, more to come soon.
- TNWJackson
- Posts: 277
- Joined: June 22nd, 2010, 10:48 pm
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Really enjoying this so far Jordan, looking forward to the rest (hopefully some elapids!).
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Thanks mate. Sorry I couldn't put it all up in one hit, I decided to group families to ensure I didn't miss anything but this also makes it a bit longer to organise photos.TNWJackson wrote:Really enjoying this so far Jordan, looking forward to the rest (hopefully some elapids!).
I got some very awesome snakes, one elapid in particular is quite a gem for the Alice Springs region. I will hopefully get the rest posted tonight.
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Looks like it's all for you Jackson.
Here's the rest.
The Moloch I forgot about while posting the dragons...
Now skinks:
Carlia triacantha
Cyclodomorphus melanops
Lerista frosti
Lerista desertorum
Lerista bipes
Morethia ruficauda
Liopholis slateri. This is my study species. They occupy a very specific habitat along drainages where soil accumulates at the base of shrubs creating a small mound. The skinks dig multi-entranced burrows into these mounds. I was investigating the microclimate of their burrow systems and the humidity and thermal properties of the mounds.
Liopholis striata
Tiliqua occipitalis
Tiliqua multifasciata
Cryptoblepharus australis
Notoscincus ornatus
Proablepharus reginae, I discovered a small population of these rarely seen skinks and although previously thought to be a diurnal skink I cosistantly only found them at night.
Ctenotus alacer
Ctenotus saxatilis
Ctenotus brooksi
Ctenotus leonhardii
Ctenotus septenarius (yet to be confirmed)
Geckoes
Crenodactylus ocellatus
Diplodactylus conspicillatus
Diplodactylus galeatus
Gehyra montium
Gehyra purpurascens
Nephrurus amyae
Nephrurus laevissimus
Nephrurus levis levis
Oedura marmorata juvie
adult
Lucasium damaeum
Lucasium stenodactylum
Rhynchoedura ornata
Strophurus intermedius
Strophurus ciliaris
Heteronotia binoe 1 - rocky
2 - sandy
3 - standard
Delma nasuta
Delma borea
Delma tincta
Lialis burtonis
Pygopus nigriceps
Now what you've been waiting for...
Ramphotyphlops centralis
Aspidites ramsayi
Antaresia stimsoni
Morelia spilota bredli
Acanthophis pyrrhus
Brachyurophis incinctus
Demansia psammophis
Furina ornata
Pseudonaja mengdeni
"plain"
black-headed
This is a very rare pattern variant in the Alice Springs region, I didn't know it was anything special at the time as it was the first mengdeni I'd seen but it became apparent that it was something special after a lot of abuse when I put the photo on facebook
Pseudonaja modesta
Pseudechis australis
Parasuta monachus
Simoselaps anomolus
Suta punctata, went into the sandy country as a storm was brewing to try my luck for this species. The weather turned sour but I still got one!
Suta suta, by far the most common snake around Alice
Vermicella vermiformis, a main target on the second trip and ended up seeing 3.
Here's the rest.
The Moloch I forgot about while posting the dragons...
Now skinks:
Carlia triacantha
Cyclodomorphus melanops
Lerista frosti
Lerista desertorum
Lerista bipes
Morethia ruficauda
Liopholis slateri. This is my study species. They occupy a very specific habitat along drainages where soil accumulates at the base of shrubs creating a small mound. The skinks dig multi-entranced burrows into these mounds. I was investigating the microclimate of their burrow systems and the humidity and thermal properties of the mounds.
Liopholis striata
Tiliqua occipitalis
Tiliqua multifasciata
Cryptoblepharus australis
Notoscincus ornatus
Proablepharus reginae, I discovered a small population of these rarely seen skinks and although previously thought to be a diurnal skink I cosistantly only found them at night.
Ctenotus alacer
Ctenotus saxatilis
Ctenotus brooksi
Ctenotus leonhardii
Ctenotus septenarius (yet to be confirmed)
Geckoes
Crenodactylus ocellatus
Diplodactylus conspicillatus
Diplodactylus galeatus
Gehyra montium
Gehyra purpurascens
Nephrurus amyae
Nephrurus laevissimus
Nephrurus levis levis
Oedura marmorata juvie
adult
Lucasium damaeum
Lucasium stenodactylum
Rhynchoedura ornata
Strophurus intermedius
Strophurus ciliaris
Heteronotia binoe 1 - rocky
2 - sandy
3 - standard
Delma nasuta
Delma borea
Delma tincta
Lialis burtonis
Pygopus nigriceps
Now what you've been waiting for...
Ramphotyphlops centralis
Aspidites ramsayi
Antaresia stimsoni
Morelia spilota bredli
Acanthophis pyrrhus
Brachyurophis incinctus
Demansia psammophis
Furina ornata
Pseudonaja mengdeni
"plain"
black-headed
This is a very rare pattern variant in the Alice Springs region, I didn't know it was anything special at the time as it was the first mengdeni I'd seen but it became apparent that it was something special after a lot of abuse when I put the photo on facebook
Pseudonaja modesta
Pseudechis australis
Parasuta monachus
Simoselaps anomolus
Suta punctata, went into the sandy country as a storm was brewing to try my luck for this species. The weather turned sour but I still got one!
Suta suta, by far the most common snake around Alice
Vermicella vermiformis, a main target on the second trip and ended up seeing 3.
- yoloherper
- Posts: 151
- Joined: June 7th, 2010, 8:57 pm
- Location: Davis/Santa Cruz
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
When i saw the woma and bredli i thought it couldn't get much better but the banded mendengi was amazing! Defintely one of the coolest snakes I've seen posted on here.
-Elliot Schoenig
-Elliot Schoenig
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Great thread Jordan, makes me miss that place so much! Never get sick of seeing that banded mengdeni either!
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
An incredible range of species! Great photos too. I need to get back out to the Alice. Good to see some skink photos, and it's interesting that Proablepharus reginae are nocturnal.
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Soooo over-the-top ...never seen a post with so many superb portraits of so many awesome species.
Oh my!
Oh my!
- stewart_macdonald
- Posts: 93
- Joined: August 9th, 2010, 12:16 am
- Location: Townsville, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Great stuff, Jordan! That banded P. mengdeni still blows my mind.
Stewart
Stewart
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Thanks folks.
Did you see the woma pic as well Stew?stewart_macdonald wrote:Great stuff, Jordan! That banded P. mengdeni still blows my mind.
Stewart
- stewart_macdonald
- Posts: 93
- Joined: August 9th, 2010, 12:16 am
- Location: Townsville, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
I did. And on a completely different note, looks like my car is full for the Iron Range trip later this year.jordo wrote:Did you see the woma pic as well Stew?
Stewart
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
stewart_macdonald wrote:I did. And on a completely different note, looks like my car is full for the Iron Range trip later this year.jordo wrote:Did you see the woma pic as well Stew?
Stewart
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Hello Jordo
I've been away for a month and am just catching up with the threads. Wow, what an awesome post! You found so much including many top animals. Loved the monitor shots in particular. Looks like you had a superb trip.
Regards,
David
I've been away for a month and am just catching up with the threads. Wow, what an awesome post! You found so much including many top animals. Loved the monitor shots in particular. Looks like you had a superb trip.
Regards,
David
- Montivipera
- Posts: 74
- Joined: June 15th, 2010, 10:42 am
- Location: Sweden
Re: Central Australia (yes another one!)
Jordo!
An absolute killer post! So many cool monitors and you got them all to pose! I also enjoyed the many flavours of Aussie elapids!
Thanks for sharing!
/Sincerely Magnus
An absolute killer post! So many cool monitors and you got them all to pose! I also enjoyed the many flavours of Aussie elapids!
Thanks for sharing!
/Sincerely Magnus