Hi again,
Here are some more shots from the Whitsundays area, there is no real theme,
sit back and enjoy anyway.
A large Praying Mantis in the garden
A Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) feeding on the
berries of an Umbrella Tree. This species migrates between Australia and New
Guinea, staying here for the Wet Season and leaving around April. Some
individuals seem to stay.
A harmless Freshwater Snake (Tropidonophis mairii,) also known as
a Keelback, due to the raised ridges on the scales. This snake lives and feeds
in and around water, rarely straying long distances from water except in
the dry season.
From the same snake family, but preferring a life in the trees is the
Common Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata.) Familiar to most
Australians from Southern NSW right through the tropics to NW WA, it comes in a
variety of colours. Here in North Queensland, this is the common colour
scheme.
A Cann's Long Neck Turtle (Chelodina canii,) a common species, but
only found in a relatively small part of the country. Quite common around
Proserpine.
A Recent trip to Eungella NP was a bit of fun. We saw heaps of
platypus. This one was photographed at the town of Finch Hatton:
A lovely Nephilia spider - about 12cm across. These are commonly
called "Golden Orb Weavers" due to the golden colour of the web of some
species.
A parasite of the Nephilia spiders is actually another spider!
These tiny Dew Drop spiders sneak into the web of larger spiders, only rarely
making their own. They eat insects caught in the web and are even daring enough
to creep up to the larger Nephilia and eat food right from their
mouths! The abdomens of Dew Drop spiders shine like drops of aluminium.
-Nathan Litjens
