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Glow in the dark Scorpions
August 5, 2021When the sun goes down in the Australian outback a completely new suite of animals come out of hiding. This includes Urodacus macrurus, a large (up to 10cm in length) species of scorpion that occurs throughout central Queensland. These scorpions avoid the harsh sun during the day bunkered down in their burrow. Instead, they prefer… Read more »
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Where did Boobook tours get its name?
June 15, 2020Growing up on a farm in the South Burnett area and at the tender age of twelve I started my own business, being a Poll Hereford cattle stud. When registering my stud I had to decide on a prefix. Most nights after the radio and T.V. were turned off, and you were lying there listening… Read more »
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Lace Monitor Goanna
April 6, 2020I was recently out in the field nearby to Roma Queensland, poking around for weeds when I spooked a large goanna beside the track I was following. It ran up a fence post and I was able to get a good look at it. This particular goanna is more formally known as a Lace Monitor… Read more »
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Fighting Snakes
April 6, 2020One of the most exciting things about night-time spotlighting searches is that you never know what you might come across. I was recently spotlighting for gliders and koalas with a couple of colleagues when one of us spotted these two snakes on the forest floor. They are Small-eyed Snakes (Cryptophis nigrescens), a common species in… Read more »
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Wedge Tailed Eagle- Carrion eater becoming carrion
November 13, 2019Our beautiful, big, majestic emperors of the sky are constantly putting themselves in danger. Why? An easy meal, fast food if you like. Unfortunately, large numbers of animal carcasses litter the roads, with more casualties being added each and every night. The dry conditions are making the green pick on roadsides a worthwhile option for kangaroos… Read more »
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Australia’s Coral Snake – A Mini Elapid
November 13, 2019The elapid snake family includes the front-fanged venomous species. Everyone has heard of the more fearsome Eastern Brown Snake and the Mulga Snake, but what about some of our smaller species of elapid snakes? Introducing Australia’s own Coral Snake (Brachyurophis australis), a reddish –orange, slightly venomous species. What do they look like? The Coral Snake… Read more »
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What Tree Am I? Grass Tree
December 20, 2018What plant has grass-like leaves and a woody trunk that may be several metres tall? That’s right it’s a Grass Tree. Although some might think a ‘skirt tree’ might be a more appropriate name. These iconic native plants belong in a family that is related to lilies and grasses, and despite the trunk, are not… Read more »