CLAW SNOUTED BLIND SNAKE

Photographed on the road between Cairns and Mareeba, Queensland, November 2017

 64              CLAW SNOUTED BLIND SNAKE                    Ramphotyphlops unguirostris

AUSTRALIAN SNAKES                 14

Known from widely scattered localities across the north-east and northern Australia. It is a burrowing snakes which feeds mainly on the lava and pupae of ants and termites.

AUSTRALIAN STRIPED SKINK

63               AUSTRALIAN STRIPED SKINK               Ctenotus taeniolatus 

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS                  43

Also known as Copper-tailed Ctenotus or Copper-tailed skink. Found mainly along eastern seaboard and throughout the country generally.  Open bushland and heathland. Eats small vertebrates, such as insects and worms. Lives in rocky and sandy environs.

SOUTH-EASTERN MORETHIA SKINK

Photographed at the Salt Caves, Pilliga Forest, NSW, November 2017

62                  SOUTH-EASTERN MORETHIA SKINK                  Morethia boulengri 

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS                 42

Also known as Boulanger's Snake-eyed Skink, Boulanger's Morethia and Boulanger's Skink. Endemic to Australia, fought in every state except Tasmania. Wide range of environments in semi-arid and arid zones. Survives in leaf litter and dead fallen vegetation. Insectivorous, eating predominantly arthropods and snails, spiders, beetles, ants, cockroaches and other bugs.

DUBIOUS DTELLA

Photographed at Eungella, Queensland, November 2017

61                    DUBIOUS DTELLA                       Gehyra dubia

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS                  41

Also known as Northern Dtella. native to northeastern Australia and northern NSW, as well as islands of the Great Barrier Reef. variety of habitats, including acacia and eucalyptus woodlands and on house walls.

BROWN TREE SNAKE

Photographed at Eungella, Queensland, November 2017

60                     BROWN TREE SNAKE                   Boiga irregularis

AUSTRALIAN SNAKES              13

Arboreal, rear-fanged snake, native to eastern and northern coastal Australia, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and much of Melanesia. reputation for being an invasive species responsible for devastating many bird populations.

Photographed near Mt Carbine, Queensland February 2018.

SAW SHELLED TURTLE

Photographed at Eungella, Queensland, November 2017

59                    SAW-SHELLED TURTLE                     Myuchelys latisternum 

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES AND TORTOISES                5

Also known as Serrated Snapping Turtle, or Common Sawshell Turtle.Endemic to Australia. ranges along rivers and streams and connected swamps and lagoons. Coastal Cape York Peninsula to northern NSW.carnivorous, feeds on fish, tadpoles, frogs, aquatic insects and cane toads.

HOUSE GECKO

Photographed at Mon Repos, Queensland, November 2017

58                 HOUSE GECKO                    Hemidactylus frenatus 

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS           40

 Agile, arboreal, common house gecko. Entirely confined to human  settlements; living on and around building and hunting insects which are attracted to lights at night.         

BLUE-THROATED RAINBOW-SKINK

Photographed in Finch Hatten Gorge, Queensland, November 2017 

57                  BLUE-THROATED RAINBOW-SKINK               Carlia rhomboidalis

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS                 39

Found in north-east Queensland. Mesic habitat throughout its range, including rainforest, monsoonal scrub and creek margins.

LEMON-BARRED FOREST-SKINK

Photographed at Finch Hatton Gorge, Queensland, November 2017

56                LEMON-BARRED FOREST-SKINK                Concinnia amplus (Eulamprus amplus)

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS             38

Found in montane rainforests in Proserpine and Eugenia districts, Queensland. Usually among rocks or at base of trees beside streams in rainforest. Diurnal.

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE

Photographed at Mon Repos, Queensland, November 2017

55               LOGGERHEAD TURTLE               Caretta caretta

AUSTRALIAN TURTLES                 4

Found in tropical and warm temperature waters off Australian coast, including Great Barrier Reef. Carnivorous; forages in deeper water.

DELICATE SKINK

Photographed at Mary Cairncross Reserve, Queensland, November 2017

54                 DELICATE SKINK                  Lampropholis delicata

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS                    37

Also known as Dark Flecked Garden Sun Skink, Garden Skink, Plague Skink,  and in Australia and NZ as Rainbow Skink (which is a South African Skink). Originally from eastern Australia. Accidentally introduced into NZ in early 1960. More common in suburban gardens than adjacent native bushland.

EASTERN WATER SKINK

Photographed in the campground near O'Reilly's Guesthouse, Leamington National Park, Queensland, November 2017

53                 EASTERN WATER SKINK                Eulamprus quoyii

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS                  36

Also known as Eastern Water-skink or Golden Water Skink. Diurnal, endemic to Australia, primarily in the southeast, ranges from southern Victoria to central Queensland.. Usually found close to or on the shore of slow flowing creeks and estuaries; although not restricted to areas near freshwater, and sometimes found in drier environments.