Bandy Bandy: Museum Victoria Within Victoria the Bandy Bandy is restricted to northern areas, where it is now considered rare. Biology and bite A nocturnal, burrowing species, the Bandy Bandy is rarely encountered. It feeds exclusively on blind snakes (Typhlopidae) and has been known to swallow specimens as large as itself. Females lay up to 13 eggs in a clutch. While venomous, it is not considered dangerous to adults. If bitten on a limb, apply a pressure bandage, immobilise the limb and seek medical advice immediately. If bitten elsewhere, apply continual direct pressure to the bite site. Do not wash the wound as the venom can confirm the identification of the snake. Further Reading Coventry, A. J. and Robertson, P. 1991. The Snakes of Victoria – A Guide to their Identification. Department of Conservation & Environment/Museum of Victoria. Cogger, H. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed Books. Wilson, S. & Swan, G. 2003. Reptiles of Australia. Princeton University Press.

Australian Desert Animals Australian Desert Animals "They need to be able to survive with very little water" It is surprising how many Australian desert animals there actually are given this area has so little water. Did you know that 18% of Australia is desert? Can you believe that 70% of the country is classed as arid. This makes it the driest inhabited continent in the world. The majority of deserts are in the middle and north west of the country. The biggest is the Great Victoria Desert and covers western Australia and south Australia.. The Great Sandy desert is perhaps the most well known as Ayers rock is located on the southwestern side of this desert. The desert is often referred to as the Australian outback, The Outback is more than just the desert. It is really just a way of describing the interior of Australia where there is limited built up areas and where the temperatures are harsh with very little rainfall. It will surprise you that there are plants and shrubs in the desert and as such you will find some interesting Australian desert animals. It is also worth stating that these animals tend to look far more frightening than they actually are.

Unfortunately the introduction of animals such as the camel, rabbits and feral cats have led to the extinction of some native Australian desert animals. This is because these animals have started to compete for the native Australian animal’s food source and have unfortunately won. The Lesser Bilby and Desert Bandicoot have already become extinct. One way of getting to know some of the smaller animals is to take part in a tour. We did the "Breakfast at sunrise" at Ayers Rock. As well as getting the views of Ayers Rock as the sun comes up, they also bring a few desert animals which you can hold if you want to. There were a few snakes, blue tongue lizard and a thorny devil. For more details go to Ayers Rock page . Below are some of my favourite Australian desert animals and ones that you are likely to see if you venture into the outback or intend to cross one of the great Australian deserts. Here are some of the animals that you will be able to see: The Bandy Bandy Snake This is a very striking black and white snake. They live underground but do come out from time to time particularly at night. They are usually around 60cm in length and like to eat other snakes called blind snakes.

They are very unlikely to attack humans. Whilst they do have venom glands, they don’t carry enough venom to do any serious harm. You are more likely to spot one of these Australian desert animals in central Australian deserts. Geckos There are a variety of Geckos each species having their own colourings. These Australian desert animals are essentially medium sized lizards. The marbled velvet Gecko is about 30cm in length where as the smooth knob tailed gecko is much smaller at just 10cm Geckos tend to eat spiders, cockroaches or smaller geckos. They usually come out at night to find food. During the day they rest under bark, amongst rocks and crevices. The smooth knob tailed gecko tends to burrow itself underground. They don’t actually have any eyelids so they use their tongue to clear any dust from their eyes! The Perentie The Perentie is the biggest Goanna in Australia and are usually about 2.5 metres in length. You will see these creatures around gorges or rocky areas and they are a fairly common Australian desert animal. They tend to eat birds, mammals and other reptiles and particularly like rabbits.

They eat like a snake would, eating their victim whole or in chunks as they are incapable of chewing. They are believed to be very intelligent but not the sort of thing you would want to cross. Their tail can give a nasty whip and they make a terrible hissing noise if they are threatened. Thorny Devil A very strange but oddly cute looking reptile! The thorny devil is about 15cm long and lives in shallow burrows. They live on only ants and can eat lots in one go as they have a short but very stick tongue. They manage to catch lots of water through their spikes. They brush up against dewy shrubs in the mornings and their spikes help to catch the water which then runs down little grooves right into their mouth. They have an appearance that makes them blend in easily with their surroundings. They look like a rock! The Bilby This is a marsupial (it carries its babies in a pouch) and looks a bit like a mouse with very large rabbit ears. It also has a very lovely bushy black tail. These animals used to roam the deserts but now are an endangered species. The only area you are likely to see them is in the desert northwest of Alice Springs.

The introduction of the fox has dramatically reduced the number of Bilbies. They like to eat insects, fruit and bulbs and are nocturnal creatures. During the day they prefer to stay in their burrows which can be up to 2m underground. Their back legs are similar to that of a Kangaroo but they don’t hop. Instead they can gallop their way out of trouble. The Camel This is the animal you will probably be able to spot easily as they seem to wander the deserts of Australia and there are lots of them. It is estimated that there are over a million in Australia probably making it the largest in terms of numbers, of all the Australian desert animals. They can double in population very 9 years. They have become somewhat of a pest, stealing the food from other smaller native Australian desert animals The camel was first brought to Australia for transport through the centre of Australia. The first camel was brought over in 1822 with many more following throughout the 19th Century. They manly came from India and now due to cross breeding they are the only feral camels (returned to a wild state) in the world.

These days they are seen as mild pests due to the potential damage they are doing to the ecology of Australia. They have even been known to damage water pumps and toilets in their search for water during drought. Reptiles of Australia back to top of page Turtles There are no true tortoises native to Australia, but some of the older reptiles books refer to Australian freshwater turtles as tortoises Marine turtles Six of the world's seven species of marine turtle inhabit Australia waters (the only marine turtle in the world not to do so is Kemp's Ridley sea turtle of eastern North America) The flatback turtle (Natator depressus) nests nowhere else in the world except the north coast of Australia, but forages also around New Guinea and Indonesia Other marine turtles in Australian waters are the green turtle, hawksbill, Olive Ridley, loggerhead and leatherback, all of which we share with other warm world regions. All marine turtles belong to the family Cheloniidae except the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea; family Dermochelyidae). This turtle has an unusual leathery shell with many small bones embedded as a mosaic within in it. The photo shows a turtle sculpture at the Gold Coast.

Freshwater turtles (Chelidae and Carettochelyidae) The odd-looking pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta) is endemic to northern Australia and southern New Guinea (i.e it is found nowhere else in the world) and is the the only surviving member of an ancient family of turtles (Carettochelyidae). If conservation threats continue, even this one may not survive much longer. It has a pig-like snout, eats fish, fruit, insects and a variety of other foods, and propels itself through the water with large, flattened fore-legs. All our other freshwater turtles are in the family Chelidae, a family we share with New Guinea and neigbouring islands and (from our ancient Gondwana connections) South America. They turn their heads sideways when fitting their necks back into their shells (turtles of a different family in Africa also do this). They propel themselves through the water with powerful hind limbs. They are found in watercourses throughout the mainland, and include: Long-necked (or snake-necked) turtles - Chelodina spp.

An ancient group, and the world's longest-necked turtles, some with necks as long as their shells Short-necked turtles - Emydura spp., much shorter necks Snapping turtles - closely related to Emydura, including the saw-shelled turtle of the northeast, with saw-like edge to their shells Western swamp turtle - Pseudemydura. While the other three genera are widespread in Australia, this is a genus, indeed a whole subfamily, with just one species, found only in one tiny area in Western Australia File snakes (Acrochordidae) Front-fanged snakes (elapids) This is the largest family of snakes in Australia, and includes all our dangerous snakes, but also a lot that are not dangerous. Even those which are regarded as dangerous should not cause the kind of paranoia sometimes seen. They know we're too big to eat, so they don't stalk us the way a salt-water crocodile or a shark might, and usually move quickly out of our way if we gently let them know we're coming.

Don't walk through long grass unless you have to, watch the track ahead of you while walking (even at night - some snakes are nocturnal), don't reach into dark spaces such as grain bags, and remember that newly hatched snakes have venom just as potent as adults (just not as much of it). We have lived many years in snake country, walked thoruhg snake country and been very close to sakes and have never been bitten. Still, it does happen to about 3,000 people a year (only one or two of which will usually die). One of the most dangerous is the brown snake shown in the photo - others at the top of the list are taipan, fierce snake (the world's most venomous snake but only found in a small region of the remote outback), tger snake and death 'adder'. If you or a companion are bitten, don't try to catch the snake (you or someone else may get a worse bite - sometimes a snake's first bite a 'dry' warning bite without injecting venom). Don't wash the venom away - it may be the best way to identify the snake once you reach hospital.

Stay as calm and relaxed as possible (to slow the spread of venom through your bloodstream), apply a bandage and splint to immobilize the limb ( learn how to do this ) further reduce the blood flow (not a tight tourniquet as once recommended) and get to hospital promptly. Visit this site for more details Death dders are not true adders - they jusy look and behave like them (rather fat and lazy) and are one of the most dangeroius of our snakes, partly becaise f the potency of venom and partly because tey are not as quick to gt out of ur way as other snakes and this more easily trodden on in the long grass. Red-bellied black snakes are beautiful shiny black creatures with bright red bellies, usually placid, considered dangerous but nowhere near as lethal ss those mentioned above (although its venom produces highly uncomfortable symptoms - you really don't want to try it). Whipsnakes are very thin, usially quite small snakes whose bites are only very occasionally lethal. Bandy-bandys are boldly black-and-white- banded snake that usually burrow and feed on blind snakes. When they are above ground and threatened by birds they twist into amazing and alarming loops.

Rear-fanged snakes (colubrids) This is the largest snake family in the rest of the world but Australia has only a few species. They have fangs situated well back in the mouth so generaly unable to give a serious bite to large animals such as humans (unless they somehow poke their fingers into their mouths). There are some large and dangerous ones in other countries. Brown treesnakes are venomous but becuase of being rear-fanged are not considered dangerous to humans. Green treesnakes and keelbacks are not venomous. Keelbacks are one of the few species that can eat cane toads without being lethally poisoned by them. Pythons Pythons are nonvenomous snakes closely related to boas, and are found in Africa, Asia and Australia. Australia has 10 species, all of which kill their prey not by venom but by constricting, coiling around the animal and tightening their grip every time it exhales until it suffocates. They mostly feed on birds and mammals, and have heat-sensing pits near the mouth to detect their prey.

The woma and the black-headed python are feed mostly on reptiles, which are usually at a similar temperature to their surroundings, and these species lack the heat-sensing pits. Partly because of this lack they are thought to be the world's most primitive pythons. The best-known Australian python is the carpet snake (pictured to right), found in a variety of habitats from rainforest to semi-arid woodlands, across the northern and eastern parts of Australia, as well as southwestern Australia and also New Guinea. It is also one of the most popular snakes in captivity, and grows to about 3 metres. Blind Snakes These harmless little fellows spend most of their time below the surface of the ground, seeking termites and ants to feed on. They in turn are eaten by bandy-bandy snakes. At first sight they look a bit like a large earthworm. The family is found in most of the world's warmer regions. File snakes A family with just three aquatic species, from south-east Asia to far north Australia. Australia has just one species.

geckos (Gekkonidae) and flap-footed lizards (Pygopodidae - also called legless lizards or snake-lizards, found only in Australia and New Guinea) We do NOT have iguanas, although some of our dragons look a bit like them (and are in fact a related family), and some people erroneously assume 'goanna' means 'iguana'. Skinks Australia has more skinks than any other country, and there are more skink species in Australia than any other kind of lizard. They are usually smooth-bodied (exceptions include shingleback and spiny skink). The scales on their heads are in a mirror-image pattern (hard to see on the little skinks that scamper up walls or dive under the lead litter as walkers approach in a forest, but easier to see on the large skinks such as the blue-tongue) - they share this bilateral symmetry with flap-footed lizards. Our largest skink is the land mullet, looking like a big black shiny fish out of water, found in the rainforests.

Dragons Bumpy, spiny or crested lizards in Australia are usually dragons (although a few skinks are 'bumpy' - especially the shingleback) This is our second largest family of lizards. A few examples are: Australia's Animals - Tourism Australia Australia's Animals Australia's Animals Our unique animals are one of the many reasons people visit our country. Australia has more than 378 mammal species, 828 bird species, 4000 fish species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, two crocodile species and around 50 types of marine mammal. Site Requires Javascript - turn on javascript! Australia.com does not support the internet browser you are using. Please upgrade to a more recent browser so that you can explore the destinations and experiences that await you as you plan your Australian holiday. The official Australian tourism website. This site uses cookies. Find out more . Share Australia teems with native animals, many of which are found only here. Our unique animals are one of the many reasons people visit our country.

Australia has more than 378 mammal species, 828 bird species, 4000 fish species, 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, two crocodile species and around 50 types of marine mammal. More than 80 per cent of our plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are unique to Australia and are found no-where else. Some of our best-known animals are the kangaroo, koala, echidna, dingo, platypus, wallaby and wombat. Australia's native animals can often be difficult to spot in the wild, but you are guaranteed to see them in our world-class zoos and wildlife parks across our major cities and regional areas. These include Sydney's Taronga Zoo, the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas, Victoria's Healesville Sanctuary, South Australia's Cleland Wildlife Park and Queensland's Australia Zoo, amongst others. Western Quoll Narrogin, WA Mammals Australia doesn’t have large predatory animals, the dingo, or wild dog, is our largest carnivorous mammal.

Other unique carnivorous animals include the Numbat, Quoll and Tasmanian Devil, but none of these are larger than the size of an average house cat. Dingoes are found all across Australia, except for Tasmania. Best places to see them are Queensland’s Fraser Island , Western Australia’s Kimberley and across the deserts of the Northern Territory and South Australia. Numbats are only found in Western Australia ; and apart from wildlife parks, you can only see Tasmanian Devils in the wild in Tasmania . Endangered Quolls are also difficult to spot in the wild, but inhabit the wet forests of southeastern Australia and Tasmania, and a small area of northern Queensland. The bilby, a member of the bandicoot family, may be seen in Francois Peron National Park in Western Australia. Kangaroo, Marsupials Australia has more than 140 species of marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and wombats. We have 55 different native species of kangaroos and wallabies. Kangaroos and wallabies vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from half a kilogram to 90 kilograms.

The main difference between them is size — wallabies tend to be smaller. Estimates of Australia’s kangaroo population vary between 30 and 60 million. You should easily be able to see kangaroos in the wild in most rural parts of Australia. In Victoria see them in Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road and in the Grampians . Spot them in South Australia’s Kangaroo Island and Flinders Ranges . Get up close in Namadgi and Kosciuszko National Parks in the Australian Alps , in Pebbly Beach in New South Wales and Tasmania’s Maria Island. In outback regions, you will often see them as they bound across the road. Wallabies are widespread across Australia, particularly in more remote, rocky and rugged areas. Spot them in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park and in Namadgi and Kosciuszko National Parks in the Australian Alps. The koala is everyone’s favourite, but be aware – it’s not a bear. You can spot koalas all along Australia’s temperate eastern coast.

Some of their top hangouts include Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve , near Canberra; Port Stephens in New South Wales and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Queensland. Observe them in the wild on Victoria’s Phillip Island and Yanchep National Park in Western Australia. The wombat is another creature you’ll find here – stout, burrowing animals that can weigh up to 36 kilograms. Again they are difficult to see in the wild, but some of the best places are the Blue Mountains National Park and Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair in Tasmania, and in national parks in South Australia. Echidna, Kangaroo Island, SA Monotremes Another animal group only found in Australia is the monotremes, or egg-laying mammals. The most distinctive is the platypus, a river-dwelling animal with a bill like a duck, a furry waterproof body and webbed feet. Platypuses live in burrows which they dig into the banks of rivers. They are very shy and difficult to spot, but your best chances are in the eastern coastal areas in small streams and quiet rivers.

Good places to see them are in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve near Canberra, on Lake Elizabeth in Victoria’s Great Otway National Park, Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and in northern New South Wales and Queensland. The echidna, or spiny ant-eater, is another monotreme, which has a long sticky tongue and a prickly coat like a hedgehog or porcupine – so don’t try and pick one up! Kangaroo Island is one of the best places to spot them in the wild. Forest Kingfisher, NT Birds Of the 828 bird species listed in Australia, about half are found nowhere else. They range from tiny honeyeaters to the large, flightless emu, which stands nearly two metres tall. The best chances of seeing emus in the wild is in grasslands, sclerophyll forests and savannah woodlands. A vast array of waterbirds, seabirds and birds dwell in our open woodlands and forests. Examples include cassowaries, black swans, fairy penguins, kookaburras, lyrebirds and currawongs. You can easily see penguins on Kangaroo Island in South Australia and Philip Island in Victoria .

The Albert's Lyrebird can be seen in Mt Warning National Park and in the Gondwana rainforest around the Gold Coast hinterland . See the more common superb lyrebird in Dandenong Ranges and Kinglake National Parks around Melbourne and the Royal National Park and Illawarra region south of Sydney . You’ll also find them in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, near Canberra , Tower Hill in Victoria and a number of national parks along Australia’s east coast. Kookaburras, best known for their hysterical, human-sounding laughter at dusk and dawn, are common, and you’ll most likely spot (or hear) them in the countryside and often in city suburbs. The Broome Bird Observatory and Kakadu National Park are both excellent place to view many species of wetland and migratory birds. There are 55 species of parrots in Australia, as numerous as they are colourful, including a spectacular variety of cockatoos, rosellas, lorikeets, cockatiels, parakeets and budgerigars. They are commonly seen in rural and urban areas.

Gould's Goanna, Murchison, WA Reptiles Australia has more species of venomous snakes than any other continent, 21 of the world’s 25 deadliest in fact. But not all are poisonous; we also have some stunning pythons and tree snakes. We are also famous for our crocodiles, both freshwater and saltwater varieties. Both the Kimberley and Kakadu National Park are excellent places to see crocodiles in their natural habitat. There are five species of endangered sea turtles which nest and lay eggs on certain beaches in season; and eight species of freshwater turtle. Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and Eco Beach in Broome are ideals place to see turtles. We also have an amazing array of lizards, ‘dragons’ and goannas (monitor lizards), including the spectacular Frilled Lizard and Bearded Dragon. The Kimberley has some 178 species of reptiles with the more notable ones being the Frilled Neck Lizard and the ubiquitous ‘ta ta’ Lizard. Thorny devils can be found in desert habitats including Shark Bay, Carnarvon and Exmouth in Western Australia.

A variety of reptiles including bearded dragons, perenties and blue tongue lizards can be seen in Central Australia and Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Dolphins, World Heritage Area, WA Marine animals Our marine environments support around 4000 of the world’s 22000 types of fish, as well as 30 of the world’s 58 seagrass species. We also have the world’s largest coral reef system, the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef , where there are so many species of colourful fish, including the beautiful clown fish, that you’ll need more than one visit to try and count them all. We also have around 1700 different species of coral. Larger marine species include the migratory gentle whale shark, humpback, southern right and orca whales, the dugong, numerous dolphin species and a number of shark species. Whales can be seen along the east and west coastlines from May to November. Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is one of the most reliable places in the world to see whale sharks and a number of operators run tours to swim with these gentle giants.

Kangaroo Island is one of the best places to see Australian fur seals in the wild. @Australia Billabong Sanctuary - Australian Native Wildlife Park Townsville Pythons (Family Boidae Subfamily Pythoninae) This section starts with some information on the natural history of all pythons, and then talks about species that live here at Billabong Sanctuary and a few others of general interest. General Adaptations for Hunting and Feeding Pythons are non-venomous snakes which are generally heavily-built, muscular and slow-moving. The python family includes the largest snakes in the world. Most species have a broad head distinct from the neck, and heat-sensing pits along the lips. These specialized organs are capable of detecting tiny differences in temperature, and allow the snake to hunt down warm-blooded prey, namely mammals and birds. Although pythons are non-venomous, they all have sharp, backwards-pointing teeth. When hunting, pythons strike their prey, grasp it in their strong jaws, then immediately throw the coils of their body around the victim. As the animal struggles, the snake progressively tightens its hold until the animal suffocates. Killing is entirely by constriction, not by crushing or poisoning.

Having killed its prey, the python then nudges it into position with its snout, and swallows the entire animal head-first. Pythons have no means or ripping apart their food, so they have to be capable of swallowing animals several times bigger in diameter than their own heads. Imagine trying to swallow a watermelon whole! The head of the python has remarkable adaptations to enable it to perform similar feats. The two halves of the lower jaw are not fused in the middle, but are held together by flexible muscles and ligaments. This allows them to stretch far apart as the animal is swallowing. The upper and lower jaw do not ‘unhinge’ as is commonly believed. Instead, the food passes below this joint along the bottom of the neck, which can stretch enormously around the prey animal. In order to move the food along, the snake grips it with the fangs on alternate sides of the jaw, moving one side of the jaw and then the other along the prey, passing it down its throat. During this process it produces a lot of saliva to lubricate the prey as it moves along.

The ribs of a python are not anchored to its sternum (as in other animals) so the tips of the ribs can stretch apart as the food moves on down the snake’s body. The skin of pythons is also very stretchy, with relatively small scales. This enables the body to expand as the food item is swallowed. It can take several hours to swallow a large animal. The ability to swallow very large food items means that a big snake need not spend all its time hunting. It may need to eat only a few meals every year. After eating large prey, it will usually spend much time basking in the sun to maintain a high enough body temperature to digest the meal. There are also a couple of potential problems to swallowing such a big meal: Firstly, if the temperature is not warm enough to allow complete digestion, the food animal may decompose in the python’s stomach and poison it. People who keep caged birds as pets are familiar with a second difficulty: Imagine going to uncover your birdcage in the morning, and finding a fat Carpet Python curled up inside instead of your prized budgie or lorikeet!

The snake has crawled in through the bars of the cage and then, after swallowing its meal, become too big to squeeze back out again. Reproduction Pythons are oviparous, or egg-laying snakes. The eggs are oval, with a leathery shell, rather than a hard shell like birds’ eggs. This allows the exchange of gases and moisture between the embryo and the outside air. The female pushes the eggs into a mound, and coils around them to protect them. Some species will actually “shiver” while incubating; that is, the female rhythmically contracts the muscles of her entire body to raise her own temperature and help keep the eggs warm. The incubation period depends on temperature, and varies with different species, but is usually 10 – 14 weeks. Like many other reptiles, the young have an egg-tooth on the end of their snout, which they use to break through the egg shell. This tooth is lost when they shed their skin for the first time. Once hatched, the young are completely independent of their parents.

Black-headed Python (Aspidites melanocephalus) The Black-headed Python is a robust snake, growing up to 3 metres (10 feet) in length. The glossy black colour of the head, neck and throat is the most obvious identifying feature. There is no distinct narrowing of the neck region as in most other pythons. This snake also lacks heat-sensitive pits along the lips. The back is light to dark brown with darker cross-bands, while the belly is a creamy colour, often with dark blotches. These pythons are found in a wide variety of habitats throughout the northern half of Australia. Typically nocturnal, they may become active during the day in cooler weather, especially during or after rain storms. When disturbed, the Black-headed Python will usually retreat to the safety of nearby shelter; however, if provoked it may rise up and hiss loudly to scare off potential predators. This snake feeds on small mammals, birds, and reptiles, including venomous snakes. Like the other Australian pythons it is an egg-layer, producing about 10 eggs per clutch, and incubating them till they hatch. The young are about 510 mm (20 in) long.

Lifespan may be more than 20 years. Here at Billabong Sanctuary you may meet one of our Black-headed Pythons during the morning Python Experience show. Children’s Python (Liasis childreni) The name Children’s Python does not really mean that these are pythons for children. They were named after JG Children, an English naturalist. They do make good pets, however, because of their small size and placid nature. Children’s Pythons are typically brown with smooth-edged darker brown blotches along the length of the back. The belly is creamy in colour. The average length is 75 cm (29.5 in), and they rarely grow larger than a metre (39 in). Much larger specimens have sometimes been seen in the wild. These beautiful little pythons are most commonly found in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, but they also live in the northern parts of New South Wales and South Australia. Children’s Pythons are nocturnal and live on the ground, but they are also very good climbers, and may be found in rock outcrops and caves where they hunt small insectivorous bats.

The python waits at the entrance to the cave where bats are roosting till the bats fly out in the evening. It then catches a bat as it flies past, suffocates and eats it on the spot, clinging to the rocks with its strong tail. They also eat other small mammals, frogs, lizards, rodents, and small birds. They are often found around houses, where they should be welcome visitors. Harmless to people, they are useful hunters of mice and other pests. Mating occurs in spring. The female lays a clutch of up to 15 eggs at the beginning of summer, and incubates and defends them until they hatch. Hatchlings are about 250 mm (10 in) long. Lifespan may be up to 20 years. Water Python (Liasis fuscus) You may meet a Water Python during one of the daily snake talks here at Billabong Sanctuary. Even if you come to the presentation convinced that you are terrified of ‘vicious, slimy snakes’, chances are that you will be won over by this python’s docile nature.

After reaching out to feel its sleek, dry scales, you’ll be lining up to have your photo taken with your new friend. As its name suggests, this python is found around freshwater billabongs, streams, lagoons and swamps in coastal regions of northern Australia. If threatened, it will take to the water. The Water Python is a uniform dark blackish brown to olive-green on the back, with smooth, iridescent scales. The belly is dull to bright yellow. Averaging about 2 m long (6 1/2 ft), adults can grow up to 3 m (10ft). It has the typical python body form, with a head distinct from the neck, and a robust body. This python is nocturnal and eats mammals such as water rats, as well as water birds and their eggs, and reptiles such as baby crocodiles. Clutch size is up to 22 eggs; hatchlings are about 44 cm long (just over 17 in). Amethystine Python (Morelia amethystina) Also known as the Scrub Python, this is Australia’s longest snake, reaching over 8 m in length (26 ft)!

Here at Billabong Sanctuary, you can get up close to these magnificent reptiles. The scales of the Amethystine Python have a milky, iridescent sheen, similar to a polished amethyst. The scales along the back are olive-yellow or olive-brown, with dark brown or black cross-bands. The belly is white or cream in colour. The head is distinct from the neck, and the body is long and slim. This python occurs only in northeastern Queensland and on islands of the Torres Strait, in a variety of habitats including rainforest, open woodland, mangrove swamps, and even scrubby vegetation on coral cays. Amethystine Pythons are mostly nocturnal. Younger snakes live in trees, but older adults tend to be terrestrial. In spite of their relatively slender body, large Amethystine Pythons can eat animals as big as wallabies and feral pigs. More often, smaller mammals such as bats and possums are taken, as well as birds. The clutch size is about 20 eggs, and hatchlings are about 600 mm (23 1/2 in) long.

The Carpet Python Group Two subspecies of Carpet Pythons have distinctive colour patterns, except where they occur together and interbreed. One is simply known as the Carpet Python; the other, the Diamond Python, is actually a colour variant of this species. Here at Billabong Sanctuary you can see individuals of both of these very pretty snakes. Carpet Python (Morelia spilota variegata) Like Children’s Pythons, these snakes adapt readily to being handled, and make docile pets. You may get up close and personal during the morning Python Experience at Billabong Sanctuary. This subspecies is typically pale to dark brown, with irregular blackish, light-centred blotches all along its back. This pattern has been compared to that of a Persian carpet. The belly is cream or yellow with darker blotches. The average length is about 2 m (6 1/2 ft) but individuals can reach over 4 m (13 ft). This python is found from southern South Australia, through most of Queensland and New South Wales, around the top end to the Kimberleys in Western Australia.

It lives in a variety of habitats, from rainforest to semi-arid coastal areas, avoiding the very hot dry country in the interior. Carpet Pythons may live in burrows made by other animals, but are mostly arboreal. They may be seen high in the canopy of trees, where their presence is signalled by the raucous squawking of nearby lorikeets, honeyeaters and other birds. They tend to be active at night, when they prefer to lie in ambush rather than actively hunt their prey. Carpet Pythons are welcome in sheds of cane farmers and other property owners, because they are such efficient predators of pests such as rats. They also eat a variety of other invertebrates, mainly mammals and birds, but occasionally other reptiles as well. Clutch size may be up to 47 eggs. Hatchlings are about 300 mm long (12 in) and weigh about 15 gm (1/2 oz). Diamond Python (Morelia spilota spilota) This subspecies is glossy olive-black above, with cream or white coloured spots clustered in diamond patterns along the body. The belly is cream or yellow with dark blotches.

The average length is about 2 metres (6 1/2 ft) with a maximum of just over 4 m (13 ft). Diamond Pythons are found only along the coast of New South Wales. They are mainly nocturnal ambush hunters, lying in wait either in a tree or on the ground for birds, mammals or other reptiles. In springtime, the female lays a scent trail as she moves around. Several males will follow this trail and mate with her, so that eggs in a clutch often have different fathers. Up to 50 eggs may be laid. Newly hatched young are about 300 mm (12 in) long and weigh only 15 gm (1/2 oz). Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus) Another star attraction at the morning handling shows, these Pythons also make popular pets, as they adapt well to handling. The Olive Python is a uniform fawn to dark olive-brown colour above, with a white or cream-coloured belly. Average length is about 2 1/2 m (8 ft) with a maximum of about 4 m (13 ft).

It does not grow as long as the Amethystine Python, but is Australia’s heaviest snake. This very large, robust snake is found in the coastal regions and inland areas of north-western Western Australia eastwards to western Queensland. It lives in all kinds of forest habitats, from rainforest to savannah woodlands, but prefers rocky hills and gorges, especially those close to watercourses. Hunting mainly by night, it eats small mammals, birds and reptiles. The usual clutch size is about 15 to 18 eggs, but snakes in captivity have been known to lay as many as 24 eggs. Hatching occurs in 71 days, with the young measuring 375 mm (nearly 15 in). By the time they are a year old, they may be nearly 2 m long (6 ft). Woma (Aspidites ramsayi) This snake is seldom encountered in the wild because it lives far from populated areas, but here at Billabong Sanctuary you may get a close look at this very interesting python. In this species, the head is not distinct from the neck.

The Woma varies in colouration from grey to olive to reddish brown above, with darker, narrow cross-bands. The belly is cream to yellow, with pink or brown blotches. The average length is 1 1/2 m (nearly 5 ft) with a maximum of about 2.7 m (8.8 ft). The Woma is found in the very dry inland regions of all Australian states except Victoria and Tasmania. Here it shelters in hollow logs, animal burrows or thick vegetation. Also known as the Sand Python, it has an unusual method for killing its prey. Because it does much of its hunting down burrows, there is not enough room to coil around its victim to suffocate it. Instead it squashes the victim against the wall of the burrow to crush it. The Woma may also lure its prey by wriggling the end of its tail, as Death Adders do. Like other pythons, it eats small mammals, birds and reptiles. Because it lives in such remote, inhospitable areas of the continent, little is known about its reproductive biology.

Perhaps some day we will have Woma breeding here at Billabong Sanctuary, and then we will be able to add our observations to the study of this intriguing reptile. CONTACT US Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia - Travel To Eat Travel To Eat Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Entrance of the Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Taronga Zoo is Australia’s leading zoological garden, featuring Australia’s best collection of native animals and a diverse collection of exotic species. What makes Taronga something special is its location. It is situated on a fairly steep hill along the waterfront, on one of the most beautiful vantage points on Sydney Harbour overlooking Sydney Cove, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. As you zigzag your way along the paths among the animal enclosures, you are able to enjoy magnificent harbour views. The Taronga Zoo has its own jetty and you are able step off a ferry and walk directly into the zoo. From there you can take the gondola to the top of the hill, the fastest and most inexpensive way to visit the zoo. It is always best to start your tour of the Zoo from the top entrance. That way you’ll be walking downhill facing the harbor.

You’ll then be continually surprised as you turn a corner and catch a different vista of the horizon. Then, when you reach the bottom you can catch the Zoo Sky Safari chair lift to take you to the top again and begin your downhill trek along a different path. Map of the Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Entrance to the Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia View of Sydney from the Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Garden. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Garden. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The landscaping is lush and beautiful and as advertised, the views of Sydney are pretty breathtaking. In addition there are amazing exhibitions of extremely rare and common animals in every direction. Plan to spend at least a day or more to see it all. Tasmanian Devil. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Tasmanian Devil. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Tasmanian Devil. Peel Zoo, Pinjarra, Australia I was absolutely thrilled to get these pictures of the normally nocturnal Tasmanian Devil, he/she just decided to take a walk outside and I was lucky enough to be there.

Tasmanian devils have a notoriously cantankerous disposition and will fly into a maniacal rage when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending a meal. Early European settlers dubbed it a “devil” after witnessing such displays, which include teeth-baring, lunging, and an array of spine-chilling guttural growls. Tasmanian devils are strictly carnivorous, surviving on small prey such as snakes, birds, fish, and insects and frequently feasting communally on carrion. They are at their most rowdy when jockeying for position on a large carcass. Like other marsupials, when they are well fed, their tails swell with stored fat. Once abundant throughout Australia, Tasmanian devils are now indigenous only to the island state of Tasmania. Their Tasmanian range encompasses the entire island, although they are partial to coastal scrublands and forests. Biologists speculate that their extinction on the mainland is attributable to the introduction of Asian dogs, or dingoes. Male Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Male Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals.

Sydney, Australia Female Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) are large animals with extremely long and powerful hind legs and feet. Their tail is also long and muscular but their front limbs are short. When moving fast they hop on their hind legs, using their tail as a counterbalance, and when moving slowly they use their tail as an extra limb, taking their weight on their front limbs and tail while hopping their hind feet forwards. Their fur is soft and reddish brown (greyer in females). They have quite long muzzles and rather large ears, making their heads look a bit like those of deer. They are found across mainland Australia, avoiding only the more fertile areas in the south, the east coast, and the northern rainforests. In the zoo, you can walk among the smaller, less aggressive females while the larger males are kept in a more secure separate enclosure. Male Eastern Gray Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Female Eastern Gray Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals.

Sydney, Australia Female Eastern Gray Kangaroo and Two Joeys (Macropus giganteus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia. Wikipedia The grey kangaroo is one of the most populous of all kangaroos (with numbers in the millions) and it is also the fastest of all kangaroos, reaching speeds of up to 70kph. There are two types of grey kangaroo, eastern and western, which are pretty much the same. The eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is a marsupial found in southern and eastern Australia, with a population of several million. It is also known as the great grey kangaroo and the Forester kangaroo. Grey kangaroos roam the forests of Australia and Tasmania and prefer to live among the trees, though they do take to open grasslands for grazing. Grey kangaroos, red kangaroos, and wallaroos are called the great kangaroos because they are so much larger than the nearly 70 other kinds of kangaroos. Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor).

Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) is a small macropod marsupial of eastern Australia. This wallaby is also commonly known as the black wallaby, with other names including black-tailed wallaby, fern wallaby, black pademelon, stinker (in Queensland), and black stinker (in New South Wales). The swamp wallaby is the only living member of the genus Wallabia. Note the light cheek stripe. Although the swamp wallaby is solitary in nature, it will often gather in small groups when foraging. It can consume a variety of plants including both native and introduced types, agricultural, shrub, and pasture types. Its preferred diet includes browsing types of shrubs and bushes. This diet is not typical to wallaby species, which usually prefer grazing types of plants. This species is not often hunted for food or commercial reasons, because natives find it undesirable to eat and its fur is not particularly attractive. Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals.

Sydney, Australia Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The smallest of the eight bear species, the Malayan Sun Bear inhabits the dense tropical and subtropical rainforests of South East Asia. Sun bears are expert climbers, using their long 7.5cm claws to dig into tree trunks. During feeding, the sun bear can extend its exceptionally long 20-25cm tongue into logs to extract insects and honey. While there are currently no known reliable estimates of wild sun bear numbers, it’s known that their numbers are declining. The major threat to the Malayan Sun Bear is the illegal wildlife trade, where animals are trapped for bear meat in restaurants, traditional medicine or as exotic pets, and habitat destruction, for logging and conversion to agriculture. Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Wikipedia The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia.

It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae, and its closest living relatives are the wombats. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland’s eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. It is easily recognizable by its stout, tailless body; round, fluffy ears; and large, spoon-shaped nose. Koalas typically inhabit open eucalyptus woodlands, and the leaves of these trees make up most of their diet. Because this eucalyptus diet has limited nutritional and caloric content, koalas are largely sedentary and sleep for up to 20 hours a day. In fact, the lazy koalas were sleeping the day we visited so I included a great shot from Wikipedia. Though often called the koala “bear,” this cuddly animal is not a bear at all; it is a marsupial, or pouched mammal. After giving birth, a female koala carries her baby in her pouch for about six months. When the infant emerges, it rides on its mother’s back or clings to her belly, accompanying her everywhere until it is about a year old.

Because of its distinctive appearance, the koala is recognized worldwide as a symbol of Australia. Koalas from different parts of Australia have varying amounts of brown in their fur. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) is a member of the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. It is native to Africa south of the Sahara and the Nile Valley. Egyptian geese were considered sacred by the Ancient Egyptians, and appeared in much of their artwork. They have been raised for food and extensively bred in parts of Africa since they were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians. This species breeds widely in Africa except in deserts and dense forests, and is locally abundant. They are found mostly in the Nile Valley and south of the Sahara. It has also been introduced elsewhere: Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, and Germany have self-sustaining populations which are mostly derived from escaped ornamental birds.

Escapes have also bred on occasion in other places, such as Florida, Australia and New Zealand. Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Head of the Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) is a large white waterbird with a black, spatulate (spoon-shaped) bill, facial skin, legs and feet. During the breeding season, it has a distinctive nuchal (back of head or nape of neck) crest, which can be up to 20 cm long in male birds (usually shorter in females). The crest can be erected during mating displays to reveal bright pink skin underneath. Breeding adults also have a creamy-yellow wash across the lower neck and upper breast and a strip of bright pink skin along the edge of the underwings which is obvious when the bird opens its wings. The facial skin is black with a yellow patch above the eye and a red patch in the middle of the forehead, in front of the crest feathers. Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals.

Sydney, Australia Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) is identified by its almost entirely white body plumage and black head and neck. The head is featherless and its black bill is long and down-curved. During the breeding season the small patch of skin on the under-surface of the wing changes from dull pink to dark scarlet. Adult birds have a tuft of cream plumes on the base of the neck. Females differ from males by being slightly smaller, with shorter bills. Young birds are similar to adults, but have the neck covered with black feathers. In flight, flocks of Australian White Ibis form distinctive V-shaped flight patterns. Another common name for this bird is Sacred Ibis, but this more appropriately refers to a closely related African species, the Sacred Egyption Ibis. The Australian White Ibis is common and widespread in northern and eastern Australia, and both its range and abundance in western Australia is expanding, despite its absence from Western Australia prior to the 1950s. The species is absent from Tasmania.

Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Koi. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Formerly named Tree Ducks, the Wandering Whistling Duck have their new name because of their loud whistling calls and the whistling noise their wings make during flight. The Wandering Whistling-Duck is a large duck with rich red-brown plumage overall, with a paler face, front of neck and upper breast. There is a dark stripe on the crown of head, nape and back of neck. The bill and legs are dark. There are elongated flank plumes, which are off-white with chestnut edges. In flight, the dark underwings, cinnamon and chestnut underbody, white undertail and trailing dark legs are seen. This species is also known as the Whistling Tree-Duck, Water Whistling-Duck and the Red Whistler.

The Wandering Whistling-Duck is found in northern and eastern Australia and prefers deep vegetated lagoons and swamps, flooded grasslands, sewerage farms, grain stubbles, pastures, irrigated lands and ricefields. It prefers deeper waters where aquatic plants and insects are plentiful. Koi are actually hybrids of Carp from Japan but they were in the same pool and lovely so I included them. Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus regina). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The Rose-Crowned Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus regina) is a small, compact dove, with a short tail and rounded wings. Its name comes from the deep pink cap or forehead, which is bordered behind by a narrow yellow stripe. The upper body is bright green and the under-body orange and yellow with a rose-coloured patch. The throat and upper breast is rough grey. In flight, dark underwings contrast with the yellow body and band on the end of the tail. The female is similar, but lighter. This species is also known as Pink Cap, Rose or Red-crowned Fruit-Pigeon.

Distribution:The Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove is widespread in northern and eastern Australia, they also are found in Indonesia. Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves are found in coastal tall tropical and sub-tropical forests, particularly with dense vine growth, in monsoon rainforest and tall woodlands near rainforest with many fruiting trees. They are sometimes found in mangroves. Australian Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Australian Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The Australian Brush-Turkey (Alectura lathami) has a mainly black body plumage, bare red head, yellow throat wattle (pale blue in northern birds) and laterally flattened tail. The Australian Brush-turkey is not easily confused with any other Australian bird. It is the largest of Australia’s three megapodes (Family Megapodiidae). The megapodes are a distinct family of the group of fowl-like birds (Order Galliformes), which includes quails, turkeys, peafowl and junglefowl.

The Australian Brush-turkey’s range extends along eastern Australia, inhabiting rainforests and wet schlerophyll forests, but can also be found in drier scrubs. In the northern part of its range, the Australian Brush-turkey is most common at higher altitudes, but individuals move to the lowland areas in winter months. In the south, it is common in both mountain and lowland regions. Female Eclectus Parrots. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Male and Female Eclectus Parrot, Singapore Zoo. Doug Janson, Wikipedia The Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus) is native to the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, northeastern Australia and the Maluku Islands (Moluccas). Their extreme sexual dimorphism (visual physical differences between the sexes) is very unusual in the parrot family. Indeed Joseph Forshaw, in his book Parrots of the World, noted that the first European ornithologists to see Eclectus parrots thought that they were of two distinct species. The males are bright green, with bright candy corn-colored beaks and blue or red tail and wing feathers. The females are red headed and blue-breasted, with black beaks.

Dollar Bird. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia The Dollarbird is also known as the Oriental Dollarbird or the Dollar Roller. There are 11 subspecies of this bird. The Dollarbird is found from eastern Asia, south to New Guinea and Australia. They prefer forests and open country with scattered trees. New Zealand Fur Seal/Kekeno (Arctocephalus forsteri). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia New Zealand Fur Seal/Kekeno (Arctocephalus forsteri). Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Arctocephalus forsteri, the New Zealand fur seal or southern fur seal, is a species of fur seal found around the south coast of Australia, the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and some of the small islands to the south and east of there. New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, like all fur “seals” are actually sea lions (Family Otariidae), and are actually considered rare in New Zealand. These “seals” have pointed noses, long whiskers, and 2 layers of dark brown fur.

In New Zealand, Arctocephalus forsteri was hunted for their fur by Polynesians and Europeans for centuries and nearly to extinction by the 19th century. They are now protected by New Zealand’s Marine Mammals Protection Actexternal link and are beginning to recover and re-colonize areas in their pre-exploitation range. Penguin. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia Penguin. Taronga Zoo, Native Animals. Sydney, Australia They have quite a collection of penguins, hard to photograph but fun to watch. Of course this is not a complete or even close to complete list of native animals at the Taronga zoo, these are just the ones available on the day we visited and that I could get decent pictures of. This is a really great zoo, with lots of picturesque views, great landscaping and plenty of children’s play areas. If you are in Sydney, spend the day at the zoo. Bandy Bandy - Reptiles - Nature Notes - Alice Springs Desert Park The Bandy-bandy (Vermicella annulata) is a spectacularly striking black and white banded snake.

Adaptations The alternating colour pattern of black and white rings can play tricks on the eyes of potential predators, making it difficult to see which direction the snake is going, and which is the head or tail end. This confusing trick is called 'flicker fusion'. Bandy-bandys are nocturnal and are sometimes seen on the road at night especially after rain. Habitat Bandy-bandys live in sub-terranean (underground) habitats. Range Central Australian Deserts , Northern and Eastern Australia Wild Status Unknown Diet Bandy-bandys are believed to live exclusively on a group of snakes called blind snakes. They can swallow prey almost as large as their own body. Predators

Question: Native to Australia, what type of creature is a bandy-bandy?
Answer: Snake