Australia, Cape York, Iron Range NP

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Originally Posted by moloch

Thanks, Aaron. The Riodinids are one of my favourite families. I have photos of some really ones from Peru that I will post later on.

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Thx David, i just marvel at how they're so variable and that there's no fixed form, esp those South American ones where u have those that look like nymphalids(Euselasia spp.) and those that look almost exactly like moths(Caria spp.).:grin2:

Thanks, all.

Chee,
The birds at the waterhole were very nice. I think that we saw 15+ species stopping by for a drink.


Loke,
Yes, it does look like a smile. I think that they are one of the most beautiful of the Aussie geckos.



CherHern,
The death adders were on the road at night. Once in the leaf litter, they are virtually invisible. I find most of the snakes by night driving ... driving slowly on moonless nights. Snakes will often rest on the road at night to absorb some of the retained warmth. Also, they are much easier to see when they are on the move on an open road.

I stay out of strike range but get as close as possible. For big snakes like the King Brown, I stay a meter or so away but get much closer to the smaller species like the death adders.


Aaron,
I saw a gorgeous green Caria a couple of times along a forest stream but I could never get close enough for a photo. What a stunning species! Other riodinids included a couple that vaguely resemble in size and shape the dragontails. A fair number of the riodinids would land beneath leaves so were hard to photograph.


Regards,
David

Here are a few more photos of Cape York.

Cycads were common in places:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3..._Cooktown5.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ant_Cycad1.jpg



Carlia storri -- Skinks are the abundant reptiles in Australia. We have more 427 species at the moment but new ones are discovered or species are split every year.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ia_storri4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ia_storri3.jpg


Fire-tailed Skink (Morethia taeniopleura) -- a little rock dweller.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../Morethia1.jpg


We saw a couple Brown Tree Snakes (Boiga irregularis). There are relatives of this species in Singapore and Malaysia. These are rear-fanged colubrids but are not dangerous to people (unless you let the snake chew on your finger for awhile!).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...regularis2.jpg


... odd little scorpion
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../scorpion1.jpg



Crocs are common in the north. It is important to be careful whenever near creeks and rivers like this:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CapeYork13.jpg


Regards,
David

great great stuff! Thanks so much for sharing:)

David ,

Thanks for sharing your fantastic records of Australian flora and faunas with us!!

They are eye-openers for most of us here who have not have the chance to do some Australia bush walk.:)

Though I have been to a number of places in Australia during my tour of duty, unfortunatly , I did not have the opportunity to really explore them and that was also before the nature photographic bug bit me!

I hope in the near future I can spend sometime down under and do some exploring.

Cheers!

Thanks, butterfly and Sunny. I hope that you can come back again with your camera. Australia is a huge place and there is so much to see.

I will finish this Cape York thread with a few more shots of animals and habitats along the road to the Iron Range.


Northern Velvet Gecko habitat:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3..._CapeYork6.jpg


... and the gecko:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...astlenaui8.jpg


Glaphyromorphus nigricaudis -- another skink. This one was active at night in the rainforest.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...p2/Glaphy4.jpg


Two-lined Dragon (Diporiphora bilineata)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...bilineata5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...bilineata3.jpg


a buck kangaroo at a waterhole with a Great Bowerbird and Bar-shouldered Doves.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../kangaroo1.jpg


another Brown Tree Snake:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...regularis1.jpg


I hope that you have enjoyed these photos. I will start a thread of the Wollongong area where I live before long.


Regards,
David

Quote:

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Originally Posted by moloch

Aaron,
I saw a gorgeous green Caria a couple of times along a forest stream but I could never get close enough for a photo. What a stunning species! Other riodinids included a couple that vaguely resemble in size and shape the dragontails. A fair number of the riodinids would land beneath leaves so were hard to photograph.

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Must've have been rly exciting.
I think if i were to go and if i'd seen one for the first time i'd probably freak out!xD
The dragon tail-like ones, i suppose u mean Chorinea?

Hello Aaron,

The following riodinid is what I thought to be like a dragontail. It is Rhetus arcius and a real beauty.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...BlueDoctor.jpg


I also saw what I think to be R. periander. It had a similar pattern to the above butterfly but it only remained on top of the leaf for a moment. When I lifted my camera, it zipped to the undersurface. It was disappointing not to be able to capture the lovely colours of the butterfly.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...erfly_Arc2.jpg


Regards,
David

Wow! What a stunning butterfly! :omg:

What a beauty!!!!..........never in my wildest imagination a riodini could spot such tails and colors!

David many thanks in opening our eyes!!!

:cheers: