#874: Zebra Finch

The Zebra Finch is an Australian finch, well represented in the pet industry. In the wild, he inhabits the interior of Australia, gathering in flocks in the outback. He dines mostly on seeds, dehusking them with his sturdy beak, however he will also take fresh food such as plant matter and fruit when it is available. Breeding occurs after heavy rain, regardless of the season, and nests will be constructed in any crevice or crack available: termite mounds, rabbit burrows, buildings, as well as trees and shrubs.

#854: Yabby

The Yabby is a small Australian crayfish, found in freshwater, such as streams, rivers, reservoirs and dams.  He can be found in ephemeral pools and can lie dormant for several years in dry conditions. Nocturnal, he feeds on detritus such as algae, plant matter and decaying animal matter. During the summer months he becomes more active, and fishing for yabbies - using a piece of meat tied with string - is a popular activity. As he is Vulnerable to extinction, catch size restrictions are in place.

#841: Wombat

This post is dedicated to Ursula Vernon, author/illustrator of the Digger comic and Dragonbreath series, plus much more.

Everytime I see a wombat, I think of her.

The Wombats are three species of solidly built marsupial found, as most marsupials are, in Australia. She is characterised by her sturdy digging claws, short legs, stumpy tail and adorable bear-like face. Of the three species, two are of Least Concern, but the northern hairy-nosed wombat (named such for her hairy nose and northern distribution) is Critically Endangered. She is nocturnal, spending her days resting in her warren of burrows and coming out at night to graze on grasses and other foliage. Therefore, she is essentially Australia's equivalent of the bunny rabbit. Like all maruspials, the baby is carried in a pouch - hers faces backwards so that as she digs, it does not get filled with dirt.

A group of Wombats is known as a wisdom.

#832: Whistling Tree Frog

In memory of Lazarus.

There are several species of frog commonly referred to as Whistling Frogs, but two species in particular come from Australia: Litoria ewingii and Litoria verreauxii. They are named for their call, although it does not much sound like a whistle. Neither species grows more than 45 mm in length and both lead a semi-arboreal existence, ascending to the trees once they have assumed their adult form. Ewingii has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is locally common.

Lazarus came to us in the mid-90s, taken from an abandoned bath tub on my uncle's farm, and making the journey in a large jar filled with water. The rest of his life was spent in a terranium, normally housed in the cool of our bathroom. In the early years, he would whistle when we showered, but eventually gave up when his songs went unanswered. His name came from an incident when, upon arriving home from school, I found him lying in his swimming tub, motionless. Even shaking his tub had no effect. I left a note for my mum (along the lines of "think frog might be dead?"), then went out with some friends. When I got home, my mother had left another note: "frog is fine, croak, croak" and he was. Lazarus never hibernated, and when the flies upon which we fed him disappeared with winter, I would feed him meal worms, warming him in my hands first (frogs, being ectotherms, become sluggish in the cold). I know now that you are not supposed to handle frogs due to chemicals, but Lazarus lived a full 15 years with us, gradually getting slower and less adept at hunting his living prey as he aged. I do feel a little sad for him, he spent his entire life in the terranium, never knew the love of a frog-woman, and his diet was fairly limited. I would not keep frogs inside again - now we have a pond in our garden. I released the tadpoles into it, saw some of them assume their adult forms and hope that they are still out there, somewhere, succesfully avoiding predation by cat, starling and hedgehog. At least Lazarus never had to worry about that.

#827: Weedy Seadragon

The Weedy Seadragon is a member of the seahorse Family. He inhabits coastal reefs, to depths of around 50 m. Slow moving, he relies on camouflage for protection and will generally be found amongst swaying seaweed, where his various leaf-like appendages blend in. His tail is not prehensile. His long, slender snout is used to suction up zooplankton. Like his hippocampus cousins, the male Weedy Seadragon carries the eggs in a pouch on the underside of his tail. Here he fertilised them, then carries them until they hatch into tiny, independent dragons.

The Weedy Seadragon is Near Threatened. Whilst there is some popularity for his species in the pet trade, survival rates are low and reproduction rare. However, it is mainly habitat disruption and destruction that is reponsible for his decline.

#826: Weaver Ant

The Weaver Ants are large, arboreal ants. They are named for their complicated nests, which are constructed from leaves, which the colony stitches together. Currently there are only two extant species: one of which is this green tree ant. She is found in Northern Australia and Asia.  These ants are eusocial, with only a few females breeding and the rest are infertile workers. Workers are divided into minor or major, with the major being the larger (up to 1cm in length) and more adventurous. Minor workers remain within the nest, caring for the broods. She follows an insectivorous diet, supplementing the small invertebrates with honeydew, "milked" from scale insects.

We have a few photos of the green tree ants, which were fairly common around the Northern Territory. The nests are so neatly stiched together, that it is fascinating to think that they were created by an insect.

#823: Wattlebird

The Wattlebirds are various species of Australian honeyeater, characterised by the presence of the wattle: a bare, fleshy appendage generally around the face or neck. However, not all Wattlebirds actually have wattles. These are thought to play a role in courtship or territorial displays. This Red Honeyeater is native to southern Australia, where he inhabits open woodland. 

815: Wallaby

Wallabies are small-to-medium sized macropods, found in Australia. Their long legs are used to propel  themselves along at high speed and at great height. This fellow is an Agile Wallaby of Northern Australia. She is common and wisdespread, found in dry woodlands and open grassland. Although she often forages alone, she will gather with others in open areas. Here the increased numbers of eyes make it dificult for predators to come close.

Related species:
Rock-wallaby
Nabarlek
Pademelon

814: Walpole Burrowing Crayfish

The Walpole Burrowing Crayfish is one of five burrowing crayfish species in the engaewa Genus, all of which are found in the southern corner of Western Australia. Walpole Burrowing Crayfish occurs in a very limited range, and as such is classified as Endangered. This tiny crayfish grow up to 50mm in length. He inhabits peat moss, swamps, and other areas with a heightened water table, but does not live under water.

#793: Velvet Leatherjacket

The Velvet Leatherjacket is a filefish found in the waters of eastern Australia and New Zealand.Generally solitary in nature, he feeds mainly on sessile and encrusting organisms, such as sponges. He is also known to occasionally nibble at the fingers of divers. His scales are covered in tiny spinules, which give him a velvety appearance. Eggs are laid and fertilised in rocky nests, where they are left to hatch without parental attention.

#777. Ulyssus Butterfly

The Ulysses Butterfly is a large blue swallowtail butterfly, found throughout northeastern Australia and surrounding islands. She measures an average of 15cm in width, and can be found in rainforets and suburban gardens. Her vivid blue colouration comes through the microscopic structure of the scales on her wings, which interferes with light and causes the irridescence. The underside of her wings are a rather more subdued brown, allowing her to camouflage when she sits at rest. As she flies, the blue flashes and attracts attention, hopefully from males - not predators!

#756: Thylacine

The Thylacine was a large carnivorous marsupial, named the Tasmanian Tiger for his striped hide. He is an example of convergent evolution - being a dog-like predator related to the Tasmanian Devil and the Quoll. Unlike most marsupials, both male and female had a pouch: the male's acting to protect his external reproductive organs in his thickly forested home. He had a very large gape, capable of opening his jaws to 120 degree angle.  Already extirpated from the mainland due to competition with the introduced Dingo (as well as disease), his last refuge was the island of Tasmania. Early settlers decided that he posed a threat to their lifestock, and set about diligently eliminating the species.  The last wild speciman was shot in 1930, and the last captive died in 1936.
 
There are a surprisingly large number of unconfirmed Thylacine sightings, both in Tasmania and south-east Australia. Thylacine can be distinguished from a dog by his long, stiff tail which is held more akin to that of a kangaroo's, and an awkward gait (described by one maybe-sighter as "resembling bad CGI"). I know I am not alone in hoping that there are still some of this strange carnivorous kangaroo-like creature roaming the wooded areas of Australia. And, indeed, would dearly love to have my own own unconfirmed sighting to add to the list. Maybe next year, when we go to Tasmania...
http://www.thylacineresearchunit.org/sightingreports.htm

#754: Thorny Devil

The Thorny Devil is an Australian lizard, named for the spiny protrusions that cover her body. These not only protect her from predation, but also collect condensation overnight. Her body is covered in hygroscopic grooves, which channel the water into her mouth. She inhabits arid scrubland and desert and lives on a diet of ants - consuming thousands in a day. Eggs are laid in a burrow, and hatch after a few months.

#731: Sugar Glider

The Sugar Glider is a small gliding possum, native to Australia and New Guinea. Omivorous in diet, the Sugar Glider feeds on sap, honeydew and gum in winter, and insects in summer. Pollen is an important part of her diet and she acts as a pollinator for various Banksia species. Her most characteristic feature is her patagium, which extends from her forelimbs to her hindlimbs. When spread, this creates an aerofoil that allows her to glide from tree to tree. She rarely, if ever, touches the ground. Highly social, the males aid in the care of the youngsters. Juvenile Sugar Gliders are unable to thermoregulate until they are 100 days old, and the parents take turns in keeping them warm.

Sugar Gliders have found their way into the exotic pet market. With their endearing features and interesting behaviour they are attractive to those seeking something a bit different. However, they are also nocturnal, have a fairly specialist diet, are social creatures and will pine if kept alone, and they cannot be house-trained. Currently wild-caught animals are being poached and smuggled into the pet trade, which may have an impact on the wild populations in the future.

#696: Shield Bug

The Shield Bugs belong to a Superfamily of "True bugs" characterised by their sucking mouthparts and well-developed scutellum (the hard casing above the abdomen). Species are also equipped with scent glands in the thorax. These release an unpleasant liquid, which is used to deter predators and also gives them their alternative name of "stink bug". They are not Beetles - their shell is continuously, not divided for wings.

There are around 200 species of Shield Bug. This Australian species is known as the Metallic Shield Bug. They can be found on leaf litter or other bark and feed on vegetation.

#667: Rosella

There are six species of Rosella spread across Australia and the surrounding islands. These colourful parrots inhabit forests, woodland and suburban parks. Diet consists mainly of seeds, fruit and vegetables. Several species are popular in aviculture, where they breed readily and live for over 20 years - but can be aggressive towards other birds.  This fellow is the Crimson Rosella of east and southeast Australia. He and the Eastern Rosella have also been introduced to New Zealand, probably escapees from aviaries, and have established localised populations.

#660: Rocket Frog

There are several species of Rocket Frog, select members of the Litoria tree frog Genus, found in Australia  - this fellow is the Striped Rocket Frog. His range encompasses most of coastal northern Australia, from the top of Western Australia around to Sydney. Here he can be found in swamps, ponds and flooded grasslands. Ephemeral ponds are used for breeding. Rocket Frogs can be distinguished by their longer hind legs, which allow him to make leaps of around 2 m - about 35 times his own body length.

#654: Riflebird

The Riflebirds are three birds of paradise, found in Papua New Guinea and the eastern mountains of Australia. His name comes from his colouration, reminiscient of the Rifle Brigade's uniforms. He follows a largely insectivorous diet. Like all birds of paradise, males are polygynous. He courts the females with an elaborate dance, first calling for her, then raising his wings into a semi-circle and puffing out his chest feathers, before ending with a wing-clapping display.This performance is also used to defend his site. After mating, the female builds her nest and raises the offspring alone. 

This is a Victoria Riflebird, from the Atherton Tableland. You can watch him perform here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkNCslAgNSw

#640: Rainbowfish

The Rainbowfish are a Family of small, colourful freshwater fish, found in Australia, New Guinea and its surrounding islands. They are also popular within the aquarium trade. He favours an omnivorous diet, feeding on small crustaceans, insect larvae, algae and insects that float on the water. Spawning occurs year-round, but is particularly concentrated during the start of the wet season. Eggs adhere to floating vegetation and hatch after 18 days.

The unrelated Madagascar Rainbowfish will be featured under his local name of "Zono".

#630: Quoll

The Quoll are six species of cat-like marsupials, found in Australia and New Guinea. He is nocturnal in nature, spending the day sleeping in a hollow log and coming out at night to hunt. His prey ranges in size from frogs and reptiles, up to possums, rabbits and hare. Unfortunately, the Northern Quoll has also been known to prey on the poisonous cane toad, with fatal results. Other threats come from foxes and feral cats. Mostly solitary, during the breeding season, all female Quoll come into heat simultaneously. This drives the males into a rampant three-week long, sex frenzy, filled with violent, vigorous mating marathons. During this period they stop eating, deplete their energy reserves and die.