A Little South Australian Wildlife

As I have indicated previously, and as most are aware, South Australia is home to some wierd and wonderful wildlife. It’s definately interesting to watch a Small House spider attack your broom while trying to brush it away, and then later to find out that it’s bite can cause headaches, and vomiting! The wildlife in Northern Ireland seems rather boring in comparison, or to put it in a more diplomatic way, it’s a little less charismatic.

I’ve found a few snaps of some local wildlife I’ve taken recently, although I must confess, I’m not even sure of what some of them are.

1. A beautiful butterfly of course, but are there any experts out there to tell me what type?

2. On the contrast, here is a huge moth (a lot larger than the one that got caught in our wiper blade). Now these things are really strange. When it rains late in the evening, they emerge from the ground and do whatever it is they do, and the next morning they’re lying on the ground flapping to their death. What is their purpose? Are they just part of the food chain?

Also, notice the structure going through the wings; I don’t think your average moth has wings like this. Can anyone explain?

3. I’m not 100% sure what type of lizard this is, but it may be of the Blue-Tongue variety; I’m not sure. Any ideas?

This is the only one of this type I’ve come across so far, and it was the dog that found it. Head to tail, probably about nine inches.

4. Welcome to the “Sleepy Lizard” as they’re known around here, but more correctly, the “Shingleback Lizard”. These things are everywhere around here, but you’ll usually see them sun-bathing in the middle of the road, or crossing it at a dangerously slow speed, which is why many ‘Sleepys’ never wake up again!

5. Much of the interesting wildlife can often find its way indoors. Such was the case with this scorpion, the only one I’ve come across so far. This little fella was just outside the Men’s toilet in the Lock FPC one Tuesday evening.

It was only about an inch long, but I’ve never seen one that wasn’t behind glass before, so I didn’t hang around too long!

Want to read other articles? Try these...

• The Blue-tongued Lizard
• Tasmania - Wildlife Photo’s
• The Wedge-Tailed Eagle

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