On the road again...

Hey guys, I'm currently on the road, living out of my car and driving around Australia. Check out my adventures here

What happened?

I'm going to put this out as a reader challenge while I do some research myself. I came across this somewhat disturbing spectacle in a local bit of bushland. The spider (which was on a vertical trunk as it happens) appears to be a huntsman which has been/is being consumed by some sort of parasitic fungus. It certainly makes me shudder. Apologies for the photo quality, I only had my happy snap camera with me at the time.

This one's done...

I'd heard about these and seen photos, but last night was the first time I'd seen the Blue Mountains form of the Sydney Crayfish (Euastacus australasiensis)... truly an astonishing colour.

Sydney Crayfish, Euastacus australasiensis

Assorted Simpson desert photos

I mentioned that I've done a bit of volunteer work in the Simpson recently - without further ado, here are a selection of photos. Remember to check out the rest of the album for any photos I've deemed less... publishable!

Varanus gilleni, Pygmy mulga monitor


Nephrurus laevis, Knob-tailed gecko


Ctenophorus nuchalis, Central netted dragon


Morethia ruficauda, Fire-tailed skink


Ctenotus pantherinus, Panther skink


Varanus brevicauda, Short-tailed pygmy monitor - smallest monitor in the world


Ctenophorus isolepis - Military dragon


Rhynchoedura ornata - Beaked Gecko


Ningaui rideii


Varanus gouldii, Gould's sand goanna


Scorpion


Varanus eremius, Spinifex goanna


Mantid


Sand tracks - lizard


Tenebrionid & tracks


Moon and spnifex clump


Moonrise in the Gidgee

Strzelecki Gibber

Spent a bit of time out around Lyndhurst (the start of the Strzelecki track) in South Australia recently. Saw a couple of herps.

Sleepy lizard / Bobtail / Shingleback / Pine-cone lizard (Tiliqua rugosa)



Pebble-mimic dragon, Tympanocryptis sp.



Marbled Gecko, Christinus marmoratus.