moloch05
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Here is the first of two posts of herps that I have seen near Wollongong, NSW, in the last three years. The habitat near Wollongong consists mostly of wet eucalyptus forest on the slopes of the escarpment with isolated patches of rainforest in some of the protected gullies. There is heath on some of the ridges.
First, a few habitat shots.
Mt. Kiera where I try to walk whenever possible ... from the east:
... from the north:
... from the west:
... a view to the south from a lookout on top of Mt. Kiera:
Eastern Blue-tongue (Tiliqua scincoides) -- I sometimes see this skink in the hills but it seems to be more common in town.
Mainland She-oak Skink (Cyclodomorphus michaeli) -- I sometimes saw this skink in my yard when I lived near a creek. Up in the hills, I have only seen it twice. Once was in heathland and the second time in an area with thick stands of Lomandra.
Anepischtos (Nanoscincus) maccoyi -- until recently, I thought that this skink was scarce in the area. Lately, I have seen a number of these in wet eucalyptus forest. They seem to be the most active when the weather is wet and cool, as it is now in early winter.
Three-toed Skink (Saiphos equalis) -- a glossy lizard that is common species in wet eucalyptus forest and in the heath.
... shedding
Weasel Skink (Saproscincus mustelinus) -- farily common in wet eucalyptus woodland.
Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata) -- probably the most common reptile in the suburbs and hills near Wollongong.
On one occasion, I found this large individual that was actively pursing and biting others.
... normally, they seem to be placid and social:
Grass Skink (Lampropholis guichenoti) -- another common lizard in the suburbs and hills near Wollongong.
Red-throated Skink (Acritoscincus platynotum) -- I only see this skink on top of the escarpment in areas with dense stands of Lomandra. This is my only photo of this species from Wollongong and it was unfortunately dead on the trail.
Eastern Water Skink (Eulamprus quoyii) -- common in rocky areas, especially along the top of the escarpment.
I was surprised one evening to see these "flat mates". The skink was retiring for the evening at the same time that a Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko was becoming active.
I have seen water skinks swim across small creeks many times. This, however, was the only time that I found one that attempted to hide underwater.
Here is a very peculiar animal. It lacked the normal pigment ationand was mostly black with blue-grey patches of colour. I only saw it once and could never again relocate the animal.
Jacky Lizard (Amphibolurus muricatus) -- not very common but I see them at times in the heath and eucalyptus forest at the top of the escarpment.
... juvenile
Mountain Heath Dragon (Rankinia diemensis) -- not common but occasionally seen in heath at the top of the escarpment.
Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii) -- along creeks and sometimes along trails on Mt. Kiera.
Regards,
David
First, a few habitat shots.
Mt. Kiera where I try to walk whenever possible ... from the east:
... from the north:
... from the west:
... a view to the south from a lookout on top of Mt. Kiera:
Eastern Blue-tongue (Tiliqua scincoides) -- I sometimes see this skink in the hills but it seems to be more common in town.
Mainland She-oak Skink (Cyclodomorphus michaeli) -- I sometimes saw this skink in my yard when I lived near a creek. Up in the hills, I have only seen it twice. Once was in heathland and the second time in an area with thick stands of Lomandra.
Anepischtos (Nanoscincus) maccoyi -- until recently, I thought that this skink was scarce in the area. Lately, I have seen a number of these in wet eucalyptus forest. They seem to be the most active when the weather is wet and cool, as it is now in early winter.
Three-toed Skink (Saiphos equalis) -- a glossy lizard that is common species in wet eucalyptus forest and in the heath.
... shedding
Weasel Skink (Saproscincus mustelinus) -- farily common in wet eucalyptus woodland.
Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata) -- probably the most common reptile in the suburbs and hills near Wollongong.
On one occasion, I found this large individual that was actively pursing and biting others.
... normally, they seem to be placid and social:
Grass Skink (Lampropholis guichenoti) -- another common lizard in the suburbs and hills near Wollongong.
Red-throated Skink (Acritoscincus platynotum) -- I only see this skink on top of the escarpment in areas with dense stands of Lomandra. This is my only photo of this species from Wollongong and it was unfortunately dead on the trail.
Eastern Water Skink (Eulamprus quoyii) -- common in rocky areas, especially along the top of the escarpment.
I was surprised one evening to see these "flat mates". The skink was retiring for the evening at the same time that a Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko was becoming active.
I have seen water skinks swim across small creeks many times. This, however, was the only time that I found one that attempted to hide underwater.
Here is a very peculiar animal. It lacked the normal pigment ationand was mostly black with blue-grey patches of colour. I only saw it once and could never again relocate the animal.
Jacky Lizard (Amphibolurus muricatus) -- not very common but I see them at times in the heath and eucalyptus forest at the top of the escarpment.
... juvenile
Mountain Heath Dragon (Rankinia diemensis) -- not common but occasionally seen in heath at the top of the escarpment.
Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii) -- along creeks and sometimes along trails on Mt. Kiera.
Regards,
David
