Gulf of Carpentaria, Qld

[smacdonald]

I've just returned from a trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria, north of Mount Isa. I think the highlights were the olive pythons (we found two) and Cryptoblepharus zoticus (Cryptoblepharus is my favourite skink genus), plus the bats.
Species marked with an asterisk (*) are ones which I hadn't before seen in the wild.
The only other reptile/amphibian species I saw but didn't photograph were Ctenotus robustus and Litoria coplandi and the ubiquitous cane toad.


Common tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulatus)


Common tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulatus)


Common tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulatus)


Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii)


Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii)


Olive python (Liasis olivaceus)*


Olive python (Liasis olivaceus)*


Olive python (Liasis olivaceus)*


Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus)


Black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus)


Children's python (Antaresia childreni)


Children's python (Antaresia childreni)


Demansia quaesitor*


Lesser black whipsnake (Demansia vestigiata)


Lesser black whipsnake (Demansia vestigiata)


Pale-striped ground gecko (Lucasium immaculatum)*


Bynoe's gecko (Heteronotia binoei)


Robust dtella (Gehyra robusta)*


Northern dtella (Gehyra australis)


Northern dtella (Gehyra australis)


Zigzag velvet gecko (Oedura rhombifer)*


Zigzag velvet gecko (Oedura rhombifer)*


Bar-shouldered ctenotus (Ctenotus inornatus)*


Bar-shouldered ctenotus (Ctenotus inornatus)*


Stripe-headed finesnout ctenotus (Ctenotus striaticeps)*


Leopard skink (Ctenotus pantherinus)


Leopard skink (Ctenotus pantherinus)


Straight-browed ctenotus (Ctenotus spaldingi)*


Gravelly-soil ctenotus (Ctenotus lateralis)*


Gravelly-soil ctenotus (Ctenotus lateralis)*


Northern bar-lipped skink (Glaphyromorphus isolepis)


Northern soil-crevice skink (Proablepharus tenuis)*


Common dwarf skink (Menetia greyii)


Metalic snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus metallicus)*


Agile snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus zoticus)*


Two-spined rainbox skink (Carlia amax)


Sharp-snouted delma (Delma nasuta)*


Sharp-snouted delma (Delma nasuta)*


Burton's legless lizard (Lialis burtonis)


Ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus caudicinctus)


Amphibolurus temporalis


Gilbert's dragon (Amphibolurus gilberti)*


Yellow-sided two-line dragon (Diporiphora magna)*


Yellow-sided two-line dragon (Diporiphora magna)*


Mertens' water monitor (Varanus mertensi)*


Mertens' water monitor (Varanus mertensi)*


Mertens' water monitor (Varanus mertensi)*


Mertens' water monitor (Varanus mertensi)*


Litoria inermis


Cyclorana australis


Watjulum frog (Litoria watjulumensis)


Roth's tree frog (Litoria rothii)


Ornate burrowing frog (Platyplectrum ornatum)


Stonemason toadlet (Uperoleia lithomoda)*


Northern spadefoot toad (Notaden melanoscaphus)*


Northern spadefoot toad (Notaden melanoscaphus)*


Northern spadefoot toad (Notaden melanoscaphus)*


Northern spadefoot toad (Notaden melanoscaphus)*


Northern spadefoot toad (Notaden melanoscaphus)*
The small black tubercle on the metatarsal gives this species its common name and species name.


Common rock-rat (Zysomys argurus)*


Large-footed myotis (Myotis macropus)*


Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii)


Orange leafnosed-bat (Rhinonicteris aurantius)*


Dusky leafnosed-bat (Hipposideros ater)*


Sandstone escarpment


Sandstone gorge

 

[DDALDD]

Very impressive mate, looks like you had a good trip. Those bats are great!

 

[redbellybite]

Really nice Stewart,have they given that Demansia qu.. a common name do you know?
and you gotta admit DV is a really dark looking one ...the bat pictures are gorgeous...

 

[method]

Great stuff

 

[Acrochordus]

Great stuff, looks like an awsome trip, did you found any new species you haven't found before..?, Thanks Tim.

 

[W.T.BUY]

Wow sweet pics love the little ring tailed dragon.

 

[smacdonald]

have they given that Demansia qu.. a common name do you know?

Not that I'm aware of. So I've decided to officially name it the 'sombre whipsnake'. Here's some information about the species name:

"From the Latin noun quaesitor: a judge of the criminal court, alluding to the generally sombre appearance of the species, which lacks pale markings to the dark collar, and has a pale head; a secondary meaning (a searcher or seeker) alludes to the foraging ecology of the genus."

did you found any new species you haven't found before..?

Hi Tim,

Everything marked with an asterisk (*) is something I hadn't seen before.


Stewart

 

[Acrochordus]

Hi Tim,

Everything marked with an asterisk (*) is something I hadn't seen before.


Stewart

Sweet well you find allot of new species then, Thanks Tim.

 

[justbrad]

great work there, thanks for sharing your pictures! so jelous, would love to head up that way! cheers, brad.

 

[herpkeeper]

awesome stuff !!!

 

[redbellybite]

well sounds good Stewart that common name ..."sombre whipsnake it is ..."

 

[pythons73]

What awesome photos Stewart,those Olives,what size were they.The Gilberts and Yellow sided two lined Dragons are really impressive,first time ive seen them....Great stuff...

 

[Vixen]

LOVE the leafnose bats. Great photos, the leopard skink is amazing to.

 

[Lozza]

Great pics Stewart! Love the pic of the mertens just hanging in the water.
LOL at the Leopard Skink pose :lol:

 

[ad]

Some amazing pics, thanks for sharing them, great work!
Cheers
Adam

 

[tooninoz]

Thanks for sharing the pictures - looks like a great trip up north.
cheers

 

[lozza_rae]

You didn't come to Weipa!!

 

[smacdonald]

You didn't come to Weipa!!

Not yet! It's still on my list of places to visit! This recent trip was on the other side of the Gulf, towards the NT.


Stewart

 

[smacdonald]

those Olives,what size were they.

Someone did measure the one I photographed, but I can't remember the exact length. It was probably around 1.8 metres.


Stewart

 

[Pujols]

Nice pics mate!!! To me the childreni in the second picture looks more like a stimpsons...