I went to Longreach this week for a conference on the Lake Eyre Basin, great conference with some big names from the scientific community. Including Angus Emmott and Arthur Georges from the reptile world. If anyone is interested hop on their facebook page and show your support for protecting the basin.
http://www.facebook.com/LakeEyreBasinUnderTheSpotlight
So to the herping, i drove down on Sunday hoping to find some things along the way. Not much luck with the herps with only a blue tongue (Tiliqua multifasciata), but i did drive through an impressive storm.
On the road to a pot of gold. by R. Francis, on Flickr
Centralian Blue tongue by R. Francis, on Flickr
Once in Longreach and booked in to the hotel i decided to go out for a drive expecting to find some frogs. The first find was a Tessallated Gecko (Diplodactylus tessallatus). I then stopped for a Knife-footed Frog (Cyclorana cultripes) which was next to a large puddle on the side of the road. There were frogs calling everywhere and i could hear at least 3 species, i was only able to find a very impressive Broad-palmed frog though.
Tessalated Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Broad-palmed Frog by R. Francis, on Flickr
Broad-palmed Frog by R. Francis, on Flickr
Knife-footed Frog by R. Francis, on Flickr
The next morning i tried to go to Starlights lookout before the conference started. It is about 50km north of Longreach along a back soil road, a week ago there was about 100mm of rain in the area and i was the first to go on the track. I think i got about 45km before there was a large washout so i had to turn around. I spent the rest of the morning looking for Gidgee Skinks, unfortunately i couldnt find any. I did find some good looking Bynoes gecko's (Heteronotia binoei), the difficult to catch Tree Skinks (Egernia striolata), Tree Dtella (Gehrya variegata) and a Houdini Myall Snake (Suta suta) which disapeared into thin air. There were also a few well known large birds around.
Bynoe's Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Tree Skink by R. Francis, on Flickr
Emu by R. Francis, on Flickr
Australian Bustard by R. Francis, on Flickr
That night there was a river cruise on the Thomson River, i didnt take the camera but saw quite a few Kreft's Turtles.
The following nights i went out driving in search for anything. The last find of the night was a good one, the Brigalow Beaked Gecko (Rhynchoedura mentalis). These were only described a few years ago. There were also a few other geckos and frogs out similar to the previous night.
Brigalow Beaked Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Brigalow Beaked Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Last night i decided to do the 700km drive over night after the conference finished. Things were very slow, with only a Lucasium immaculatum, a Northern Spiny-tail Gecko (Strophurus ciliaris) and a Childrens Python (Anteresia childreni). There were also countless kangaroos, cats and a lone Dingo.
Lucasium immaculatum by R. Francis, on Flickr
Northern Spiny-tailed Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
http://www.facebook.com/LakeEyreBasinUnderTheSpotlight
So to the herping, i drove down on Sunday hoping to find some things along the way. Not much luck with the herps with only a blue tongue (Tiliqua multifasciata), but i did drive through an impressive storm.
On the road to a pot of gold. by R. Francis, on Flickr
Centralian Blue tongue by R. Francis, on Flickr
Once in Longreach and booked in to the hotel i decided to go out for a drive expecting to find some frogs. The first find was a Tessallated Gecko (Diplodactylus tessallatus). I then stopped for a Knife-footed Frog (Cyclorana cultripes) which was next to a large puddle on the side of the road. There were frogs calling everywhere and i could hear at least 3 species, i was only able to find a very impressive Broad-palmed frog though.
Tessalated Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Broad-palmed Frog by R. Francis, on Flickr
Broad-palmed Frog by R. Francis, on Flickr
Knife-footed Frog by R. Francis, on Flickr
The next morning i tried to go to Starlights lookout before the conference started. It is about 50km north of Longreach along a back soil road, a week ago there was about 100mm of rain in the area and i was the first to go on the track. I think i got about 45km before there was a large washout so i had to turn around. I spent the rest of the morning looking for Gidgee Skinks, unfortunately i couldnt find any. I did find some good looking Bynoes gecko's (Heteronotia binoei), the difficult to catch Tree Skinks (Egernia striolata), Tree Dtella (Gehrya variegata) and a Houdini Myall Snake (Suta suta) which disapeared into thin air. There were also a few well known large birds around.
Bynoe's Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Tree Skink by R. Francis, on Flickr
Emu by R. Francis, on Flickr
Australian Bustard by R. Francis, on Flickr
That night there was a river cruise on the Thomson River, i didnt take the camera but saw quite a few Kreft's Turtles.
The following nights i went out driving in search for anything. The last find of the night was a good one, the Brigalow Beaked Gecko (Rhynchoedura mentalis). These were only described a few years ago. There were also a few other geckos and frogs out similar to the previous night.
Brigalow Beaked Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Brigalow Beaked Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
Last night i decided to do the 700km drive over night after the conference finished. Things were very slow, with only a Lucasium immaculatum, a Northern Spiny-tail Gecko (Strophurus ciliaris) and a Childrens Python (Anteresia childreni). There were also countless kangaroos, cats and a lone Dingo.
Lucasium immaculatum by R. Francis, on Flickr
Northern Spiny-tailed Gecko by R. Francis, on Flickr
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thx for sharing 
