20 Aussie frogs you need to know about - Australian Geographic
Oct 10, 2017 · The much-photographed red-eyed tree frog lives in the rainforest canopy, coming down to breed after rain. It has been known to launch itself from a high branch after insects and land safely many meters below. Extensive webbing on its feet and its adoption of a glider-like posture in midair suggest the species may be developing the ability to control such descents.
Fact File: Blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa)
A greater blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata).Image credit: shutterstock. These tiny cephalopods are grey to beige or even yellow in colour when resting, and have large light brown patches, helping them to camouflage beautifully into their rocky surrounds.
How does the moon affect animals? - Australian Geographic
As the group ascended the nearest tall-standing structure, they congregated at its summit and turned to face the sky as it darkened. Mothers clutched their young, fathers sat still and gazed in wonderment and an orphan infant, standing tall, gestured upward as the Sun and Moon eclipsed far above the cold woodland surroundings of the Yerkes National Primate Research Centre.
Fact File: Drop bear (Thylarctos plummetus) - Australian Geographic
The drop bear is a native Australian marsupial related to the koala that is ferocious, savage, cunning and…. entirely fabricated. The urban legend surrounding this predatory creature centres on the idea that this territorial animal ‘drops’ from the treetops on unsuspecting bush walkers and tourists.Interestingly, the drop bear is so elusive that no one has ever captured or photographed ...
Fact File: Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) - Australian …
Platypus take cover in earth banks and botanical vegetation near the edges of waterways. Image credit: Martin Pelanek/shutterstock. Hunting for food, the platypus closes its eyes and ears and relies on its amazing duck-like bill, a supersonic organ that is completely covered in sensors.
Fact File: Australian wolf spider (Lycosidae ... - Australian Geographic
Wolf spider (family Lycosidae). Image credit: shutterstock Wolf spiders are typically dark and mottled in colour. Image credits: shutterstock. Wolf spiders are an adaptive arachnid and are found right across Australia, within a vast number of habitats including open woodlands, grasslands, wet coastal forests, alpine meadows, and inlands scrublands.
A guide to Australia’s possums and gliders - Australian Geographic
Jul 25, 2019 · In the black of night, Australia’s 27 species of possum and glider scamper across our roofs, dart along branches in secluded rainforests or peer tentatively from tiny hidey-holes.. Hissing, growling or completely silent, they perform a circus act of acrobatic feats, the larger gliders spreading their gliding membranes to travel more than 100 m at a single jump.
Australia’s 10 most dangerous snakes - Australian Geographic
Jul 25, 2012 · A western brown snake (Pseudonaja nuchalis).Image credit: shutterstock. Said to be less aggressive than its eastern cousin, the western brown snake is still highly dangerous and part of the group of snakes that causes the most fatalities in Australia.Western browns tend to be fast moving and nervous in temperament.
A photographic guide to Australia's bees - Australian Geographic
Jun 20, 2017 · Male leafcutter bees often have highly modified forelegs that are by and large designed for use during mating. Males will often rob their forelegs over the eyes of the female while mating; this is possibly used for species recognition.
The owls of Australia - Australian Geographic
Image credit: shutterstock. The well-known call of this medium sized hawk-owl is synonymous with that of a dog’s bark— “woof woof”. The barking owl inhabits drier woodland and forest type zones, often in edge habitats nearing watercourses such as creeks.